Número del objeto
86/151
Descripción
This hexagonal work basket is made of straw. Two of the side panels contain mirrors, two contain pin cushions and two contain pictures. The edge of the basket is trimmed with two spirally woven bands of straw, and two bands are looped as handles. The style of costume worn by the ladies in the pictures suggests this basket dates from the 1870s.
Descripción física
1 workbasket: straw; good condition
Historia del archivo
MERL miscellaneous note Greta Bertram, 5 February 2014 – There is an error in the MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) as to the maker of this basket. Marian Nichols worked at Luton Museum from 1968 to her retirement as Keeper in 2006, and could not have made the basket in the 1870s. This error was highlighted by Gillian Nott of the Guild of Straw Craftsmen. Veronica Main, Significant Collections Curator at Wardown Park Museum (formerly Luton Museum), confirmed in February 2014 that the basket dated from the nineteenth century and was not made by Marian Nichols. This was subsequently confirmed by Marian Nichols herself., MERL miscellaneous note Greta Bertram, 20 August 2013 – The 'Coker Collection' of corn dollies was bequeathed to the Museum by Alec Coker, who devoted his retirement from 1965 until his death in 1986 to spreading knowledge of and teaching the craft of corn dolly making. He first became interested in the craft when working at the BBC when he encountered dollies as props on the set of ‘Lorna Doone’ in the 1930s. ‘Corn’ is a term for the family of grains which includes barley, oats, wheat and rye. ‘Corn dolly’ is a wide-ranging term which includes figures, love tokens, crosses, Scandinavian star designs, and Far Eastern shrine dolls made from ‘corn’ straw. Techniques used in the craft include tying, plaiting, weaving and marquetry. The corn dolly was originally an object used in rites and rituals, and in many parts of the world it was believed that the ‘Corn Goddess’ lived in the crop and died when it was harvested. Images of the Goddess, or other talismans, were woven from the last sheaf to be reaped and carefully preserved to ensure an abundant crop the following year. By the twentieth century, corn dollies had lost their ritual associations, and from the 1950s there was a concerted effort to preserve the craft of corn dolly making., MERL 'Handwritten accession' form (Institute of Agricultural History) – ‘Description: Victorian work basket. // Hexagonal shaped straw basket. Six straw panels, two containing mirrors, two containing pin cushions and two containing pictures. Edge of the basket is trimmed with two spirally woven bands. Two bands looped as handles. // Dimensions: 37cm x 31cm // Associated information: This item was made between 1870 and 1880 by Marian Nichols of Luton Museum, based on the style of costume from pictures of Victorian ladies. It was purchased in an antique shop in York in 1976. // References: A. Coker’s Collection List of Corn Dollies no.78’
Fecha
1870-01-01 - 1879-12-31
Periodo de producción
1870s
Nombre del objeto
Material