2190 – Corn Dolly Cumbrian Mell

Physical description:

Unusual and striking corn dolly (a Cumbrian Mell Doll), consisting of plaits of straw encasing a red (plastic) apple, with a bunch of corn at the bottom.

Museum classification:

Spells and Charms

Size:

330 x 90 diam.

Information:

Made by Gillian Nott, Historian and Archivist, Guild of Straw Craftsmen.
This type of corn dolly was kept just for the harvest festivities, and at the end of them the apple was given to the oldest member of the community, and the corn fed to the best cow, bullock or horse (information provided by Gillian Nott).

Resource:

Object

Materials:

Corn straw and plastic

Made by Gillian Nott, Historian and Archivist, Guild of Straw Craftsmen.
This type of corn dolly was kept just for the harvest festivities, and at the end of them the apple was given to the oldest member of the community, and the corn fed to the best cow, bullock or horse (information provided by Gillian Nott).