Brief History of Wicker Patio Furniture

Wicker patio furniture is popular today because it has a unique beauty and because of its practicality. The word "wicker" describes the process of weaving and not the material used in its construction. So, wicker patio furniture can actually be made from any material that can be used for weaving. Wicker has been used in furniture since ancient Egypt, China, and Sumaria. Excellent examples of wicker furniture have been found in the tombs of the pharaohs. The ancient Chinese are believed to have invented the caned chair.

In Europe, it is known that wicker patio furniture was first made locally from willow and other tree branches in the Dark Ages. Wicker furniture was first marketed in the 18th century in Mediterranean countries and in Britain. The earliest of these furniture examples we know about are very rustic or rough in design. The improved quality of caning improved considerably as time went on.

More refined wicker patio furniture was first mass-produced for modern markets in the mid-19th century. A dense-cored rattan from Southeast Asia was used and made it possible for wicker patio furniture to become very popular in sunrooms and on the porches of Europe, America, and throughout the British Empire. The British were able to create elaborate Victorian designs that are a trademark of the Victorian era.

After World War I, "fiber rush" was invented and was widely used in the wicker industry. Fiber rush is a paper product twined into thick cord. Although it was cheaper to produce, thus enabling the middle class to purchase the furniture, fiber rush was also much weaker than natural grown rattan vines.

Wicker patio furniture became unfashionable by the middle of then20th century. Much of this is thought to be due to the general opinion of wicker as a weaker and less-desirable material. Few people realized most wicker furniture of the recent past was made from paper. Fiber rush is no longer used.

By the late 1960's people began to appreciate the unique and attractive nature of wicker and its connection to earlier historic times. Stronger wicker made from natural grown vines began a strong comeback for wicker furniture, especially in the USA.

The last two decades have also seen the use of resin or synthetics in the manufacture of wicker furniture. Resin enables wicker patio furniture to be all-weather outdoor wicker furniture. Natural wicker needs to be protected from the elements and requires occasional upkeep.

Both natural wicker furniture and resin wicker furniture are very popular today. Natural wicker is graceful, beautiful and authentic, while resin wicker is tough and weather-proof. Improved design techniques and greatly improved manufacturing methods have dramatically increased the quality of wicker patio furniture. Thus, wicker patio furniture has become very elegant, popular, practical, and an affordable alternative to other forms of patio furniture.