Felicity Irons of Rush Matters has revived the centuries old British craft of rush working: “Rush is a fantastic material; practical and durable but also beautiful. You get such fantastic colors–vibrant greens, dark browns, purples, pinks–and it’s naturally aromatic.” The process from harvest to finished product is done entirely by hand using traditional techniques. During the summer months, Irons and her team collect freshwater bulrush on the rivers of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Northamptonshire. The rush dries naturally in the sun and over time mellows from green to a warm honey color. She and her group of artisans then braid the rush into bespoke floor matting, as well as beautiful bulrush baskets and tableware. Coveted around the world, her matting has been installed in museums such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Frick Collection. In 2017, Irons was awarded the British Empire Medal for her work reinvigorating this traditional craft.
