Our introduction to "corn ('grain') dollies" occurred last Sunday at Lavandula. What a delightful find it was...
"Corn dollies" are a traditional artisan straw weaving or plaiting work made as part of the harvest customs of Europe before mechanisation.
Elizabeth Woodroofe's Welsh mum handed down this special hand craft to her and now she's teaching her daughter.
There's an extensive array of designs from different counties and villages in the U.K., as well as other parts of the world.
Some of Elizabeth's Corn Dollies on display
Elizabeth describes the history and current use of corn dollies....
I have also read that it was believed the corn spirit would spend the winter in this "corn dolly home" until it was ploughed into the first furrow of the new season. My research also revealed that "Dolly" may be a corruption of the word "idol" or may have come directly from the Greek word eidolon, that which 'represents something else'.
These are the "dollies" I couldn't resist getting...
A Hereford Dolly: Elizabeth writes - ..."Traditional to Herefordshire in England. The design is also known as the Mordiford Dolly after a particular village in Herefordshire."
The Arabic Cage Dolly: "...thought to be one of the earliest designs...originates in the Middle East...one of the early grain growing areas of the world."
The Celtic Fan Dolly: "...general style of corn dolly found in Wales, U.K.. Traditionally it is made with 21 straws. AKA as the Welsh Border Fan."
To order "corn dollies" from Elizabeth Woodroofe please call (03)5475 1650 or email: woodroofe@harboursat.com.au or PO Box 589 Castlemaine Vic 3450.
For mine, there really is something very special about preserving and sharing artisan traditions that through beauty, creative expression and reverence, connect us to Mother Earth, the ultimate source of our existence. Thank you Elizabeth :) .
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