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A workshop born from a conviction...
The idea for La Balaiterie was born out of frustration at having to import everything and no longer having sustainable local manufacturing. This pushed us to reinvent our business.
Our visits to La Balaiterie and L'Art du Bois are: Informative, Unusual and Friendly.
What's New
Today, we handcraft practical, durable and unique brooms — from locally grown sorghum straw, then dried, sorted and dyed by our own hands.
About Us
Here at La Balaiterie, we are truly passionate about what we do.
Our goal is to help preserve an ancestral French know-how of making straw brooms, and to rehabilitate the machines of the brushmakers used for centuries.
Most importantly, we wanted to bring practical, durable, and unique products to market. All our brooms are designed not only to be beautiful, but also to be strong and practical. Each piece is handcrafted in our workshop in France, using locally grown sorghum straw, which is then dried, sorted, and dyed by hand.
The history of broom making
Brooms have existed for a very long time, but it was only in the 19th century that the first broom made of sorghum straw was created.
Shortly after sorghum was introduced to southern and southwestern France, the first broom of this type was meticulously handcrafted from a few strands of straw. Then, a brilliant idea emerged to add a handle, making it even easier to use.
After the end of World War II and the Industrial Revolution, broom manufacturers suddenly had a multitude of machines at their disposal to help them in their craft. This led to more elaborate, more durable brooms, and essentially the product we know and love today.
The Broom, Step by Step
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Step 1
Culture of
Broom Sorghum
Step 2
Construction
of the Soul of the Broom
Step 3
Blanket
of the Broom
Step 4
Press
to Broom
Spring Broom
Bring color and good cheer into your home!
With the Spring Broom, tradition meets whimsy. Each traditional sorghum straw broom is adorned with vibrant colors, making each piece unique. An everyday object reimagined with optimism by La Balaiterie, it's perfect for combining the efficiency of old-fashioned sweeping with the pleasure of a colorful and unique design.
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Discover our Bow Tie Collection
When expertise paints a new kind of elegance...
Discover our brand new Bow Tie Collection, an exclusive creation from La Balaiterie that poetically reimagines sorghum straw. Handcrafted in our workshop from our locally grown sorghum, these unique little bow ties combine the precision of traditional craftsmanship with a decidedly original decorative touch. Whether they enhance your home décor or boldly accessorize your everyday life, they embody our passion for preserving the art of brushmaking. Let yourself be charmed by this witty little piece of straw!
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The Art of Wood - A Unique Collection to Discover
It all began in 1978, the day Mr. Gilbert Housset's motorcycle broke down. He then conceived the idea of reproducing this motorcycle entirely in wood and at full size!
300 hours of work later, the result is breathtaking!
Mr. Gilbert Housset devoted his leisure time to his art.
Since then, around fifty works have been created by his hands.
On December 14, 1992, Mr. Gilbert Housset entered the "Guinness of Records" for the only clock entirely made of wood, including the mechanism, and which worked.
Gilbert Housset sculpts woods such as oak, elm, beech, iroko… chosen for their essences and colours.
The objects are made to a 1:1 scale, sometimes requiring up to 500 hours of work to achieve a piece perfectly identical to the original. 10 cubic meters of wood were sufficient to create all these models.
His work is already recognized in France and abroad.
Our values
Preserve
Our goal is to help preserve an ancestral French know-how of making straw brooms, and to rehabilitate the machines of the brushmakers used for centuries.
Quality
All our brooms are designed not only to be beautiful, but also to be strong and practical. We strive to offer unique, artistic, and custom-made pieces, wherever you are in the world.
Sustainable
Each piece is handmade in our workshop in France, from locally grown sorghum straw, which is then dried, sorted and dyed by our own hands.
What People Think of us
A remarkable career change. The preservation of a once-ubiquitous, now-vanished profession, all enhanced with numerous anecdotes and great creativity!
Pascal Rethore
A beautiful setting, a very warm welcome, and fascinating explanations of their craft! Their brooms are very beautiful and original, but there's an interesting variety of brooms and other items for wood lovers; it's well worth the trip, a must-see!
Philippa Tousch
Absolutely brilliant! What an incredible adventure! And the result is beautiful!
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