In house use, a spindle is a tapered pole in staircases and furniture. (It’s also a tapered rod used to twist fibers into yarn) Very similar to what we see from Mediterranean-style balusters from stairways, it is the vertical piece that develops from the stringer or measure to encourage the handrail. A spindle can be flipped onto a woodworking lathe, with simple or intricate details carved into it.
Chr DAUER Architects
Blocks of wood are spun on a lathe to find the curved rods that are known as 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.
Crisp Architects
Spindles service handrails; they’re both functional and decorative, keeping people and objects safely on the stairs. Spindles can be put in a curve to produce the sweeping staircase look.
Casart Coverings
Spindles can also be used on furniture, such as beds, beds and Windsor chairs.
Instead of spindles, this staircase has ship cleats and rope for a nautical look. The handrail is supported by a newel post.
MAK Studio
Spindles don’t need to be produced from wood. The ones here are iron and are attached to the outer stringer.
Floisand Studio
These spindles move from floor to ceiling and function not just as a baluster but also as a wall mounted partition.
See more photographs of spindles in house staircase designs