Decorative Straw Work

Original design: Country Hedgerow. Taught at an NAWW Convention in the 1990s.

During the 20th century workers developed designs making them far more elaborate that the earlier simple harvest tokens or trophies.

Now workers’ skills are so wonderfully diverse they can incorporate straw marquetry, Swiss work and a selection of plaits.

The following examples show some of Veronica Main’s work made in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Harvest maiden

Whereas the harvest trophy maiden was a simple form, the modern version can be very elaborate. During the 1980s Veronica used to be well-known for her elaborate maidens. These maidens are 45cm and 50cm high. They incorporate a wide variety of flat and round plaits to adorn the wheat straw body. Naturally, every well-dressed maiden needs a crown!

God’s eye basket

Decorative straw work can also be functional. To create this basket a wire frame has been decorated with several straw work techniques: God’s eyes, spider and spiral plait. The ends have been finished with wooden beads. Various thicknesses of wheat straw were used to make this basket to that different light reflections are achieved.

Dragonfly

Not all decorative straw work has to be big or elaborate. Sometimes just a few pieces of split straw tied together, then some flat plait added can be formed into a pleasing piece. This piece is about 7cm long and 5cm wide. The straw was dyed with liquid food colourings.

Cornucopia

Sitting on a straw marquetry base, this Dabinett spiral plait cornucopia is filled with Swiss Straw work motifs.

George Dabinett was a corn dolly maker from Somerset. He invented several designs including this intriguing variation on a basic spiral plait. Wheat straw was used to create the marquetry and cornucopia. Rye and wheat straw were used to make the various decorations filling the cornucopia. Just a few oat heads were included to provide a different texture and light reflection.