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Quick Answer: How To Identify Vintage Wicker Furniture

How can you tell if wicker furniture is high quality?

A good quality wicker set should come with a thick aluminum frame, preferably powder-coated to prevent rust and for aesthetic appeal. The aluminum frame provides support to the seating area while maintaining its light weight construction that makes it easy for you to rearrange your patio furniture easily.

Are wicker chairs valuable?

There are famous wicker brands that could be quite valuable and there pieces that have no value even if they are very old. If it is a 1960s piece it is vintage, not an antique, but if the grandfather had it since the 1900s, it could be an antique. That may or may not make a difference in value.

How old is wicker furniture?

Wicker is the oldest furniture making method known to history, dating as far back as 5,000 years ago. It was first documented in ancient Egypt using pliable plant material, but in modern times it is made from any pliable, easily woven material.

How can you tell a wicker from a rattan?

“The difference is that rattan is a material, whereas wicker is the style and method of weaving,” Zoe explains. “Wicker can be woven from rattan as well as many other natural or synthetic materials, which is where the confusion often lies.”Mar 17, 2020.

How can you tell vintage bamboo furniture?

An easy way to determine if your furniture is bamboo or rattan is to see if any of the canes are bent or curved. If so, it is rattan! During the late 19th century, bamboo became popular as trim or supports on furniture inspired by Asian design.

What is Lloyd Loom wicker?

Loom wicker is wicker fabric that is made in a weaving loom in long sheets. Lloyd Loom wicker furniture is constructed by skilled craftsman that stretch the woven loom wicker fabric across the wicker furniture frames and attach it so that it is tight.

Why are wicker chairs so expensive?

The most important determining factor for why wicker furniture is so expensive is the wicker material. Resin wicker furniture, which is also known as all-weather wicker, is a durable and long-lasting weave made of resin fibers that are woven together to create a thick material.

What is antique wicker made of?

Wicker in its purist form is a type of basketwork, however, it has now become a generic term referring to furniture made of woven materials. Most sought after antique wicker is made of rattan, reed or paper fiber totally woven over hardwood steam-bent frames dating from the 1870s through the 1940s.

When did wicker furniture become popular?

Timeline of Wicker Furniture Victorian Wicker becomes popular during the Golden Era of the Victorian Era (1860-1880). Cyrus Wakefield, known as the Father of the Wicker Industry, founds Wakefield Rattan Company in 1851.

How can you tell Bar Harbor wicker?

The Bar Harbor Style It is characterized by hand woven criss-crossed reeds taking the form of diamond shaped lattice, finished in either a wide or narrow braided border. The frames of this open and airy style may be rounded with curves, or rectilinear as in Mission wicker.

Where did wicker chairs originate?

According to randomhistory.com, the first known use of wicker was in ancient Egypt circa 3000 B.C. Archaeologists who have studied and explored the area extensively have found furniture made from reeds and swamp grasses. Most likely the materials for this furniture were found along the shores of the Nile River.

Is wicker furniture handmade?

History of Wicker Furniture Wicker furniture was used thousands of years ago and is still used today. The interesting thing is that it’s still one of the most desirable types of handmade furniture. Unlike many other types of furniture, wicker furniture is entirely made by hand, not machine.

Are wicker and rattan the same?

In broad terms they describe much the same thing. More specifically, wicker refers to the woven construction method by which these items are made, while rattan refers to the material used for weaving. Rattan originally referred to a natural fibre harvested from a family of palms in Southeast Asia.

What does rattan look like?

Rattan is a liana, a wood-like vine with flexible stems. It looks like bamboo but it is solid, while bamboo is hollow in the middle. Like wood, rattan can be painted or stained, which has made it a go-to material for making furniture and other home goods.

What is the difference between rattan and PE rattan?

PE rattan withstands the outdoor elements outdoors, and it can handle humid or damp conditions, unlike natural rattan, which breaks down or becomes mildewed in wet environments. PE rattan is just one type of synthetic rattan; other types include PU (polyurethane) and PVC (polyvinyl chloride).

How can you tell the difference between cane and bamboo?

To Summarize: Bamboo is a grass and is hollow. The giant timber can grow to over 98 feet tall. It never grows as thick as bamboo or as tall. Cane is the outer bark of the rattan plant and used for tying pieces together and for wrappings such as finishing touches.

What is the difference between rattan and bamboo?

Rattan is a solid while bamboo is hollow. Despite being one of the world’s strongest woods, rattan is flexible and can be shaped into intricately designed furniture. Therefore an easy way to check if your furniture is rattan or bamboo is to see if any of the canes are curved or bent and if so, your furniture is rattan.

What is faux bamboo?

Not to be confused with natural rattan, faux-bamboo is man-made through a meticulous process. Each piece is cast from a hand-crafted mold and then assembled together. The look varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. Society Social’s slim reeds are a decades old, well-kept trade secret.