Linde Hermans designs Bristle seating to mimic jumbo brushes
Belgian designer Linde Hermans has developed a collection of furniture that evokes traditional wooden brushes, propped up by thousands of bristles that function as an alternative to wheels or gliders.
The Bristle collection comprises several objects that aim to balance function and form, including seating, side tables and coffee tables.
Hermans constructed the pieces using black-stained oak and various natural fibres. The fibres evoke the bristles of a brush, especially when the pieces are moved around, which creates the impression of sweeping.
The designer used natural materials such as reed or the tough fibres of palm leaves for the bristles. She created the pattern for positioning the fibres, drilled holes and inserted them by hand in her studio.
Each bunch of fibres is secured by hammering in a small wedge made of beech wood, introducing a subtle finishing element that speaks to the heritage of craftsmanship involved in making brushes.
The collection aims to celebrate humble objects that many people use daily without paying them much attention.
Hermans, who has previously created works that reinterpret existing brushes, told Dezeen she was intrigued by the history of these objects and the craft involved in making them.
"The brush evokes movement and action, symbolises cleaning, and sweeps away the old to make way for the new," she said. "Through a repetitive process, it becomes clear that beauty emerges from time, patience and care."
"A brush always suggests movement," added the designer. "That sense of motion allowed me to transform it into a mobile interior object."
A pair of limited-edition pieces utilises an alternative to the vegetal fibres in the form of reclaimed baleen – a material taken from the plates of baleen whales, which was once used in traditional brush making.
"I came across this old stock, the fibres already split and cut to size for brush making," explained Hermans.
"The material is dark, almost black, yet interspersed with lighter strands, creating a subtle and beautiful variation in tone at the base of the object."
With the baleen pieces, Hermans hopes to highlight the history and impact of whaling.
A portion of the proceeds from their sale will be donated to Sea Shepherd, a charity dedicated to protecting and preserving the oceans and marine life.
Hermans obtained a master's degree in product design in 1997 and worked for several renowned design studios before founding her own label Rode Schoentjes.
Her work straddles applied and visual arts, often reinterpreting familiar objects in playful ways to create new meanings that encourage the viewer to reflect on how we perceive the everyday.
Previously, Norwegian designer Poppy Lawman created steam-bent tabletop crumb brushes to encourage a slower, more conscious way of living, while Oornament Studio produced a set of porcelain artists' paintbrushes that are both functional design objects and decorative sculptures in their own right.
The photography is by Linde Hermans.
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