By Wicker Warehouse


MANY PEOPLE IN THE United States associate wicker furniture with the years since the Victorian Age. In many cases, the shape of wicker furniture certainly seems to evoke a certain Victorian sensibility; an emphasis on grace and even an elaborate style.

However, the truth about wicker and rattan history is much deeper. In fact, the history goes so far back that it just may surprise you.

Because wicker is a weaving process, it may be said that the first human beings to build shelter using a palm-weaving process were actually the first wicker furniture makers.

Weaving as a process for survival – building shelters, constructing clothing, etc. – is as ancient to human beings as is agriculture itself.

FWICKER FURNITURE'S HISTORY IS DEEPLY EMBEDDED...INTO THE HISTORY OF CIVILIZATION ITSELF b

So it may come as no surprise in this context to learn that wicker furniture’s history is not only deeply embedded throughout the years, but embedded into the history of civilization itself.

From basket weaving in the Fertile Crescent to Victorian wicker furniture to the modern age of outdoor-friendly furniture, wicker-rattan is a category of construction that has built a strong legacy throughout the world’s history.

But it only makes sense to start at the beginning; and by that, we mean the very beginning with an examination into the roots (forgive the pun) of Rattan itself.

Rattan vines growing in a jungle: These tropical vines are excellent alternatives to wood products used in the making of high-quality home furnishings for indoor or outdoor use. They're easier to harvest and transport than timber, and grow more quickly than trees.

Rattan: A Botanical History

In the plant kingdom, there is a family you might recognize: that of the Arecaceae.

The name might look like a tongue twister, so allow us to translate into a word that might be a little more familiar: palm. (The widespread use of the word "palm" has led to many people renaming this botanical family the Palmae or Palmaceae.)

This family includes 202 genera and around 2,600 individual species. Move a little further down the family tree and you’ll find the subfamily Calimoideae, which consists of three further sub groupings, or “tribes”: Calameae (Rattan), Eugeissoneae, and Lepidocaryeae.

The result is that the word “Rattan” actually does not refer to a specific species of plant, but rather an entire group of plants that fall under the “tribe” of Calameae, or Rattan plants.

FTHERE ARE SOME 600 SPECIES THAT FALL UNDER THE CATEGORY OF RATTAN N

In fact, there are some 600 species that fall under the category of Rattan. Many of these species actually differ in their growth behaviors. Some Rattan plants grow as shrubs, while others follow the “climbing habit” typically associated with palm plants.

Generally, the growth habits of rattan plants help scientists classify and separate each species. Rattan utilized for furniture tends to come from the high-growing plants that grow strong, long stems; however, a variety of rattan plants can be used for different purposes.

Unlike many other agricultural innovations that helped spark the agricultural revolution, the utilization of rattan plants did not come about as the result of cultivation. Instead, they largely were picked from wild growth throughout their history, to this day.

Overall, the human harvesting and use of palm plants has a rich history. The natural advantages present in many palm plants, from its generally lightweight-but-strong texture to its easy weaving and strong leaves, can come in handy in a number of ways. Coconut, for example, is a highly useful and edible fruit of the coconut palm.

It’s not unreasonable to assume that many members of the palm family had a vital role in the history of civilization because of their impact on trade. However, rattan stands out in the palm family for its own unique characteristics and uses, and it’s important to review these before further delving into the history of wicker furniture.

Ancient Wicker: Egypt, Rome and China

The history of rattan as a material for producing wicker weaving materials is difficult to trace.

It's unknown just how prevalent the rattan trade was from Southeast Asia and Australasia into the Fertile Crescent, where many of history’s great civilizations would grow to thrive and develop.

What is clear, however, is that wicker furniture and basket weaving was as integral to the formation of early civilization from Egypt to China as was, perhaps, any other method of construction or craftsmanship.

Wicker in Ancient Egypt: Our first stop is in Egypt, where the oldest examples of wicker have been found. Considering that ancient Egypt’s history dates back several thousand years, it’s not difficult to see the impact that wicker had on civilization.

There is no evidence to link ancient Egyptian wicker to rattan materials. Most scholars believe that ancient Egyptian wicker simply came from the lush source of reeds and fiber materials available around the Nile Delta. The Nile, of course, was the source of just about every material imaginable to the Egyptians, so it’s no surprise that wicker finds its roots there  as well.

The Nile wasn’t only a source of reeds, but also entire varieties of “swamp grasses.”

Generally, these reeds were wet (hence the term “swamp” grasses), but it wasn’t long before ancient Egyptians discovered the strength of their reeds after they were dried. Given the abundance of sun in northern Africa, this was not a difficult process.

W ARCHAEOLOGISTS HAVE FOUND CHAIRS, BASKETS AND CHESTS MADE FROM WICKER-WEAVING IN TOMBS OF PHARAOHS E

The process of drying out reeds that had already been moist not only allowed ancient Egyptians to discover how durable and malleable they were (e.g., the reeds could be molded into a certain position when wet and, as they dried, they would eventually come to hold that shape).

Today’s process of molding rattan is actually not entirely different from this ancient process. As the old saying goes: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it."

It’s believed that the distribution of wicker crafts varied according to class and wealth. For example, archaeologists have found chairs, baskets and chests made from wicker-weaving in the ancient tombs of Pharaohs. Evidence suggests that the “average” Egyptian family might have only been able to afford a couple of these luxury items.

Just as is the case today, exotic materials created by specific cultures would have been popular throughout ancient history. Wicker materials from Egypt were just as easy to trade as any other material, which helped wicker spread throughout the region of the Fertile Crescent, and even across the Mediterranean Sea.

Given how light these materials were, (similar to the rattan materials of today), it was not difficult to ship and transport wicker throughout the region. This helps explain the abundance of wicker crafts created throughout antiquity.

Wicker in Ancient Rome: Rome conquered Egypt during the civil war between Cleopatra (with her lover Marc Antony) against Octavian (the future “Augustus” and first emperor of Rome). When Octavian won, the Ptolemaic dynasty of Egypt – which had been ruling since the days of Alexander the Great – came to a close and Egypt came under control of ancient Rome.

The Romans were fond of exotic cultures, particularly that of Egypt. In fact, the Romans were happy to absorb the best characteristics of other cultures into their own; they even adopted the Greek system of mythology, giving their gods and goddesses new Roman names.

Wicker was no exception. Romans not only took to the Egyptian practice but also expanded on it, using wicker weaves to create privacy screens. Some say it may have been the ancient Romans who came up with the idea of creating swings made of wicker, a practice that continues to this day.

S EGYPTIANS USED THE ENTIRE COLOR PALETTE TO PAINT ON WICKER; ROMANS FAVORED NEUTRAL TONES, SUCH AS BEIGE OR WHITE A

Although the Egyptians tended to be fond of elaborate, exotic weaves, the Romans quickly adapted the wicker to suit their own tastes. Straighter lines and curves now seemed to take over the world of wicker.

While Egyptians used the entire color palette to paint on wicker, the Romans favored neutral tones, such as beige or white colors.

Because Rome contributed its massive infrastructure to the spread of wicker, it could be said that wicker truly gained popularity in the world when it was used throughout Rome.

Ancient Rome was able to unify the culture of the Mediterranean; thus, its influence on the world of wicker can’t be ignored. 

GWICKER TRULY GAINED WORLDWIDE POPULARITY WHEN USED THROUGHOUT ROME %

Specifically, Rome’s control and influence over the entire European continent should be remembered, because Europe would become the foothold for wicker through the Dark Ages, allowing the practice to be spread throughout the world later on. One place in particular wicker would later spread: China.

Wicker in China: Given China’s proximity to the ideal rattan-growing areas of Southeast Asia and Australasia, it may be tempting to presume its history of wicker is even richer than that of Egypt and Rome.

However, despite the abundant resources available for wicker weaving in China, some sources say that wicker did not reach China until the 15th century – well after the fall of Rome and especially after the heights of ancient Egypt.

The chief reason for the lack of wicker in China before then was that they simply weren’t familiar with the process. Trade routes between Europe and China had been established earlier than the 15th century, of course.

Marco Polo, the Italian (specifically, Venetian) merchant, traveled to China and documented these travels in the 13th and 14th centuries. (His adventures did a lot to establish a link between the two continents in terms of culture, trade and exploration.)

CCHINA'S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE WORLD OF WICKER WERE SIGNIFICANT; ITS PEOPLE USED A SMALLER, THINNER WEAVE FOR STORAGE BOWLS AND BOXES 8

This may help explain the delay in wicker in China before the 15th century. However, once discovered, contributions by China to the world of wicker were significant. Its people enjoyed using a smaller, thinner weave that worked well for storage bowls and boxes, and were especially preoccupied with creating lightweight boxes to store and protect their writings.

Wicker would go on to have an influence in the continent of Africa as well. However, its contributions to the world of wicker is generally not considered as significant of those listed above, probably due to a lack of resources.

WICKER IN EUROPE & THE VICTORIAN AGE

People who associate wicker-weaving with a more modernist approach – from the 19th century on – would likely appreciate how popular wicker became during the Victorian Age (the period of British history from 1837 through 1901 during the reign of Queen Victoria).

By this time, the American colonies had already become the American states. And while wicker as an art form had already arrived in the colonies during the age of exploration, it wouldn’t be until the Victorian Age that wicker would truly rise to prominence again.

Wicker in this era also would go on to be explored, refined and modified in new and interesting ways that helped ensure its long-term popularity that exists to this day.

In other words, wicker in Europe (and especially in the Victorian Age) went through many of its major formations during the history you’re about to read.

Pre-Victorian Europe: The Victorian Age in England was just one age among many throughout its history; it’s easy to forget the Norman, the Elizabethan, the Caroline and the Georgian Ages, for example.

The Victorian Age is of special relevance to Americans because of its close historical proximity, but the truth is that wicker survived to the Victorian Age thanks to its history in pre-Victorian Europe.

XWICKER ENCOUNTERED A REVIVAL DURING THE RENAISSANCE AND POST-RENAISSANCE YEARS C

Wicker, of course, survived the fall of Rome (which many experts place around 476 A.D.). Marco Polo (and other European tradesman and explorers) would play integral roles in introducing many popular European customs and cultural influences not just in China, but in the newly discovered continents west of the Atlantic Ocean.

The seemingly ever-shrinking world came to appreciate the antiques of ancient Roman culture, as well as the contribution of resources now available through global trade.

Indeed, as explorers poked and prodded around the Earth, they shortened the trips from India to England, further closing the gap between mainstream Europe and non-European cultures.

With rattan flourishing in Southeast Asia, and a renewed interest in the Roman style during an age of neo-classicism, wicker was one of the cultural imprints of antiquity that encountered a revival during the Renaissance and post-Renaissance years.

Later, when the quality of rattan’s strength as a base for wicker became increasingly common knowledge in Europe, demand for this resource would eventually go up, as would demand for the furniture fashioned from it.

Trade, however, was constantly interrupted in the pre-Victorian years due to frequent wars (including the Revolutionary War in the U.S. and the Napoleonic Wars). It wasn’t until the peaceful trade of the Victorian Age that wicker would truly begin to expand to its current status as a world-renowned furniture style.

Victorian Europe: Generally speaking, the Victorian Age coincided with the Industrial Age, the period of major changes in transportation, manufacturing and craftsmanship. It’s no wonder, then, that wicker furniture saw major changes in the Victorian Age as well.

Thanks to well-established trade routes and the European Age of Exploration, and the discovery of rattan’s particular strengths, wicker was essentially destined for a renaissance all its own during the Victorian Age.

European and American minds alike found that wicker furniture was conveniently more lightweight, less expensive, and easier to clean than the traditional upholstered furniture of the day.

wWICKER FURNITURE WAS MORE LIGHTWEIGHT, LESS EXPENSIVE AND EASIER TO CLEAN THAN TRADITIONAL UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE i

Wicker also was a natural match for meeting the stylistic demands of the day. While elaborate furniture designs may have only been relegated to Europe's Upper Classes in the pre-Victorian age, the Age of Manufacturing left a Middle Class that demanded something similar to its style...even if it wasn’t quite the same price as what High Society people paid.

The fact that wicker furniture is easy to paint contributed to its expanding popularity during the Victorian Age, too. Painting wicker white and other natural colors (which, maybe not so coincidentally, was also popular in Ancient Rome) was a standard practice throughout these times, contributing to the styles of wicker we’re generally familiar with today as Americans.

By the time the Victorian Age wrapped up, the world had already crossed into the 20th century. Worldwide trade had become a common practice, and wicker already had cemented itself as a common way to produce furniture throughout the Western world. Additionally, rattan as a material for wicker had grown to an immense popularity, including in the United States.

WICKER ARRIVES IN THE AMERICAS

Before moving on to wicker’s more modern history in the Americas, it may be appropriate to take a step back and ask an important question: How did wicker get here in the first place?

Indeed, wicker’s history in the Americas does predate the Victorian Age. Wicker came here with the earliest of settlers, both as a resource for furniture and as a skill, or piece of knowledge.

Because so much transportation was handled by boat, it was important to have storage bins and other furnishings that were lightweight and, when filled, did not add much to the overall load of a transatlantic journey.

Subsequently, wicker suitcases and wicker traveling trunks became very popular in the Americas. In many cases, this was simply due to the fact people traveled lightly on their way across the ocean.

It may not have been any European’s specific intention to bring over their wicker luggage to the Americas as a method of introducing it to this culture. Instead, wicker largely first arrived in the Western Hemisphere simply because it was convenient to travel with.

With the Victorian Age now on the horizon, and a presence of wicker already established in the Americas, the conditions were ripe for a wicker explosion in the United States in the 19th century.

Early Wicker in America: With the foundations for wicker’s presence in America already laid by the earliest settlers and travelers who brought it usually as a matter of convenience because of its lightweight properties, wicker was ready to take a more prominent role in the Americas.

The major change here, of course, was the fact the colonies of British America won their independence from the crown in the late 18th century. Americans, however, still retained many of their British sensibilities.

Y WICKER SUITCASES BECAME VERY POPULAR IN THE AMERICAS AS PEOPLE TRAVELED LIGHTLY ON THEIR WAY ACROSS THE OCEAN a

Not only would British and Americans continue to share a common language, but in many ways they would share a common culture as Victorianism. This was going to be very apparent in the way Americans would come to embrace wicker furniture throughout the 19th century.

But Americans weren’t only going to follow in the world of wicker: They were primed to take a role of prominent leadership, primarily thanks to the innovations of one key man.

In just a few short centuries, the idea of wicker in the Americas would be reshaped from European influence, into a newly minted American style. Let’s trace the history of wicker as it underwent its transformation in the United States.

Wicker in Colonial America: Prior to the United States winning its independence from the British crown, very few citizens thought of themselves as “Americans.”

They were colonists, to be sure, but they were also British colonists, loyal to the crown of Great Britain. It certainly follows that the cultural styling of Colonial America followed this pattern – one that would continue in similar fashion, for many years to come.

To these Americans, wicker furnishings and luggage were part of the culture they brought with them from Great Britain. Not only did colonials bring their own materials when they sailed from England and Europe, but they also brought their skills. It wasn’t long before colonial Americans were producing their own wicker furnishings.

I AMERICANS IN THE 20TH CENTURY WERE PRIMED TO TAKE A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE WORLD OF WICKER PRIMARILY THANKS TO ONE MAN z

Though rattan wicker had been produced before, it certainly hadn’t reached the popularity of today, and for a long time was relegated to mostly baskets and small, storage-based items.

One of the earliest wicker artifacts known to exist in the Americas was a cradle. This layette  essential was a popular wicker item in the Americas for a long time before wicker was truly explored to its Victorian and post-Victorian heights.

After the Revolutionary War, the state of wicker in America (for the most part) didn’t change for several decades. However, a transformation was on the horizon – one that would alter the destiny of wicker furniture in America as well as throughout the world.

CYRUS WAKEFIELD

The utilization of rattan was not uncommon in the Americas or throughout the world prior to the mid-1800s. The major problem, however, was that not many people seemed to recognize the potential of this strong-but-pliable material as a natural resource to be matched up with the wicker process.

In fact, Europeans at large didn’t seem to realize how to properly utilize rattan beyond using it as a way to hold ship cargo in place on their wooden ships. The material was considered so disposable that many sailors would simply dump it once their cargo reached harbor.

Yet it was this very same unwanted material, treated as garbage, that Amercan Cyrus Wakefield would utilize to change forever how rattan and wicker furniture was made.

Wakefield not only realized rattan was ideal for creating wicker, but also that rattan wicker furniture was an idea with a lot of potential. He took the discarded rattan and shaped it into products he made himself until his enterprise was successful enough to begin manufacturing on a large-scale basis.

YTHIS SAME UNWANTED MATERIAL ...WOULD BE USED BY CYRUS WAKEFIELD TO CHANGE FOREVER HOW RATTAN AND WICKER FURNITURE WAS MADE e

Wakefield eventually established a factory for producing his products in South Reading, Massachusetts. Later, the town changed its name to simply “Wakefield” in recognition of the businessman's accomplishments and local influence.

Wakefield’s influence on the world of rattan and wicker can’t be understated. As other furniture-makers began to realize the possibilities of using rattan for wicker as well as for support (sometimes deferring to wood for straight-corner items) – even in furniture that people could sit on for leisure – the industry of wicker furniture in the Americas would take off...this time, for good.

WICKER LEADING INTO MODERN TIMES

In 1897, Wakefield’s company would merge with Heywood Brothers & Company, forging together two of the most prominent makers of wicker furniture at the time.

The two companies, now working as one, went on to create a highly influential wicker furniture catalog (dubbed “Classic Wicker Furniture”) that would help set the tone for wicker in the modern United States.

sFURNITURE ONCE RELEGATED TO PHARAOHS, NOBELMEN AND THE UPPER CLASS WAS NOW AVAILABLE TO EVERONE d

By now, wicker and rattan were not limited to being used on transportation. Instead, they were being utilized to their full potential in a full range of items, from chairs and end tables, to couches and swings. With all of these options printed in one place (the new catalog), a modern age in wicker furniture was being developed.

The catalog utilized the best assets of both businesses. One supplied the artistic designs, while the other handled much of the manufacturing as well as the logistics of the orders. With this new company providing just about everything wicker customers needed, wicker furniture was now much more readily available to a larger market. Furniture that had once been relegated to pharaohs, noblemen and the Upper Class was now available to everyone.

That is largely the state of wicker furniture in the modern world. The 20th century would see real modernization for wicker furniture. With the Industrial Revolution infusing the manufacturing base for widespread sale of wicker furniture, companies like Heywood Brothers & Wakefield Company were now able to reach a much wider base.

This sets the stage for our final chapter in wicker history: explaining the modern history of wicker furniture and why wicker furniture finds itself where it does in the 21st century.

Modern Wicker and Rattan

If you really want to understand your new wicker and rattan purchases from a historical context, we’ll have to take a look at modern wicker and rattan history, especially the decades throughout the tumultuous and ever-changing 20th century.

innovations in the Industrial Age changed how products could be produced. There was greater efficiency in manufacturing for a number of items; wicker furniture was no different. And though wicker furniture would still often be hand assembled, the growing influence of machines meant it could be more affordably produced as well.

E JUST AS WICKER WAS ABOUT TO UNDERGO AN INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION, AN UNEXPECTED OBSTACLE AROSE a

Moreover, a new devotion to arts and crafts would shape the destiny of wicker furniture too as it entered the modern scene.

Wicker in Early 20th Century: After the merging of the Wakefield and Heywood Chair Manufacturing Company, wicker was poised to make its national presence known. Because the Heywood Company had developed a way for wicker to be weaved mechanically, wicker was about to undergo an industrial revolution much in the same way automobiles would arrive on the scene.

But even as these plans were set in place, an unexpected obstacle arose. The problem? Wicker began to experience a slight decline in the popularity during the early 20th century. Wicker patterns which had been popular during the Victorian Age weren't as attractive to modern sensibilities that favored a more simplistic style.

Popular wicker companies of the time (including Wakefield and Heywood) changed their wicker patterns for chairs and similar furnishings that attempted to offer the new looks customers wanted.

During this time of upheaval a competing designer, Marshal Lloyd, came up with a new innovation  to further boost the popularity of wicker. His game-changing idea was to create wicker furniture made from synthetic materials. This innovation cointnues to define the development of wicker furniture throughout modern times.

Using synthetic wicker had a distinct advantage over many natural types of wicker  because the synthetic materials (in many cases) were more durable, especially when exposed to weather elements like sun or rainfall.

This great innovation led to a renewed interest in wicker. Modern furniture of all types was  expected to be versatile and to able to handle a number of different environments. Now that synthetic wicker furniture had joined that group, many people considered this lightweight wicker furniture to be a viable option for their homes.

And because wicker furniture looks as natural outdoors as it does indoors, this new material option added an element of versatility for those wanting to bring some of their in-home furnishings outside for picnics and similar events. This renewal of wicker’s popularity was sustained throughout the century.

Natural vs. Synthetic: The creation of synthetic wicker gave customers another choice for their furniture in addition to natural wicker. The choice, however, revealed some advantages and disadvantages to each type of furniture materail.

Natural rattan or wicker furniture has a number of distinct advantages. In addition to being lightweight, strong and durable, it's also porous like wood. This means rattan is especially ideal for painting, coloring and even sealing. That's why it has a reputation as being a highly versatile material for making quality furniture in a number of ways. (One caution: Being porous, rattan should not be exposed to rain or intense sun.)

A QUALITY SYNTHETIC WICKER IS BETTER SUITED TO THE ENVIRONMENT THAN  NATURAL WICKER AS IT WICKS WATER AND MOISTURE AWAY EASILY ,

Synthetic wicker – also known as “all-weather wicker” – typically is made from an artificial material known as “resin," and often is made of plastic. There are many types of this man-made substance out there; one of the better-quality synthetics is HDPE (high density polyethylene).

Good synthetic wicker is dyed/colored all the way through; has a nice, thick wall to each strand;  and gives a nice, soft feel when touched. If you lean back against it you'll experinence some "give" (not rigidity), which makes the furniture more comfortable. The less-expensive synthetic wicker often is loaded with plastic. It has a firmer, less comfortable feel; may dry and crack easily; and generally has a shorter life.

Quality synthetic wicker is better suited to the environment than any natural option, considering it wicks water and moisture away easily; doesn’t rot when left out too long; and is highly resistant to sun damage. For owners who want to leave their furniture outside, these are all excellent features. That's why synthetic wickers are often preferred for the outdoors, while natural rattan furniture is chosen primarily for indoor use. 

To read more about synthetics vs. wicker, please click here.

PRESENT-DAY WICKER AND RATTAN 

Once only enjoyed by those with the highest social status, wicker and rattan is now available to just about anyone who is in the market for new furniture made of natural or synthetic materials.

Visit any serious wicker outlet today, and you'll see the results of thousands of years of history and innovation. Offered for sale will be a variety of wicker rattan furnishings, ranging from end tables, couches, beds and mirrors, to chairs, desks and filing cabinets.

Hopefully, after reading this brief history, you'll continue your education to find the perfect wicker and rattan furnishings to make your house a home. T