A
spindle whorl is a disc or spherical object fitted onto the
spindle to increase and maintain the speed of the spin. For ages the whorls have been made of many different materials:
amber,
antler,
bone,
coral,
glass, metal (iron, lead, lead alloy), and wood (
oak). Some types of local materials have been also used, such as
chalk,
limestone,
mudstone,
sandstone,
slate, and
soapstone.