Sewing Equipment in Ancient Egypt
Discovering the Tools of Ancient Egyptian Sewing
Welcome to another intriguing exploration of ancient Egyptian craftsmanship! Today, we’re diving into the fascinating world of sewing equipment used by the skilled artisans of ancient Egypt. Their sophisticated textile and clothing industry was not just about functionality but also about creating beautiful, intricate designs that have captivated historians and enthusiasts alike.
From the humble bone needle to the elaborate spindle and whorl, each tool played a crucial role in the production of Egyptian textiles. The ingenuity and resourcefulness of these ancient craftsmen are evident in the tools they designed and used, showcasing a remarkable understanding of both materials and techniques.
Join us as we uncover the essential sewing equipment that helped shape one of the most advanced textile industries of the ancient world. This journey through history will give you a newfound appreciation for the meticulous work and creativity that went into every piece of fabric and garment in ancient Egypt. Get ready to be amazed by the art and science behind ancient Egyptian sewing!
Sewing Equipment in Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egyptian Tools Used for Textile manufacturing: Spatulas, bronze needles, wooden spindles from deir el-medina, new kingdom, 19th-20th dynasty, (image source unknown)
Needles: One of the most fundemental tools in ancient Egyptian sewing was the needle. Early needles were made from bone (commonly fish), but by the New Kingdom, bronze needles, and later those made of copper and silver, ahd become more common (Barber, 1991). These needles varied in size, allowing the Egyptian artisans to work with different types of fabrics and techniques.
Ivory Needle, Predynastic, Badarian Period, ca. 4400-3800 B.C., Northern Upper Egypt, Matmar, Tomb 3107, BSAE/Brunton excavations, 1931. AN 32.2.39 Met Museum.
Bronze Needle, New Kingdom, Ramesside Period, Dynasty 19-20, ca. 1295-1070 B.C., Egypt, Memphite Region, Lisht North, Cemetary, MMA excavations. AN 11.151.743 Met Museum
Iron Needle, Ptolemaic Period, 2nd Century B.C.-A.D. 4th Cnetury, Upper Egypt, Thebes, Dra Abu el-Naga, Carnarvon/Carter excavations. AN 12.181.258 Met Museum
Spindles and Whorls: Before sewing, the thread needed to be produced. Egyptians employed spindles and spindle whorls for spinning and plying. The whorls, often made from clay, bone, or stone, would add the necessary weight to the spindle to maintain its rotation, drawing fibers into yarns (Good,2001).
Two wooden spindles UC 7306ii, 7809, and a wooden netting needle UC 7806: UC 7306ii (top) is from Lahun, probably late Middle Kingdom, 1850-1750 BC, with modern yarn attached, The other two items are from Gurob, New Kingdom, 1550-1069 BC. University College London
Wood Spindle with Clay Whorl, New Kingdom, Ramesside Period, ca. 1295-1070 B.C>, Egypt, Memphite Region, Lisht North, Cemetary, MMA excavations. AN 22.1.629, Met Museum
Shuttles: Weaving loom in ancient Egypt utilized shuttles to carry threads back and forth. Typically made of reed or wood, shuttles streamlined the weaving process, facilitating the efficient ceation of large fabrics (Landau, 2005).
Wood Weaver’s Shuttle, New Kingdom, Ramesside Period, ca. 1295-1070 B.C., Egypt, Memphite Region, Saqqara, Teti Pyramid Cemetary, Egyptian Antiquities Service excavations, 1926. AN 26.2.37, Met Museum
Pins and Hooked Pins: Used to hold fabrics together temporarily before or during sewing, these simple tools were essential for precise work. Pins were often made from bone or metal. Some pins had a hooked end which was useful for picking up and guiding threads during the embroidery process (Houston, 2010).
Scissors (Shears) and Blades: The concept of scissor-like tools has been dated back to ancient Egypt. Initially, they were two bronze blades connected by a flexible (spring-like) metal strip, which were used to cut fabric and threads (Kemp, 1991).
Bronze Tweezer-razor from the Burial of Amenemhat, NewKingdom, Dynasty 18, early, Reign of Thutmose I- early sole Thutmose III, ca. 1504-1447 B.C., Upper Egypt, Thebes, Asasif, Tomb of Neferkhawet (MMA 729) east chamber, Burial of Amenemhat (IV), inside coffin, by head, MMA excavations, 1934-35. AN 35.3.31, Met Museum.
Objects from the tomb of Neferkhawet including a box (35.3.79), a silver pitcher (.99), a kohl container (.62), two razors (.29, .30), a whet stone (.66), and a tweezer-razor (.31)
Thimbles and Finger Protectors: Some archeological evidence suggests that ancient Egyptians used forms of thimbles or finger protectors, made from stone, leather or thick fabric, to prevent injury while sewing (Killgrove, 2015). In the style of stone thimbles, a small slab of hard, gray stone would be concave on oneside and grooved on the other.
Stone Thimble, New Kingdom, Ramesside, Dynasty 19-20, ca. 1295-1070 B.C. Egypt, Memphite Region, Lisht North, MMA excavations. AN 11.151.634
Bone and Metal Awls: These sharp pointed tools were utilized to puncture holes in leather and heavy fabrics, making it easier to pass through with threads (Adams, 2009).
Bone Awl, Diopolis Parva (Hu), Egypt, ca. 1985-1295 B.B., 12th-18th Dynasty, Middle Kingdom. ON 909.80.786, Royal Ontario Museum
Leather Workers Awl Point,, New Kingdom, Dynasty 18, Reign of Amenhotep III, ca. 1390-1352 B.C., Upper Egypt, Thebes, Malqata, Birket Habu Mound B 1, House B, MMA excavations, 1910-11. AN 11.215.457, Met Museum
In addition to these tools, it is important to acknowledge the different types of threads used. Egyptian textiles were primarily based on flax, producing linen threads of various thicknesses. By the New Kingdom, cotton, believed to be imported from India although Egypt does have its own unique strain of cotton and that may be a plausible source, also became popular (Hall, 2001)
References:
- Barber, E. J. W. (1991). Prehistoric Textiles: The development of Cloth in the Neolithic and Bronze Ages with Special Reference to the Agean. Princeton University Press
- Good, I (2001). Archeological Textiles: A review of current research. Annual Review of Anthropolgy, 30,209-226.
- Landau, E. (2005). Textiles and Garments at the Close of the Pharaonic Era: A study of Tunic Traditions in the First Millenium BCE. Peeters Publishers.
- Houston, M. G. (2010) Ancient Egyptian, Mesopotamian & Persian Costume and Decoration. Dover Publications.
- Kemp, B. J. (1991). Ancient Egypt: Anatomy of a Civilization. Routledge.
- Killgrove, K. (2015). Tools of the Ancient Romans: A Kid’s Guide to the History & Science of Life in Ancient Rome. Tools and Discovery series. Nomad Press.
- Adams, B. (2009). Egyptian Things to Make and Do.Usborne Publishing.
- Hall, R. (2001). Egyptian Textiles. Shire Publications.