Ask many interior designers and
furniture salespeople what is the
difference between wicker and rattan, and
you will get puzzled looks. Many think the terms are interchangeable. Not so fast grasshopper.
Wicker is not a material. There is no
material on Earth called wicker. Wicker is an ancient technique or process used to manufacture items out of natural materials, such as
willow, rush, bamboo,
rattan, and synthetic resins. The natural materials are made wet so that they can be easily
woven to create wicker design furniture pieces. Some
manufacturers may use the phrase cane furniture in place of either rattan or
wicker furniture. Loomed wicker is another type of wicker furniture. As the
name suggests, loomed wicker is made mechanically. It uses tightly twisted Hemp
paper that looks like rope. This rope-like
material is then woven by the machine into a wicker fabric. The loomed wicker
material is then coated completely on both sides with a flexible latex paint.
Rattan is a specific natural
material. Unlike the bamboo pole which is hollow, rattan boasts a
strong core and is thus durable and even hard to break. In its original form, rattan
is a relative of the tropical palm tree. Rattan starts to grow upwards like a tree but then bends back to the ground and
snakes through the rainforest like a
vine. After a few years of growth, the rattan vines can be as long as 500 feet.
When harvested they are cut into 12 to 18-foot
sections.
The solid core
of rattan along with vertical grains is generally steamed and then bent into the desired shape through the use of
specialized shapers. Once the rattan has dried, it will retain its shape
forever. The outside skin of the
rattan pole, which is the peel, is generally used to bind the furniture joints
together.
Rattan vines may also be peeled
mechanically to form thin slats for weaving. The curved outer layer is also
used as a decorative trim to hide the rough seams created by the wicker
process. The rattan poles can also be put into a machine that cuts the
rattan lengthwise into spaghetti-like
shapes.
Rattan is considered to be one of
the strongest woods available since its
grain grows vertically instead of forming the concentric rings of most other
hardwoods. With over
600 different species, Rattan comes in a variety of natural
colors, and the color is dependent on the
soils where the rattan grows, generally in Southeast Asia. That means that
no two pieces of wicker furniture made from rattan are alike. Rattan
has been used for furniture because it is lightweight, durable, flexible, and
attractive. At Wicker
Home & Patio Furniture, we offer 20 different frame finishes that
will fit with any décor.
Rattan furniture is best used
indoors. Sun and rain are hard on rattan if it spends too much time outside.
For the outdoors, we invite you to look at our outdoor wicker furniture.