From what I am seeing the hole looks square is this correct? If so can you post images of both sides.

All my best .. Danny

Danny, You are correct. The hole is square. I think that has thrown many people off. Ill post a couple more pictures.

Is there a chance this is made from ceramic? The square hole leads me to ask this question. If it is ceramic it may be an electric insulator.

Danny

I would say there is an excellent chance that it might be ceramic. It has the right texture and weight to be ceramic. What kind of electrical insulator?

Can't tell you what kind, it just seemed to be what it was.

Danny

It's the top of a knob, used in knob & tube wiring. I have replaced miles of the stuff and some of it has a square hole.

If I may add to this - the knob & tube wiring is described as in use up to the 1930's in the Wikipedia article, but my brother, who is looking for a house right here in Nor. Cal., has seen K&T wiring in homes built in the 1940's.

I've seen a few square holed "beads" atributed to being spindle whorls for spinning thread.

Jeff, I some how missed your post. a spindle whorl is definitely plausible. Ill look into that as well. Thank you.

As many here at BCN know, I have a Native American bead collection consisting of several thousands of original beads.
I do not have even a single example of a Native American bead that has a square hole such as your very interesting bead has.
My beads are all sourced from old collections in Washington, Oregon and California.
I do not think your bead is Native American-related, but I learned a long time ago that virtually anything is possible in the bead world!

Thank you all for your input! Its the most input that I have received in all of the two years of seeking information. This a truly resourceful site that I plan on sticking with!

Thanks again!
Vance

I was reading through 'Beads' from 2005, Bead Researchers society, and it discusses a range of archeological finds of beads with 'shaped perforations', including square perforations. The article goes into much detail bout the manufacture of drawn glass tubing, and describes the ways a bead can get a different type of perforation. The article is written by Lester A. Ross.

Being a home inspector, I have the opportunity of seeing knob and tube insulators almost every day. I have compared them to what I have and the results...not even close. My "bead" is more of a mill stone or (grind stone) material heavier than ceramic. It is exactly what a miniature mill stone would look and feel like. If this is not a bead, could it possibly be a tool used to make beads?
I will continue my research starting with the mentioned article by Lester A. Ross.