Corn dolly; wheat straw, plaited; 3 conical shapes attached at apex; braided loop at top, tuft of wheat heads at bottom; total height of 36 centimeters, width of 9 centimeters.
Donor:
Charlotte A. Johnson, Mrs. M. Lambeth, and University Appropriation
Collection place:
Fulbourn, Cambridgeshire, England
Verbatim coll. place:
England, Cambridgeshire, Fulbourn
Production place:
Fulbourn, Cambridgeshire, England
Culture or time period:
English
Maker or artist:
Mrs. M. Lambeth
Collector:
Charlotte A. Johnson
Collection date:
July 1970
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Dolls (figurines) and Plaited weaving
Function:
5.2 Magic: Objects Associated with Practices reflecting confidence in the ability to manipulate supernatural agencies
Accession date:
1971
Department:
Europe and western Russia (except Classical Mediterranean)
Comment:
Traditional craft figure, originally representing a ritual propitiation of the gods for fine weather, prosperity, fertility, and the supply of seed for the next year's harvest. Barton Turf is a village in Norfolk County and is an instance of a village having a purely local design for its harvest offering. The tops of the 3 cones are left open to provide a sleeping place for the corn spirit according to the old tradition.