Tokens of luck, love and faith, using locally harvested straw.
Lucy is one of the very few remaining straw workers keeping this rural tradition alive. Her harvest tokens, corn dollies and glory braids are each made by hand, and every purchase helps sustain an endangered craft.
Endangered craft
As per the Red List of Endangered Crafts
Made in Essex, England
In Lucy's workship
Made using heritage techniques
The same way our ancestors made them.
Our Glory Braids, by Lucy, are hand plaited of heritage straw and decorated with ribbon.
Historically, they were used to decorate pew ends in churches at the end of the harvest. As the design traditionally uses 12 pieces of straw, they were thought to represent the 12 apostles and the glory of God.
As they're more broadly considered to sweep away evil and welcome friends, we like to hang ours at home.
The raised diamond braid is significantly more complicated than the flat braid, and adds. an additional sense of dimension.
Size: Circa 18-22cms with a 6cm ribbon loop (laid flat)
Please note that these are made out of natural materials. There may be slight variations in colour and size.
Made to order, please allow 5-10 working days plus delivery time.
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.
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