Rattan is a versatile material derived from the rattan palm, a vine-like plant native to tropical regions. It has been used for centuries in furniture-making due to its strength and flexibility. The long, sturdy stems of the rattan palm are harvested and woven together to create intricate furniture pieces.
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Rattan furniture is created from the stems of a tropical climbing palm known as rattan. This material is both strong and flexible, making it ideal for crafting chairs, tables, and benches. Rattan has been used for centuries in furniture production due to its durability and beauty. It originates from tropical regions such as Southeast Asia, Africa, and Australia. Evidence of rattan&#;s use in furniture production dates back to ancient times, with examples found in ancient Egyptian tombs.
Before we explore rattan furniture further, it&#;s important to clarify the distinction between wicker and rattan. Although the terms are often used interchangeably, they refer to different aspects of furniture production.
Rattan refers to the material itself, while wicker refers to the weaving technique used to create the furniture. Essentially, rattan furniture can be woven or non-woven, while wicker furniture is always woven.
One of the key reasons why rattan furniture is so popular is its unique set of characteristics and advantages. Let&#;s explore some of them:
Rattan furniture&#;s enduring popularity can be attributed to several factors. First and foremost, it emanates a natural charm that effortlessly complements various interior styles. Whether placed in a cozy living room or an elegant patio, rattan furniture brings warmth and character to any space. A chair is to live and cross generations, like the armchair Houlgate Green.
One of the reasons why rattan furniture is so popular is its suitability for both indoor and outdoor use. Its natural resistance to UV rays makes it an excellent choice for outdoor settings, as it can withstand prolonged exposure to sunlight without fading or deteriorating. Additionally, rattan furniture sets often come with removable cushions, allowing for easy customization and comfort.
Rattan furniture sets are an excellent choice for both indoor and outdoor areas. Let&#;s explore their applications in more detail:
Rattan is light in weight compared to many other types of furniture materials. This feature is particularly beneficial for outdoor furniture, allowing you to effortlessly shift pieces to accommodate gatherings or rearrange your outdoor space for a fresh look.
Additionally, rattan is a sustainable choice, which is a significant selling point in today&#;s eco-conscious world. The rattan palm grows quickly and reaches maturity within five to seven years, making it a readily renewable resource. Buying rattan supports local economies in tropical regions by providing employment opportunities and contributing to the livelihoods of communities.
To maintain the longevity of your rattan furniture, proper care is essential. Regular cleaning with a soft brush or cloth and mild soapy water will help remove dust and dirt. Avoid using harsh chemicals or abrasive cleaners, as they may damage the rattan fibers. Additionally, protecting your furniture from direct sunlight and excessive moisture will prolong its lifespan.
Rattan furniture is known for its natural beauty and durability, and has captivated design enthusiasts for generations. Whether you choose natural rattan or its synthetic counterpart, the allure of rattan furniture remains unmatched. Its versatility, lightweight nature, and sustainable qualities make it an ideal choice for indoor and outdoor design. The material can be used in a variety of settings and is environmentally friendly.
Is rattan the same as wicker? Not exactly, though the two sometimes get confused. Wicker actually refers to the method of weaving reeds together, rather than to the material itself. Today, most wicker furniture is woven using rattan, though some wicker makers prefer to use raffia, bamboo, or willow reeds.
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Another close relative, cane, is actually made from the same plant as rattan. The furniture-making material we call rattan, however, comes from the inner reeds of the vine, while cane is made using the outer bark.
Many species of rattan require exposure to biodiversity in order to flourish. In other words, they don&#;t thrive in a monoculture; they crave the dissimilar&#;which may be the reason Calamoideae has enjoyed such success living alongside people since ancient times. The large subfamily of palms currently includes over 600 individual plant species&#;all of which are found in the Afro-Eurasian tropics. That means habitat encroachment and climate change pose serious threats to the material&#;s existence. That being said, rattans are also brilliant adapters we could learn from&#;especially when it comes to thriving in dissonance.
A rattan rocking chair in an interior by Jean Caillette
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Following centuries of extensive use in tropical and subtropical Asia, species of rattan were first brought to the British Empire in the early 19th century by army and navy families returning from being stationed in the Pacific during World War II. Despite the cooler European climates, the rattan mementos they brought home held up nicely. As bamboo furniture and similar options gained popularity in Western decor, rattan became a staple for patios and decks, and eventually many of its admirers brought their rattan table-and-chairs sets indoors.
By the next century, the material had reached the Americas: US homeowners jumped on the bandwagon and began importing rattan furniture from the Philippines via steamships. Despite the equatorial origins, rattan pieces from this time period (s, &#;30s, and &#;40s) tend to display Victorian tastes, as that was the popular preference at the time. But soon, rattan tables and chairs began showing up in Hollywood movies and TV sets, conjuring a vibe of laid-back, exotic-island luxury that led to a huge uptick in the material&#;s popularity and a new interior decor style (sometimes called Tropical Deco or Hawaiiana).
&#;I can&#;t recall my first encounter with a piece of rattan furniture, but to me it has always been incorporated into design as a form of relaxation and escapism,&#; says Jamie Bayer, a Nashville-based vintage collector and seller at Dashwood Vintage (who uses the handle @possumshouseofrattan on Instagram). &#;During the late s and early s, bamboo furniture (which most people called rattan, whether made from bamboo or not) was popularized as a response to World War II ending,&#; she says. Rattan became an aspirational symbol, as &#;America looked towards Polynesian culture to inspire an easy, breezy way of life&#;thus starting the ongoing American obsession with tiki culture.&#;
By the &#;40s and &#;50s, California furniture designers like Calif-Asia, Paul Frankl, Herbert Ritz, and Don Loper began developing new methods and silhouettes for rattan furniture. (Frankl&#;s iconic Pretzel Arm chair is one notable example.) Some even began experimenting with different colored alternatives to bury for wrapping the rattan poles. Unfortunately some of these changes may have contributed to the downfall of rattan&#;s popularity, as these newer, more modern rattan pieces were seen by some as inferior to the earlier styles.
According to Bayer, rattan became associated with bohemianism in the &#;60s and &#;70s, which she considers more closely aligned with the aesthetics of the current rattan resurgence. Big names in rattan in the &#;70s and &#;80s included architect and furniture maker Henro Olko&#;who created beautiful, sought-after tables, sofa frames, and chairs using pliable bamboo, willow, rattan, and leather-wraps&#;and Milanese designer Gabriella Crespi, whose cult-following recently rejoiced when the designer&#;s daughter put her rattan-and-bamboo-heavy Bohemian 72 Collection (previously only available to private clients) into production for the first time. Intricate rattan club chairs from Olko&#;s Tiara Collection still go for soaring prices on the vintage market.
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