My goodness, I didn't expect that picture to raise such a storm of philosophy :)
I do know that many European wheels were turned point wheels, adapted probably from India or China (a charkha-style wheel, but set on a 'table' so the user could sit on a chair rather than the floor), but it's surprising to see one used for spinning as late as the 1600s. Perhaps it was the artist's way of relating the group in front to the earlier time of the Arachne legend, if he didn't realize spinning wheels to be much more recent than drop spindles. Or maybe the older style of wheel simply survived in some places past the adoption of the flyer-treadle wheel. I had no idea art could be so complex and controversial :) I just figured it was a cool scene of spinning from a by-gone era. Glad it woke up the list! Holly
