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The History of Rattan Furniture: A Brief Overview

Rattan is a hardy and tough vining or climbing plant that grows best in tropical jungle-like environments. The vining palm or ratan is native to Asia; this type of palm can reach up to 500 feet and has a diameter of several inches. Rattan is a vine that belongs to the palm family. It is as light as bamboo but stronger and bug-proof. Originally, it has received recognition around the globe for the high quality and flexibility of its vine, which is utilized for extra-durable baskets, chairs, sofas, walking canes, tables, bed frames, boxes, and other decorative items. Furniture and other facilities produced from rattan can usually resist the rain, scorching heat, and other harsh weather and may, in fact, last for several generations.

The Native Habitat of Rattan

 The greatest variety of rattan palms can be seen in the virgin tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia; types of rattan also grow in other tropical regions of the continent. Today, most of the rattan produced is from the Philippine islands, where the vines are cut and arranged as poles and sold for the construction of furniture and other items. The poles are 13 feet each.

How is Rattan Sourced?

The process of harvesting rattan involves cutting and stripping the vines from the palms, which is very destructive and time-consuming. Lots of manpower is needed for this process. There are two methods used for harvesting rattan: manually removing one or severing many stems or using machines to cut large areas of growth simultaneously.

A Historical Overview of Rattan Furniture

Rattan is a material that has been used for thousands of years. It has been in the human diet for more than 6,000 years. Because it is hard and strong, it was also used to prepare weapons such as spears and arrows.

Throughout history, rattan has long been prized for its several properties that make it useful for making furniture:

·        Lightweight: Rattan has the disadvantage of being relatively light in weight because it is made from thin strips of wood woven together to form other more significant pieces. This makes rattan more portable than if made of metal or plastic. For instance, it is easier to transport.

·        Durable and Long-lasting: Rattan is very strong and flexible, making it hard-wearing. It won’t break easily or crack if something bumps into it, either! This makes rattan ideal for indoor and outdoor use, that is, in patios and other areas within your house.

Evolution of Rattan as Furniture Material

Rattan started transforming the modern world when it gained widespread use as a material in furniture. Rattan furniture items include chairs, tables, lamps, and frames of windows. Rattan furniture was especially popular during the Victorian style due to the appearance of furniture in the Western world through trade with tropical countries. It was also easy to maintain, which made it popular among people who traveled frequently or those living in apartments with limited space. They found it fashionable to use rattan for their homes as it provided them with a touch of the exotic that was not afforded by any other material, such as wood or metal. As it is a flexible material, it can simply be cut and shaped into any form using tools such as saws or axes. Rattan can also be painted with any color you desire if you don’t prefer its natural color, mostly brown or blackish brown if exposed to the sun.

In the latter half of the nineteenth century, Europeans searched for materials to replace wood in furniture production. Rattan appeared to be more suitable because, compared to wood, it required less intensive processing and was even more durable than cane or bamboo.

Rattan was also relatively cheap compared to other materials used in furniture production, which was an added advantage, especially for people who wanted to acquire exquisite furniture for their homes at an affordable price.

Tips for Selecting Rattan Furniture Pieces

Rattan furniture makes all kinds of items, but sofa sets and chairs are the most popular rattan furniture articles. But how can you be sure that the rattan sofa set you have come across is good? Here is how to go about it and get the best rattan furniture for your client's interior or patio project.

As a whole, the rattan pieces that are most desired are the ones with the highest number of closely coupled individual poles or strands, which are worked collectively to form the structure. Almost all rattan furniture contains between 2 and 10 strands, with six being the most popular.

Other aspects to consider for the selection of rattan furniture include the quality of the color and texture because any discoloration or grains that are not well done will reduce the price, the sharpness of the curves because any curves that have steep bends are difficult to make and a symbol of quality craftsmanship and thus are valued highly., Wrapping the poles where two meet is also valued because, when done intricately, it increases the price. Sometimes, the higher the number of layers used in the burial of rattan furniture, the higher the furniture would cost.

Conclusion

Now, rattan furniture is still popular among people who like furniture in interior and outdoor zones. It is very important that it is considered eco-friendly for people and nature because it is sourced from nature. As people change their lifestyle to one that is friendly to the environment, rattan’s value and relevance will remain unrivaled in the future.

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