Distaff Collection

Ugly Duckling (Boyle)
The old cottage woman, with her distaff and her animal companions : often such solitary females were suspected of witchcraft

100 old time Bible words (litho)
8673197 100 old time Bible words (litho) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: 100 old time Bible words)

Anicius Manlius Torquatus Severinus Boetius, ca. 470-525) - Colorisee engraving, 16th century - Old-maid witch
NWI4929769 Anicius Manlius Torquatus Severinus Boetius, ca. 470-525) - Colorisee engraving, 16th century - Old-maid witch

Costume of a woman of Nevers, France, spinning yarn, 19th century. Handcoloured lithograph from Thomas Hailes
FLO4655455 Costume of a woman of Nevers, France, spinning yarn, 19th century. Handcoloured lithograph from Thomas Hailes Lacy's " Female Costumes Historical

Letter L as village Limousine. Alphabet women. Liebig advertising chromolithography, late 19th century
DUV4199068 Letter L as village Limousine. Alphabet women. Liebig advertising chromolithography, late 19th century .; Private Collection; (add.info.: Letter L as village Limousine)

Girl of Granada of the poorest class during the Islamic era, Emirates of Granada (1238-1492)
FLO4706342 Girl of Granada of the poorest class during the Islamic era, Emirates of Granada (1238-1492). Because of her poverty, she is always spinning yarn

First World War: France, Patriotic Map showing a young Alsatian in traditional costume, spinning tricolor wool, 1915
LUX4742498 First World War: France, Patriotic Map showing a young Alsatian in traditional costume, spinning tricolor wool, 1915

First World War: Patriotic Map showing a young Alsatian spinning wool for France, 1915, 'For France'
LUX4744377 First World War: Patriotic Map showing a young Alsatian spinning wool for France, 1915, 'For France'; (add.info.: World War I - War 14-18 (1914-1918) - World War I (WWI or WW1)

Greek mythology: Clotho, one of the three Cabinets, the spinner, wraps the thread of human life on her spindle - Eau
FLO4679932 Greek mythology: Clotho, one of the three Cabinets, the spinner, wraps the thread of human life on her spindle - Eau forte by Jacques Louis Constant Lacerf

The curse: Adam digs in the ground, assists by death. Deep down, Eve breastfed her newborn by holding a cattail
FLO4675787 The curse: Adam digs in the ground, assists by death. Deep down, Eve breastfed her newborn by holding a cattail

La Caricature (1830) politique, number 51, Satirique en Couleurs, 1831_4_28: Paquet royal - Justice Proces - Marianne
ICA4930230 La Caricature (1830) politique, number 51, Satirique en Couleurs, 1831_4_28: Paquet royal - Justice Proces - Marianne, Magistrate; (add.info.: La Caricature (1830) politique, number 51

Portrait of the legendary impress Inca Mama Ocllo Huacco holding a spindle
NWI4924386 Portrait of the legendary impress Inca Mama Ocllo Huacco holding a spindle, symbol of the weaving she taught women - Colorisee engraving

Evening gathering, c.1850 (print)
8698474 Evening gathering, c.1850 (print); (add.info.: Agriculture. Evening gathering in the stable. Epinal print , France, ca 1850.); © Archives Charmet.

Joan of Arc spinning the cattail, 1493 (engraving)
8822186 Joan of Arc spinning the cattail, 1493 (engraving); Private Collection; (add.info.: Joan of Arc spinning the cattail near her father ploughing a field with a plow harnessed to two horses)

Peasant cottage interior. 17th century (engraving)
541250 Peasant cottage interior. 17th century (engraving); (add.info.: Husband, wearing wooden clogs, snoozes in chimney corner by fire on which cooking would be done)

Q for quenouille (spinner) (chromolitho)
8677331 Q for quenouille (spinner) (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Q for quenouille (spinner). Woman or girl with a distaff used in spinning

Wallflowers, Quechua, distaff and quay (chromolitho)
8677353 Wallflowers, Quechua, distaff and quay (chromolitho) by French School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Q for quarantaine (wallflowers), Quechua, quenouille (distaff) and quay

In the spinning room. A scene from the Middle Ages, 1909 (engraving)
1000963 In the spinning room. A scene from the Middle Ages, 1909 (engraving); Private Collection; (add.info.: From Illustrierte Sittengeschichte vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart by Eduard Fuchs)

Man, woman and child from the Vallee d'Ossau, French Pyrenees, in traditional regional dress, c.1840 (engraving)
UIG5425628 Man, woman and child from the Vallee d'Ossau, French Pyrenees, in traditional regional dress, c.1840 (engraving); (add.info)

Peasants Family of Venetia (Peasants from Veneto, italy) Painting by Filippo Carcano (1840-1914) Private Collection
QUA5036583 Peasants Family of Venetia (Peasants from Veneto, italy) Painting by Filippo Carcano (1840-1914) Private Collection; (add.info.: Peasants Family of Venetia (Peasants from Veneto)

Monks working the land and nuns spinning wool in a monastery. Miniature taken from "Historia ordinis
GIA5033714 Monks working the land and nuns spinning wool in a monastery. Miniature taken from "Historia ordinis humiliatorum" of the 15th century

First World War: France, Propaganda map showing the photo of an Alsatian spinning wool for France, 1915
LUX4734477 First World War: France, Propaganda map showing the photo of an Alsatian spinning wool for France, 1915; (add.info.: First World War - War 14-18 (1914-1918) - World War I (WWI or WW1)

Woman spinning yarn on a spinning wheel in front of a cottage. Handcoloured woodcut engraving from The Book of English
FLO4577664 Woman spinning yarn on a spinning wheel in front of a cottage. Handcoloured woodcut engraving from The Book of English Trades and Library of the Useful Arts.; (add.info)

Budapest: Peasant couple in traditional costume posed in studio reproducing an interior with painted decors, 1870
LUX4719023 Budapest: Peasant couple in traditional costume posed in studio reproducing an interior with painted decors, 1870; (add.info.: Budapest)

Distaff and Spindle (engraving)
8658511 Distaff and Spindle (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Distaff and Spindle)

Illustration by Gustave Dore for a tale by Charles Perrault: Sleeping Beauty
PCT4272398 Illustration by Gustave Dore for a tale by Charles Perrault: Sleeping Beauty. The princess is gonna sting herself at the cattail of an old woman running away in the spindle

Man and woman from the Vallee dOssau, French Pyrenees, in traditional regional dress, c.1840 (engraving)
UIG5425627 Man and woman from the Vallee dOssau, French Pyrenees, in traditional regional dress, c.1840 (engraving); (add.info.: The woman is spinning yarn using a distaff)

Greek Costumes. Engraving in "The Peoples of the Earth" 1890
JAB5037213 Greek Costumes. Engraving in "The Peoples of the Earth" 1890.; (add.info.: Greek Costumes. Engraving in "The Peoples of the Earth" 1890.); Photo ©Jaime Abecasis.

An organ grinder and a poodle with spinning machine before an audience of fashionable women in bonnets with plumes
FLO4677598 An organ grinder and a poodle with spinning machine before an audience of fashionable women in bonnets with plumes, shawls and lace dresses

Hercules with the distaff spinning for Queen Omphale (colour litho)
8626438 Hercules with the distaff spinning for Queen Omphale (colour litho) by MacEwen, Walter (1860-1943); Private Collection; (add.info.: Hercules with the distaff spinning for Queen Omphale)

Past & Present: The Spinning-Machine (colour litho)
8668701 Past & Present: The Spinning-Machine (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: The Spinning-Machine. Spinning-Wheel)

Queen Berthe of Holland (died 1094) spinning the cattail near Uverdon - Painting by Albert Landerer (1816 - 1893), 1860
XEE5027275 Queen Berthe of Holland (died 1094) spinning the cattail near Uverdon - Painting by Albert Landerer (1816 - 1893)

Egypt: Cook cruise, on the Nile, on a wall of earth and accompanied by a goat and a turkey, a woman runs wool, 1900
LUX4779429 Egypt: Cook cruise, on the Nile, on a wall of earth and accompanied by a goat and a turkey, a woman runs wool, 1900; (add.info.: Egypt: Cook cruise, on the Nile)

An old Breton in a headdress has her wheel, 1880
LUX4718066 An old Breton in a headdress has her wheel, 1880; (add.info.: An old Breton in a headdress has her wheel, 1880); Photo © Lux-in-Fine.

Tyrol, Zillerthal: colourful photo of a young girl in traditional dress, 1890
LUX4718039 Tyrol, Zillerthal: colourful photo of a young girl in traditional dress, 1890; (add.info.: Tyrol, Zillerthal: colourful photo of a young girl in traditional dress)

The fee of the flax flower in a white dress adorned with leaves, fruits and flowers flows linen - Eau forte by Charles
FLO4637543 The fee of the flax flower in a white dress adorned with leaves, fruits and flowers flows linen - Eau forte by Charles Geoffroy (1819-1882)

Hindoo woman reeling (engraving)
8658508 Hindoo woman reeling (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Hindoo woman reeling)

Greek mythology: Les Cabinets, deities of fate, Clotho, the spinner, Lachesis
FLO4680005 Greek mythology: Les Cabinets, deities of fate, Clotho, the spinner, Lachesis, the splitter who wraps the thread and Atropos, the relentless

Emblematic Group of Figures, by Mr. John Thomas, over the Principal Entrance of the Leeds... 1858. Creator: Unknown
Emblematic Group of Figures, by Mr. John Thomas, over the Principal Entrance of the Leeds Townhall, 1858. Bas-relief by...Mr. Thomas of London, the sculptor of the Houses of Parliament

"Spending a Sou" - painted by Miss Rebecca Solomons - from the Winter Exhibition, French... 1858
"Spending a Sou" - painted by Miss Rebecca Solomons - from the Winter Exhibition, French Gallery, 1858. Engraving after a painting

Traditional costumes of the island of Gozo, 1778. Creator: Louis Ducros
Traditional costumes of the island of Gozo, 1778. Drawing from the album Voyage to Italy, Sicily and Malta

Roman Peasants Going to Market, 1837. Creator: Jorgen Sonne
Roman Peasants Going to Market, 1837

Esquisse pour la salle des mariages de la mairie du 13ème arrondissement : Vertus civiques. 1878
Esquisse pour la salle des mariages de la mairie du 13eme arrondissement : Vertus civiques. 1878. Sketch for interior of reception hall for marriages. Civic virtues: women breastfeeding and spinning

Fileuse sur les rochers à Douarnenez, c.1870. Creator: Jules Breton
Fileuse sur les rochers a Douarnenez, c.1870. Woman spinning near Finistere in Brittany. A young peasant woman seen from back sitting on the rocks looks far left towards the ocean

Portrait of a woman holding a distaff (around 1740), c1740. Creator: Unknown
Portrait of a woman holding a distaff (around 1740), c1740

Girl seated on a rock holding a distaff, ca. 1800-1899. Creator: Anon
Girl seated on a rock holding a distaff, ca. 1800-1899

Spindle-Spinning Wool Gathered from the Hedges, 1943. Creator: Unknown
Spindle-Spinning Wool Gathered from the Hedges, 1943. British women contribute to the war effort. From "Women's Institutes, by Cicely McCall. [Collins, London, 1943]

Quentin, Querelle, what?, Question, Bowls, Quinteux, Cattail, page 30 - Alphabet by Mademoiselle Lili, by L
DUV4224183 Quentin, Querelle, what?, Question, Bowls, Quinteux, Cattail, page 30 - Alphabet by Mademoiselle Lili, by L. Froelich and by a dad (Hetzel himself)

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"Exploring the Distaff: Unveiling Tales of Power, Love, and Mystery" Embark on a journey through time as we unravel the enigmatic world of the distaff. From ancient Greek costumes to 19th-century village nightlife, this captivating object has left its mark in various realms. Intriguingly, it was not only a tool for spinning thread but also a symbol of transformation. Just like the Ugly Duckling who blossomed into a beautiful swan, the distaff holds stories of hidden potential waiting to be discovered. One such tale takes us back to Adam's curse as he tirelessly digs in the ground with Death by his side. Little did they know that centuries later, a witch would summon up a storm using this very distaff in 1537. The artistic realm too found inspiration in this humble object. An oil painting depicts an interior barn scene where an old woman skillfully handles her distaff while Hercules finds himself captivated by Omphale's charms. Jacques Dumont's Roman masterpiece beautifully captures their complex relationship. Moving forward to the 18th century, an engraving showcases another rendition of Hercules and Omphale's story. Meanwhile, peasants find solace and entertainment amidst their daily lives within barns - perhaps even witnessing magical moments brought forth by these mystical tools. Artists have immortalized young shepherdesses engrossed in spinning threads or Bretonian women gracefully working with their spindles - showcasing both skill and femininity intertwined with this age-old craft. Even saints are not exempt from its influence; St. Genevieve is portrayed alongside her trusted distaff - symbolizing strength and devotion beyond earthly matters. Lastly, let us marvel at De Pope's painting from the 17th century depicting "A Woman Who Flies. " The artist ingeniously merges flight and spinning together - reminding us that sometimes our dreams can take flight when we embrace our true potential.