Object number
86/201
Collection
Description
Seven samples of plaited straw in various colours and designs. Some of the straw used comes from China and Taiwan.
Physical description
7 samples: straw; good conditionDetails on envelope not very clear: Cleary? and Son, Luton - only straw hat makers in England 1978. Some straw from China and Taiwan.
Label Text
Straw plait samples. These seven samples of straw plaiting show various designs. Some of the straw comes from China and Taiwan. Straw plaiting is the technique used to create corn dollies, which are pagan figures or tokens. Traditionally, these would be plaited from the last sheaf of corn harvested from a crop, and kept in a place of honour in the home to ensure the next harvest germinated. Dollies are still important cultural objects all around Europe. For example, the Swedish Yule goat is typically woven from straw.
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: Seven samples of plaited straw in various designs and colours // Details on envelope not very clear. // Some straw from China & Taiwan // Cleary? & Luton – only straw hat makers in England 1978. // Dimensions: Various: 10–27cm in length // Associated information: See also 86/193 Mounted samples. // References: …’
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