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Peter Smith

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Posted
Yesterday I posed a picture I'd painted based on this Holbein portrait, but hopefully making the girl look a bit more cheerful....she must be in the top ten of 'most miserable artists models ever' list!  However what fascinates me is what she's holding - I have no idea what on earth it is. I just painted a wooden tray. Has anyone any ideas? 
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Paul (Dixie) Dean

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Posted
Not a clue ,is the tall spindle looking thing threaded ?. 
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Tony Auffret

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Posted
Could it be 2 objects, symbolic of St Catherine.  The small wheel symbolising her torture or possibly patronage of potters.  No idea what the symbolism of the other, spindle like object, is

Collette Hughes

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According to Google she is shown with the attributes of her name saint, Saint Catherine. Saint Catherine was tortured and it is claimed she bled milk instead of blood so I'm thinking maybe a butter churn? 
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xxxx xxxxxx

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It could be some type of Charkha... a small hand held spinning wheel, to spin cotton or other similar fiber... Most would be larger a little, In India... But it could be another version of the same kind of thing...
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xxxx xxxxxx

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Ok I know what it is...  St. Catherine's Wheel... A Symbol For Her..  She Was to be executed on such a device for Converting so many people to Christianity, a wooden wheel with blades on the outer edge... When She touched the device it shattered, a miracle...  
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Peter Smith

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Well that explains why she looks miserable Eric!