Spindle
This tapered and often carved rod supports a handrail or a furniture piece's frame
In home use, a spindle is a tapered rod in staircases and furniture. (It is also a tapered stick used to twist fibers into yarn.) Similar to what we see in Mediterranean-style balusters in stairways, it is the vertical piece that rises from the stringer or step to support the handrail. A spindle can be turned on a woodworking lathe, with simple or intricate details carved into it.
Blocks of wood are spun on a lathe to get the rounded rods that are called spindles. A lathe is a spinning woodworking tool that rotates the wood so that details can be carved into it. The spindle shown here is threaded like a screw.
Spindles support handrails; they are both decorative and functional, keeping people and objects safely on the stairs. Spindles can be placed in a curve to create the sweeping staircase look.
Spindles are also used on furniture, such as beds, cribs and Windsor chairs.
Instead of spindles, this staircase has boat cleats and rope for a nautical look. The handrail is supported by a newel post.
Spindles don't have to be made from wood. The ones here are iron and are attached to the outer stringer.
These spindles go from floor to ceiling and serve not only as a baluster but also as a wall partition.
See more photos of spindles in home staircase designs
See more photos of spindles in home staircase designs