Porch Broom

An oiled birch and piassava fiber porch broom designed by Lovisa Wattman for Iris Hantverk. Ideal for the fireplace or for sweeping up leaves and dirt from the entrance and patio.

Made in Sweden

21.5" L x 4" W

The handle is made from oil treated Birch and the bristles are Arenga fiber, a natural and very hardy fiber that holds up well to years of use. Arenga also makes a great fireplace sweep.

Iris Hantverk has been making wood and natural fiber brushes in the tradition of Swedish brush binding since the late 19th century. Visually impaired artisans continue these traditions today, creating brushes and tools that are both beautiful and functional.

Oil treated Birch and Piassava fiber (from various locations).

The African piassava (Riphia Renefern), is not extracted from the leaf casing but from the stalks of palm species which grow in the swamp areas of West Africa. During preparation, the stalks are steeped in water, after which fleshy parts of the leaves are removed. After the stalks are dried in the sun, they are threshed by hand with flails and flax-combs. The African piassava is light brown or reddish brown color. The length of the stalks vary, as does their stiffness and elasticity.

The Bahian-piassava is obtained from the leaf of the Attaléa palm. The leaf is enclosed in a casing which separates when the leaf is fully developed. The casing if left hanging on the trunk and after some time only the dark brown fibres remain. The fibres are allowed to rot after which the 1-4 metre long fibre stalks are dried in the sun and sorted. The Bahia piassava grows in the Brazilian province Bahia. The Bahia piassava is an excellent material for road brushes as it is tough and elastic.

Madagascar is a type of piassava and comes from the leaf fibre of the Bonitra palm, Raphia Pendunenlata. The name of this raw material indicates its place of growth, i.e. Madagascar which lies off the east coast of South Africa. The fibre are extracted by rotting. The raw material is dark brown in color and is characterised by its elasticity and durability. Madagascar is used for yard brooms, mattresses and upholstery brushes.