At House of Pomo, we love materials with a story, and this custom P.L.U.M.B. Pendant may be one of our favourites yet.
This one-of-a-kind piece features a folded diffuser made from handmade paper created from phragmites, a tall wetland plant harvested near Cumberland House, Saskatchewan. While phragmites is not considered invasive in this region, changes to the river delta caused by hydroelectric development and other human interventions have allowed it to spread aggressively, crowding out native aquatic plants.
The ecological impact extends beyond the landscape. Muskrats and beavers have begun using phragmites to build their dens, but unlike the native vegetation they traditionally rely on, phragmites offers poor insulation. As a result, many animals emerge from winter with reduced body condition, creating new challenges within the delta ecosystem.
In response, a collaborative research project involving the University of Saskatchewan College of Engineering, SaskPower, and other partners has been exploring ways to put this abundant plant to use. Potential applications range from biofuels to building materials—and, in this case, paper.
Using experimental sheets produced through that research, we folded and illuminated a custom diffuser for our P.L.U.M.B. Pendant as a small side project and a gift for the community in Cumberland House. The warm glow highlights the texture and fibres of the handmade paper, transforming an ecological challenge into something thoughtful, useful, and beautiful.
