![\"image](\"https:\/\/staffblogs.le.ac.uk\/specialcollections\/files\/2022\/03\/Dryad-bookmark-rotated.jpg\")
<\/a>The Library was made aware of the collection by Maria Chiara Scuderi<\/a>, a PhD student in the School of History, Politics and International relations. Maria\u2019s PhD research is exploring the Dryad craftwork collection at Leicester Museum and Art Gallery, and seeks to generate new insights into the collection and what it tells us about linkages between Leicester and Empire. We have been very grateful to Maria for volunteering to help catalogue the collection. You can find out more about the Dryad museum collection in our online exhibition, Stories from the University Archives<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Dryad Collection consists of books, leaflets, and some journal volumes that once made up part of the library of the Leicester based Dryad Handicrafts Company. The Dryad Company had close links to the University of Leicester as one of its owners was a founder of the University, H.H. Peach (https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Harry_Peach<\/a> ). A large part of the Collection is made up of manuals on how to do arts and crafts, some books are published by the Dryad Press itself, and are written by Dryad Handicrafts employees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In this blog I will highlight a few of the unusual items I have come across.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The craft of paper work is illustrated by several books in the Dryad Collection. Paper is an accessible, cheap and light medium for craft, but with a little imagination appears to have endless uses, some of them quite unexpected. Paper work can be cut images creating a collage, or more sculptural uses of paper to create forms, shapes, flowers, sculptures and even costumes. Some of these ideas appear quite straightforward in the manuals, others are much more ambitious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Paper plaiting is an example of a fairly accessible paper work craft as illustrated in the book below which is from the Dryad Collection: There are clear illustrations for readers to work from:<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are examples of other plaited objects to create:<\/p>\n\n\n Paper can be used in a more 3D form to create sculptures as illustrated in another leaflet from the Dryad Collection, “Modelled paper figures” by Marion Blenkinsop. This leaflet has clear illustrations on how to build the structure of the figure:<\/p>\n\n\n Once decorated with a paper or cloth costume, the figure is finished:<\/p>\n\n\n A more ambitious use of paper is illustrated in the Dryad Collection book “Making paper costumes” by Janet Boyes. This book really pushes the limits of creativity with paper. If you are planning to go to a party there may be some costume ideas you might find helpful. Clear instructions are provided should you wish to create one of these costumes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\nAbout the collection<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Other volumes include material published further afield for example, North American books on basketry and weaving, German books on wooden toy making, and Scandinavian books on weaving and textiles. The publishing dates range from the late 19th century\/early 20th century through to the 1980s and illustrate many traditional working crafts that are now long gone in the UK and elsewhere. I have worked at the University Library for many years but on this project I found myself adding subject headings to the catalogue that I have never used before, e.g. Smocks, Musical instruments – Construction, Card weaving, Woodworking, Penmanship, Raffia work, Embroidery – Patterns, Coverlets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paper work <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Paper plaiting<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/a>Paper sculpture<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n<\/a><\/a><\/a>Paper costumes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Why not visit the Library\u2019s Archives & Special Collections to view items from the Dryad Collection? We are open to students, staff and members of the public with a library card (obtainable for free) and operate on an appointment based system (Tuesday-Thursday 10.30-4.45pm; Friday 1.15pm-4.45pm).<\/p>\n\n\n\n