Object number
86/84
Collection
Creator
Description
This corn dolly, in the form of a sceptre, was devised and made by Alec Coker, an experienced corn dolly maker. It consists of a long spirally woven ‘neck’-like core, above which are five spirally woven semicircles. Above this is a head made up of four spirally woven ‘lantern’-like structures. This dolly was used with another dolly in the shape of an orb as stage regalia.
Physical description
1 corn dolly: corn
Archival history
MERL miscellaneous note Greta Bertram, 20 August 2013 – The 'Coker Collection' of corn dollies was bequeathed to the Museum by Alec Coker, who devoted his retirement from 1965 until his death in 1986 to spreading knowledge of and teaching the craft of corn dolly making. He first became interested in the craft when working at the BBC when he encountered dollies as props on the set of ‘Lorna Doone’ in the 1930s. ‘Corn’ is a term for the family of grains which includes barley, oats, wheat and rye. ‘Corn dolly’ is a wide-ranging term which includes figures, love tokens, crosses, Scandinavian star designs, and Far Eastern shrine dolls made from ‘corn’ straw. Techniques used in the craft include tying, plaiting, weaving and marquetry. The corn dolly was originally an object used in rites and rituals, and in many parts of the world it was believed that the ‘Corn Goddess’ lived in the crop and died when it was harvested. Images of the Goddess, or other talismans, were woven from the last sheaf to be reaped and carefully preserved to ensure an abundant crop the following year. By the twentieth century, corn dollies had lost their ritual associations, and from the 1950s there was a concerted effort to preserve the craft of corn dolly making., MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – ‘Description: Sceptre // A spirally woven ‘neck’ of corn as the core. Above the long core, five spirally woven semicircles attached to the centre. Above this, the head is made up of four spirally woven ‘lantern’ like structures attached to the centre. // Dimensions: 60cm x 10cm // Associated information: The simple traditional corn dolly is used as the base on which to work this design. // This example made and devised by Alec Coker. Together with the orb it is used as stage regalia. // References: M. Lambeth. The Golden Dolly p.84 // A Coker’s Collection List of Corn Dollies no.33.’
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