What is Wicker Furniture?

History

• Wicker furniture has been around for a long time. The Egyptians first used it for chairs, and archaeologists have discovered evidence of their wicker furniture dating from about 3,000 B.C.
  Although the ancient Egyptians used reeds and swamp grasses, rattan is the most popular material for wicker furniture. Rattan, which is a type of climbing vine that attaches itself to trees, was grown in China and exported by means of clipper ships in the 19th century. The rattan canes were used to lash down the ship's cargo and discarded at the destination port.
  Cyrus Wakefield, a grocer with an eye for possibilities, began selling the rattan he found on the docks in Boston. His customers used it to make baskets and to weave chair seats and backs. In 1855, he moved to South Reading, Massachusetts and opened The Wakefield Rattan Company, where he began manufacturing wicker furniture.
  The Victorians loved ornate pieces, and used them indoors as well as outdoors. These styles were popular until the early 20th century. In the 1920s and 1930s, wood and metal replaced wicker in popularity, and clean, modern lines replaced fussy ornamentation. Wicker furniture regained popularity in the 1980s and is still being sold, although a modern variation is wicker-patterned chairs, tables and other pieces made of weather-resistant resin rather than natural materials. Wicker is also being used indoors once again, for dining sets, sofas, tables, chairs and bedroom furniture.

Making Wicker Furniture

• Since wicker refers to a type of woven article, rather than to any one material, it can be made of a number of products. Rattan is popular because it will bend without breaking. Willow and raffia have also been used, as well as grasses. Furniture frames are made of hickory, large poles of rattan, bamboo, aluminum or synthetic materials, such as resin. In traditional wicker weaving, the frame material, usually wood, rattan or bamboo, is heated and bent to the desired shape. The outer covering of the rattan canes is stripped away to give a smooth finish. The canes are then steamed to make them pliable, joined into longer pieces with leather or more rattan, shaped and woven around the frame.

Styles

• Open-weave wicker items produced in the early 20th century were often named for resort areas, such as Bar Harbor and Southampton. The Rockport Rocker is a traditional design, featuring a high back and a light, airy openwork design. Contemporary makers offer a variety of styles, both modern and reproductions. Bar Harbor now refers to any of the open-weave designs made in the early 20th century. Manufacturers are reproducing many vintage designs, including some of those produced by the Wakefield Rattan Company, later Heywood-Wakefield. Modern wicker furniture includes bistro sets, sleek dining tables and chairs, headboards, TV stands and storage racks, as well as more-traditional pieces such as sofas, love seats, tables and chairs.

Care

• Wicker made from rattan or other natural materials is not waterproof. Although it may be treated with a UV-resistant finish, natural wicker is vulnerable to wet weather and direct sunlight. If you're using it outside, place it in an area that's protected from the elements. To remove loose dirt and soil, dust the furniture with a soft brush, or vacuum with a drapery attachment. Clean with a damp soft cloth. Remove stains using a mild dish soap and water. You should never use harsh cleaning products on your wicker furniture.

Buying Wicker

• You can find wicker in a wide range of prices. If you crave authenticity, some antique dealers sell vintage pieces. Reproductions of early American wicker furniture are offered by specialty marketers such as Yesteryear Wicker. Modern wicker is readily available in pieces to use in any room of your home, as well as outdoors, in styles both traditional and contemporary. Online retailers, as well as garden centers, home stores and furniture retailers carry wicker pieces. Resin furniture designed to resemble wicker is probably the least expensive option, with the added benefit of weather resistance and durability.