Besom Collection

Craftsmen making besom brooms and wooden rakes
Two craftsmen sit on narrow benches, making besom brooms and wooden rakes. Painting by Malcolm Greensmith

Craftsmen make besom brooms and wooden rakes
Two craftsmen sit on narrow benches, making besom brooms and wooden rakes. Painting by Malcolm Greensmith

The New Playmates - Siblings and new bunnies
The New Playmates - A young brother and sister meet a basket of new bunnies. circa 1920s

Sweeping Snow, 1890s (oil on canvas)
5672882 Sweeping Snow, 1890s (oil on canvas) by Hassam, Childe Frederick (1859-1935); 23 x 18 cm; Cleveland Museum of Art, OH, USA

Paying the Hostess, c. 1670 (oil on canvas)
3492998 Paying the Hostess, c.1670 (oil on canvas) by Hooch, Pieter de (1629-84); 94.6x111.1 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA; Dutch, out of copyright

Sugar Refiner (engraving)
2802004 Sugar Refiner (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Sugar Refiner. Illustration for An Illustrated Vocabulary For The Use Of The Deaf And Dumb (SPCK)

Farmer (engraving)
2801969 Farmer (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Farmer. Illustration for An Illustrated Vocabulary For The Use Of The Deaf And Dumb (SPCK)

The Smokers, c. 1636 (oil on wood)
3493095 The Smokers, c.1636 (oil on wood) by Brouwer, Adriaen (1605/6-38); 46.4x36.8 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA; Flemish, out of copyright

La Cuisiniere, from Architecture Vivante, 1780-1830 (hand coloured engraving)
1199924 La Cuisiniere, from Architecture Vivante, 1780-1830 (hand coloured engraving) by French School, (18th century); Private Collection; The Stapleton Collection; French, out of copyright

Women street sweepers, Moscow
Two women street sweepers take a break and sit on a bench in a Moscow, street, USSR Date: circa 1978

Warsaw street sweeper, winter
A woman street sweeper brushes snow in a Warsaw park, Poland Date: 1987

Jam-Making, 1876, (1965). Creator: Vladimir Makovsky
Jam-Making, 1876, (1965). Painting in the State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow. From " Russian Painting of the 18th and 19th Centuries" by Vladimir Fiala. [Artia, Czechoslovakia, 1965]

Road in Etten, 1881 (chalk, pencil, pastel, w / c, pen and brown ink)
3432908 Road in Etten, 1881 (chalk, pencil, pastel, w/c, pen and brown ink) by Gogh, Vincent van (1853-90); 39.4x57.8 cm; Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA; Dutch, out of copyright

An Eminent Judge of Broom Besoms!! 1805 (engraving)
3086761 An Eminent Judge of Broom Besoms!! 1805 (engraving) by Kay, John (1742-1826); Private Collection; (add.info.: Old John Tait the Besom maker who Travelled the Country begging)

Pin-Up & Autumn Leaves
Cheesy blonde, grinning insanely, sweeps autumn leaves with a besom broom, wearing nothing more than a short checked shirt, belt & white knickers

Cinderella Flyer for the Theatre Royal in Darwen, Lancashire
Left-hand side of the front of a four-page flyer for the Theatre Royal in Darwen on 23rd December 1912. Mlle. De Rose Presents Her First Grand, Gorgeous & Comic Pantomime

Prince Henry of Wales - later Duke of Gloucester
Prince Henry of Wales, Duke of Gloucester (1900-1974) sweeping leaves with a childs besom broom. He also has a miniature rake and wheelbarrow. Date: circa 1903

2962900; out of copyright

Raphael Kirchner - Pretty lady on a Chimney with broom harp
Fantasy card by Raphael Kirchner - Pretty lady sat above the rooftops atop a Chimney plucking the strings of a broom harp Date: circa 1903

Bride and Groom in church doorway, May 1947
Bride and Groom in church doorway, May 10 1947 George Garland Collection West Sussex Record Office Ref No: Garland N28037

India - Road Sweeper brushing away with his broom

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Craftsmen have been making besom brooms and wooden rakes for centuries, honing their skills to create essential tools for everyday life. The artistry and craftsmanship involved in their creation is truly remarkable. In the workshop, skilled craftsmen meticulously weave together natural materials to form the perfect besom broom. With each stroke of their hands, they bring forth a functional yet beautiful tool that has stood the test of time. Besom brooms are not only practical but also hold sentimental value. They symbolize tradition and evoke memories of simpler times when siblings played with new bunnies in the backyard, creating lasting bonds and cherished childhood moments. One such craftsman who mastered this ancient trade was Ethel Parkinson. Her passion for woodworking brought her fame as she crafted besom brooms and wooden rakes with unparalleled precision and creativity. The artistic representation of sweeping snow in an oil on canvas painting from the 1890s captures both the beauty and necessity of these humble tools during winter months. It reminds us that even mundane tasks can be transformed into works of art. Another intriguing depiction showcases "The Manager" donning a buz-bee wig in a hand-coloured engraving from 1812. This whimsical portrayal adds an element of humor to an otherwise ordinary scene, highlighting how even those in positions of authority find joy in unexpected places. From paying hostess duties depicted in a captivating oil on canvas painting dating back to c. 1670 to engravings showcasing various professions like sugar refiners or farmers, it becomes evident that besom brooms play a role beyond domestic chores – they are woven into our social fabric. Artistic masterpieces like "The Smokers, " painted around 1636 on wood, showcase how these simple tools were present even during moments meant for relaxation or leisurely pursuits. They remind us that no matter what we do or where we go, besom brooms remain constant companions.