Description
At its centre is a wooden bobbin wound with thread, mounted on metal springs that act as shock absorbers and allow the thread to unwind smoothly. At one end, the metal launching tip is visible, while at the other there is a small mechanism for holding the bobbin—a detail indicating a later, more industrial manufacture, in contrast to earlier handmade shuttles. The interior surface is precisely hollowed and smoothed to reduce friction, and the ends are reinforced to withstand constant impact.
Such shuttles were used on the mechanical looms of Nea Ionia’s large weaving mills. Refugees from Asia Minor brought with them deep technical knowledge of weaving and silk, and the saita became an emblem of their labour: thousands of women and men heard it “sing” day after day as it travelled back and forth across the looms, producing fabrics that circulated throughout Greece. This particular shuttle bears clear signs of use—wear at the tips, polishing from continuous contact with thread, and small dark stains from lubricants—confirming extensive operation in a real industrial environment. It is an authentic testimony to an era when Nea Ionia was not only a refugee district, but one of the most important productive hubs in the Balkans. It is exhibited at the Textile Museum of KE.MI.PO., Municipality of Nea Ionia.
Kindly made available for photography by KE.MI.PO., Municipality of Nea Ionia.
