Spindle lathe

The presented item is a primitive lathe used by Bulgarian Romani. Its main part is a heavy, nearly one-metre-long beech slat with a rectangular cross-section. One end of the tool – held by the lathe operator – narrows like a spindle. The opposite end is shaped into a round head with a large protruding nail embedded in it. It is used, together with the indents on the head, to secure the lathe, e.g. by hooking it onto a peg driven into a wall. The other end is stabilised by propping it up on a stick that can be stuck into the ground or leaned against the ground. This type of lathe is primarily used for the manufacture of weaving spindles, spoon shanks and other small objects with cylindrical and spindle-like shapes. ID no.: MT-E/3508 Time and place of creation: 2nd half of 20th century, Ljulacze (Bulgaria) District Museum in Tarnów https://muzea.malopolska.pl/en/objects-list/1336 Digitalisation: RDW MIC, Virtual Małopolska project