An Obscure Item from the Past

     Here's something that is new to me, but really pretty old. It's a broom made from one piece of wood. The grain is cut in then peeled back. Then the fibers are turned over and bound. Solid wood broom or a split/splint wood broom as they are sometime known as have a rich history that seems to almost be forgotten.

     I have an old article/study by a fellow in Michigan originally published in the early 30's. His research took him to Walpole Island and he observed an Ojibwe man making these. Looks as if these were made by many of the tribes that also made splint baskets. They were an early trade item made and sold to white settlers.

     The claim is that this technique is unique to North America. Any readers in Europe heard of this technique?

     Another wooden marvel lost in time.