Lovely Antique Horsehair Hearth Broom craft as art but it opens and closes

but it opens and closes with ease and provides lots of space for stashing all manner of things

It was definitely made quite a long time ago—the aging to the painted surface is just gorgeous—and

I found this wonderful box at an estate sale in MA in a modest house packed to the gills with a long lifetime's accumulation

And the face is pretty great too

Lovely Antique Horsehair Hearth Broom craft as art but it opens and closesI believe this lovely small broom likely dates to the mid to late 19th century and would be referred to as a hearth broom, perhaps once part of a set of fireplace tools. I think it is really great looking, with a nice warm patina to the wood and full head of black horsehair bristles perfect for hanging on the wall as part of a brush or broom collection, but also definitely ready to put to use! 20 1 2" long x 6" across at head, 1 1 2" deep. Very good