Modern straw work has developed from techniques originally found in straw plaiting, for the hat industry, corn dollies and straw marquetry. It has also incorporated straw work techniques found in other countries.
During the 1960s and 1970s, various prominent workers around the country introduced new designs and raised the craft’s profile through their books and media interest. There was easy access to courses through local authority and private courses which enabled learning and allowed more people to enter the craft.
Straw work is normally produced using a cereal crop straw: most commonly wheat, but sometimes rye and/or oats. Barley is not normally used. The straw is usually an old variety with a long stem.
In the 1980s a group of straw workers travelled to Switzerland to learn more about the techniques and patterns which had been used in the Swiss hat industry. These techniques were incorporated into the repertoire of many workers.
International exchanges in the late 1990s early 2000s led to new techniques and designs coming into the UK from the USA, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Hungary, Serbia, Belarus, Ukraine. Workers from other countries have held workshops in the UK, introducing their traditional ways of working and their designs. Today a design may incorporate marquetry, plaiting, tied work, folded work, split straw work and embroidery using straw as the thread.
Today workers, in general, learn and use a range of skills to produce copies of existing designs or to create new designs. The designs and new techniques are now sourced from other countries including, but not exclusively those listed above.
Thatch ornaments
Thatch ornaments are most frequently documented as being a simple decoration for a rick or stack. The protruding end of the inner support was finished with a bundle of hay or corn held secure with a decoratively wound length of straw rope.
It appears that over time, designs evolved as an end of harvest work occupation and recorded as being used to identify the owner of a rick or the work of thatcher. In the 1930-1950s they are found extensively throughout the UK but disappeared as soon as ricks and stacks were no longer made.
Thatched roofs have also been decorated with ornaments, either simple or more complex according to the maker. They are placed for good luck, as an identifying mark for the thatcher or at the request of the homeowner. They can be dated back to the 17th century. Some thatchers preferred to place the ornament inside the roof space for good luck and as their signature.
Most ornaments are made to represent animals but can be made in the shape of other objects.
Rick/stack ornaments were only intended to last for as long as the rick or stack stood. Makers of thatch ornaments intended them to last much longer and now cover the designs with wire mesh to protect them from the elements and bird damage.
For most forms of work, the straw must be hollow-stemmed and long length. In general, only the top section from seed head to first leaf node is used for plaiting. The second joint may be used for marquetry. Except for spiral plait, joining is not normally incorporated into the plait. For this reason, the plait is only made to the length of the available straws. In contrast straw plaiting for the hat industry, from which some techniques are taken, used short lengths of prepared straws and regular joining was part of the process.
The preparation of the straw is specific to the different techniques and adapted to the type of straw being used. According to the technique used a suitable type, size (by length and diameter) and quality of straw has to be selected. Straw has to be damped before use. Straw may be bleached or dyed using a number of methods.
Construction methods include:
Swiss straw work techniques are incorporated into the repertoire of makers but as the name implies the techniques were not traditionally found in the UK
Historically straw work covers a range of skills which draws from a wide range of local forms.
Thatch Ornaments
There are also other international organisations used by straw workers in the UK
Specialist short courses
There was a City and Guilds qualification available at two levels but it was withdrawn due to lack of take-up and restructuring of their offer. With the loss of the City and Guilds courses there is no formal progression to learning.
As the only formalised UK organisation the Straw Craftsmen recognises that its membership does not include all makers in the country. They make clear that the information supplied in this questionnaire cannot be entirely accurate and are aware this list of makers is incomplete. The Straw Craftsmen and Heritage would be delighted to add more names to this category in future editions.
Thatch Ornaments
Websites
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Research Papers
Publications
Museums holding research collections:
Thatch Ornaments
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