Delicate symmetry defines this old, rare heddle pulley, which features twin figures posed back to back across an open space. The slim, caliper-like silhouette of the pulley has been shaped with delicacy, and the dark patina shows lovely reddish highlights.
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Heddle pulleys are used in strip-weaving, a process that uses very small looms to produce long, narrow strips of cloth which are later sewn together to create a larger textile, such as a blanket. The advantage of this type of loom is that it is highly portable and easy to assemble. Heddles are always used in pairs. They are tied together by a string that runs through a pulley situated above the loom. The weaver's feet operate the heddles, alternately, during the weaving process.Small repair to top of pulley.