Popular during Victorian times, wicker has a nostalgic, romantic appeal
today. Wicker furniture is made from hard woven plant fibers such as
willow switches, rattan stalks, or straw reeds, which are usually attached
to a stiffer frame. Rattan, which is native to Southeast Asia, is a
climbing plant that can be bent without breaking; it is the most common
material used in the manufacture of wicker furniture. There are
several hundred species of rattan, all of which have fibrous stalks with
a hard coating. Rattan is vine-like; it can grow 500 to 600 feet
in length without being more than an inch and a half in diameter!
The outer surface is called the "cane" and the inner core is called the
"reed." The reed can be stained or painted any color, whereas the
cane cannot be.
How is rattan transformed from a vine-like plant into stylish rattan
furniture? After rattan is harvested, its leaves are removed.
The result is a highly polished, jointed cane. This cane is cut
into varying length canes that are used by wicker furniture makers.
Other materials used in the manufacture of "wicker" furniture include
willow, raffia, and fiber. Each material has pros and cons.
Willow is highly flexible yet easy to stain, while raffia is tough.
Fiber, which is made of machine-twisted paper, is soft and pliable yet
strong, as the fiber is generally wound around a wire center. Rush,
seagrass, and prairie grass have also been used in the manufacture of
wicker furniture. In many cases, wicker furniture is fabricated
from more than one of these materials. There is also an entire
industry devoted to the manufacture of wicker furniture using synthetic
materials, which can often enhance the furniture's strength and improve
its waterproof properties.
Wicker furniture has many benefits, including the fact that it is strong,
lightweight, and relatively inexpensive to make. With proper care
and treatment it can be used indoors as well as outdoors on a patio.
Cushions may be used to add comfort to wicker chairs and couches.
The ease of manufacturing wicker and wicker substitutes gave rise to the
creation of planters, chests, lamps, shelves, and many other forms of
this type of furniture, in addition to standard table and chair varieties.
The Wakefield Rattan Company began manufacturing wicker furniture in the
United States began during the mid 19th century. Wakefield
later merged with the Heywood Company to become the Heywood-Wakefield
furniture company. Wicker was also a popular furniture style
in Europe, especially in England, where it was influenced by the
Arts and Crafts movement.
Wicker is lightweight but sturdy, and it requires little maintenance.
It is often used in sunrooms and family rooms where a casual, breezy style
is desired. Natural wicker furniture can even be found on porches
where it is protected from the elements, and synthetic wicker is designed
for all-weather, outdoor use.
This supplier of all weather wicker furniture and
accessories features original designs ranging from traditional to
contemporary. www.LloydFlanders.com