Earth Mother Corn Dolly – CWW1

Made from natural materials, this highly decorative corn dolly has been handmade using a variety of traditional weaving and plaiting techniques. This style of corn dolly is used as a symbol of female power, representing the abundance and fertility of the harvest and can be found in many different cultures worldwide.

The craft of corn dolly making is becoming a dying art: the straw needed for dolly making is becoming harder to find and only grown by a few specialist farmers and, as a result, there are relatively few people making traditional corn dollies on a regular basis – all the more reason to try to ensure that this folk craft survives.
Having stumbled into corn dolly making by chance some years ago the maker of this piece, Carol Partridge, now researches and makes traditional designs associated with different areas of the British Isles as well as looking further afield to similar customs in other countries; my work also includes more modern versions using traditional techniques.