Corn Dolly & Harvest Token Making: An Endangered Craft
Made by Lucy, Corn Dolly Folklore, one of the few corn dolly makers in Britain. A practice dating back at least as far as the 1500's, these straw tokens were initially made in the shape of small figures to represent the harvest spirit, or goddess. Lucy carefully selects her straw, dampens it, and uses a variety of knotting, interlacing, weaving and tying to make these symbolic little tokens.
Corn Dolly & Harvest Token Making: An Endangered Craft
Made by Lucy, Corn Dolly Folklore, one of the few corn dolly makers in Britain. A practice dating back at least as far as the 1500's, these straw tokens were initially made in the shape of small figures to represent the harvest spirit, or goddess. Lucy carefully selects her straw, dampens it, and uses a variety of knotting, interlacing, weaving and tying to make these symbolic little tokens.
What is a harvest token?
Also known as harvest tokens and harvest trophies, corn dolly making is an endangered craft, with only a few makers left in the UK.
Lucy carefully selects her straw, dampens it, and uses a variety of knotting, interlacing, weaving and tying to make these symbolic little tokens.
We recommend our harvest tokens - traditionally braided of the last sheaf of the harvest, a country lad would braid one for his sweetheart, and if she reciprocated his favour, she'd wear it over her heart. Ours come with little loops for hanging.
Learn more via Heritage Crafts' Red List of Endangered Crafts below.
-
Regular price£8.99 GBPRegular priceSale price£8.99 GBP Save £-8.99 GBP (%)Unit priceperHarvest Token Decoration: Countryman's Favour Lucy Hook-Child, Corn Dolly Folklore
-
Regular price£16.99 GBPRegular priceSale price£16.99 GBP Save £-16.99 GBP (%)Unit priceperLarge Glory Braid Straw Decoration The Haud2 colours
-
Regular price£16.99 GBPRegular priceSale price£16.99 GBP Save £-16.99 GBP (%)Unit priceperSmall Glory Braid Straw Decoration Lucy Hook-Child, Corn Dolly Folklore2 colours
-
Regular priceFrom £7.99 GBPRegular priceSale priceFrom £7.99 GBPUnit priceperHarvest Token Decoration: Lovers' Knot Lucy Hook-Child, Corn Dolly Folklore
About the maker: Lucy Hook-Child, Corn Dolly Folklore
Lucy has a BA (Hons) in 3D Design Crafts and is a member of Straw Craftsmen. She has been researching and working with straw since 2023 after discovering that Corn Dolly Making and Straw Work are on the Heritage Crafts Red List of Endangered Crafts.
Lucy grew up in rural north Essex and has a family history along the Essex Suffolk border where there is also a history of corn dolly making and straw plaiting for hat making (two of her 3rd great grandaunts were straw plaiters in Belchamp Walter in the mid 1800s).
Having fond memories of corn dolly making as a child, Lucy intends to share and teach these skills around East Anglia and recently started hosting 'Straw Club' at the East Anglian Folklore Centre. You will also find her at local Craft Shows, Plough Days and Steam Threshing Days.
You might also like
-
Regular priceFrom £30.00 GBPRegular priceSale priceFrom £30.00 GBPUnit priceperHandmade Arenga Bench Brush (made to order) Simon Cooper, The Bumbling Basketeer
-
Regular priceFrom £40.00 GBPRegular priceSale priceFrom £40.00 GBPUnit priceperHandmade Hand Broom (made to order) Simon Cooper, The Bumbling Basketeer
-
Regular price£12.00 GBPRegular priceSale price£12.00 GBP Save £-12.00 GBP (%)Unit priceperHandmade Miniature Brush (made to order) Simon Cooper, The Bumbling Basketeer
Bespoke commissions
Have a unique vision? We can help.
We manage the entire process from the initial inquiry to the finished piece, including concepts, design, contracts and shipping.
This support allows our makers to focus solely on the creative aspects of their work, and ensures that your vision is realised exactly as you intended.
Book a friendly chat with us below. There's no obligation to purchase anything.
Can’t find what you need?
Drop us a line
- hello@thehaud.com
-
+44 7508 776419
- Find us on Instagram