Support Spindles…Were they the first ones?

I like the look of the old ones, even though many of them appear to me to have been distaffs. Most of the Russian ones are way too pointy for my taste, so mine are heftier on purpose and I call them compromise spindles because of the hook on most of them. Not traditional, but is a nod to function over form. Easier to use according to my testers.

Native hardwoods…Cherry, Oak, Walnut, Persimmon, Sassafras…
http://www.etsy.com/listing/80220539/a-cherry-burl-french...