Im Besengebiet / Field of Brooms

In the Bernese Oberland and other places throughout Switzerland, women make hand brooms from moor grass. Similar brooms are to be found in countries such as Greece, Spain, China, India and Ghana, as well as on the Cook Islands. The oldest examples, more than 3000 years old, are from Egypt. Given that the material used seems to be of no value, the artistry with which these everyday objects are made is astonishing. This richly illustrated book explores the traditional manufacturing techniques behind bound hand brooms, their global parallels, their importance in everyday life and their ecological dimension, including their link to specific landscapes. Experts point out the inherent potential in this use of local materials and what we can learn from earlier applications.