Corn dolly
Corn Dollies are a form of straw work associated with harvest customs. The Druids believed that the corn spirit lived amongst the crop, and the harvest made it effectively homeless. Therefore, they fashioned hollow shapes from the last sheaf of wheat or other cereal crop. The corn spirit would then spend the winter in their homes until the "corn dolly" was ploughed into the first furrow of the new season. "Dolly" is a corruption of idol.In Britain, the materials used are mainly wheat, oats, rye and barley. In Ireland, rush was used, and in the south of France, palm leaves. In Burma, the rice plant is used.
With the advent of the Combine harvester, the old-fashioned, long-stemmed and hollow-stemmed wheat varieties were replaced with knee-high, pithy varieties. However, a number of English farmers are still growing the traditional varieties, mainly because they are in demand with thatchers.
Some traditional varieties: Maris Widgeon, Squarehead Master, Elite Le Peuple.
Corn Dollies and other similar straw work can be divided into these groups:
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2 Fringes 3 Harvest Crosses 4 Large Straw Figures 5 Tied straw work 6 Straw Marquetry 7 Rick Finials |
Traditional Corn Dollies
Fringes
Harvest Crosses
Large Straw Figures
These are representations of deities, made from an entire sheaf. They are known by a variety of names, depending on location and also the time of harvesting:
Tied straw work
Straw Marquetry