Straw models or Corn dollies

Corn dollies were made at harvest time from the last sheaf of corn. Corn dolly shapes varies by county' for example, in Essex they made long twists whilst in Gloucestershire straw was plaited in triangular shapes. Sometimes straw ornaments represented animals, such as a goat or ram, a cornucopia or spiral shapes which became popular with Marx. Corn dollies were and still are used in pagan ceremonies but today are more of a decorative art form. They are used to thank Mother Earth for the Harvest and also as a symbol of good luck and fertility. It is a worldwide craft and examples have also been found in tombs in Egypt.