What is Wicker?

Any product that is made with woven vines or stems is referred to as wicker. The word wicker is believed to be of Scandinavian origin, coming from the words wika, which means "to bend" in Swedish, and vikker, meaning "willow." The rattan vine, the material traditionally used for making wicker products in this country for the past 150 years, is still the most highly sought after material for wicker furniture. Rattan plants are climbing palms found only in the rain forests of Southeast and East Asia, Africa, and South and Central America. The highest quality rattan is the honey rattan of Southeast Asia, which is what is used by many of today's top manufacturers.

When good quality materials are used & the vines are woven properly, rattan woven furniture should last 100 years or more with normal use. Some wicker antiques of the Victorian period are still in use today. The oldest surviving wicker furniture dates from the Egyptian Empire. These pieces include chests made of reed and papyrus, wig boxes made of reed and rush, and wicker hassocks & chairs.

Wicker's durability comes from the properties of the material. A rattan vine, which can be cut into various widths and shapes, is filled with fibers running lengthwise through it, giving the vine the strength of multistrand cable. A vine will bend, but unlike wood, it will not splinter or break. Many Americans, who are accustomed to wood furniture, mistake wicker's flexibility for weakness.

Converting the fourteen-foot lengths of harvested vines into a piece of finished furniture involves a number of processes, virtually all of them done by hand. The thorny leaves of the vines are removed by pulling each length across a forked stick driven into the ground. Bundles of rattan are floated down the river through the jungle to the sea, where the material is cured in the sun before it is shipped to the factory. At the factory or at the wholesaler's, machines cut the vines into all kinds of shapes. The smooth, strong outer skin, or "cane," is often used to make chair seats, known as "cane seats." Cane is usually woven by a machine. Workers prefer to work with rattan core products that are still a bit green and pliable; but if the material becomes dried out and rigid, they simply soak it for a few minutes until it regains its flexibility. When steamed, rattan vines can be bent and twisted. As the material cools and dries after steaming, it gains rigidity. After drying, wicker will maintain its molded shape permanently. (Quoted by Yesteryear Wicker)

Wicker is the chameleon of the furniture world. Mix it with upholstered pieces and it fits. Pair it with polished wood and the room relaxes. Set it on your lawn and it's nap time. From living room to laundry room to lanai, wicker adjusts to your demands and makes itself at home.

For all its familiarity, wicker still has plenty of surprises. Wicker—literally, "to weave"—made its first splash two thousand years ago when the baby Moses made his safe passage on the River Nile in a wicker basket woven from reeds. Today, furniture makers fashion wicker in everything from the traditional outer skin of the rattan vine to spun paper fibers and high-quality, weather-impervious resins.

"Wicker has been huge since 1995, when the Smithsonian Institution did their wicker retrospective," said Michelle Moore, manager of The Caning Shop in Berkeley, Calif. "The trend started up again in Europe, where they reintroduced antique designs, then it moved here."

Wicker furniture became popular in the Victorian era, when its smooth surfaces and clean lines were believed to be more sanitary than upholstered furniture. European immigrants brought their wicker to America, where, as with every other import, it mutated to fit the New World.

In today's wicker, design follows function as well as fashion. Grandma's smaller, fussy designs have given way to large and comfy furniture in a wide range of colors. Brick red, hunter green and golden yellow finishes have outpaced white as colors of choice. Designs reach back to the '20s and '30s and are simple, sleek and sturdy. Wide seats with fat cushions beckon men as well as women.

"Guys like wicker because it's simple and natural," Moore said. "We're seeing a lot of designs that are made to fit the way men use furniture."

Resin and plastic, perfected to look like rattan, reeds and cane, can withstand any weather. Their durability and ease of care have given wicker chairs, chaises, tables and accessories a permanent place outdoors. Just bring them in each winter, then hose them down to prepare them for summer use.

The trend has been toward oversize wicker furniture, with bold and colorful Hawaiian prints and patterns rather than the usual chintz and pastels.

Wicker's adaptability has abetted the trend toward coordinating indoor and outdoor rooms. By coordinating the flow of shape, color and texture, designers make rooms that flow seamlessly from inside to outside.

"With hardwood floors and French doors, sisal rugs and wicker furniture, you can eliminate the break between indoor and outdoor life," said Gina Robinson, a Santa Monica, Calif.-based designer. "In a stressful world, that kind of continuity is calming."

How do I Choose Wicker Furniture?

The best wicker furniture is made on a hardwood or a rattan frame, according to Michelle Moore. Whatever the woven material, it should be dense.

"Wicker furniture should be heavy," Moore said. "Beware of light wicker—it's not going to last." Outdoor furniture must be weather-resistant. Rattan bark, the traditional material we picture when we think of wicker, can't hold up to the stresses of hot sun and overnight dampness found on your deck or lawn. Instead, look for specially-treated furniture made with molded resin or coated with plastic.

Higher-end wicker won't crack or peel. It's smooth and comfortable. Cheaper wicker often has stray ends or fibers that will poke your skin or pull at your panty hose. And nobody likes that.