Distaff

The distaff ( distaff, Kunkel, DIESSE ) is a generally rod-shaped device on which the still unspun fibers are attached during spinning.

History

Rock are known as original discoveries of pictures or texts from different ancient civilizations (Egypt, from the Greeks and from the Roman provinces ). Simple copies were made of wood or pipe, more elaborate pieces, mostly so-called hand distaff were produced in Roman times also from bone, ivory, amber, jet or silver. When using a drop spindle or spinning wheel distaff be used up to the present.

Function

On the distaff, the fibers are attached raw or already as an ordered roving. They can then be pulled off and spun into a thread. The forms are quite different even in Roman times. Differences are so-called finger Kunkel, hand distaff and rod-shaped rock. The fingers Kunkel are quite short with a length of 25 cm often, they have a ring-shaped end, with which they are inserted during spinning on a finger. The hand distaff are also relatively short, they occasionally come in richly furnished graves in front of women and girls. Longer, rod-shaped rocking can hold more fibers. For handling, they can be plugged into the belt when spinning by hand.