Wicker offers a wide range of colors and styles MENTION © WICKER | furniture and often it conjures up a tropical image, something an iguana would Eve under. By Ron Gasbarro Contributing Writer Sometimes it even means lightweight or temporary, not to betaken seriously, ' But. there is nothing - about wicker: that is temporary. ‘Wicker ‘is possibly the oldest form of fur- “niture, dating back to ancient - Egyptians. ‘American wicker, which goes: °- back only to the Civil War era, is . considered its ultimate interpreta- tion, “ But for the last 50 years, wicker has languished in. attics, out of sight and out of favor with folks who opted for-more modern glass “and feather. 70" ; © “av the 1960s, wicker re-emerged .. briefly. But its stay was short and -.Sweet and was only allowed to rest "on porches or in the. rooms of lit- : tle girls. : . ‘Now “wicker is.:being. taken _ Seriously, particularly by collectors of American folk art, who say of ‘all: the’. wicker in ihe world, the best wicker is made in America: — “oi “What-is unique about Ameri- can wicker,” says Howard Shea, a designer based in Washington, D.C., ‘‘is that it was created over well-made hardwood frames made from native hardwoods such as hickory, oak, maple and ash.” What is wicker? According to furniture experts, wicker is not a material as much as a category that includes all woven furniture made from pliable plants such as rattan, willow, cane, sea grass, prairie grass and various vines and roots. Wicker came over on. the May- flower and the story is that the first piece to land in the New World was a wicker baby rocker. While settlers brought wicker “from Europe with them — yes, because it was . lightweight and easy to tote — the wicker industry in the states did not start until the mid-1800s. _ At that time, rattan, an Oriental paim, was used to pack material brought over. on. ships and then discarded on the docks. ; In 1844, a Boston artisan named Cyrus Wakefield discovered that rattan was pliable enough to weave when wet but strong when it dried. By the 1870s, his wicker fur- niture company employed 1,000 -- people and the style was all the rage. , ; : Wicker furniture, particularly of 1 Suncrest Cabinets 12580 Vickers Way, Richmond, B.C. (by IKEA) Fax (604 )278 - 0924. Tel.( 604 }278 - 3445. Dreaming of a new kitchen this fall? ustom finishing is our specialty ! “See us fora free computerized — .perspective drawing of your renovation! Padawan eT RENT as SAND IT... SAWIT... POWE DRILL IT... Ss “ TOOLS CEMENT.IT... the Victorian era, could be simple in design. But the more expensive pieces featured intricate curlicues, spirals and arabesques. Chairs could fan out like the tail of a peacock. Within the rattan or reed were threaded knobs, wooden balls, spools or beads to catch the eye. “As wicker factories evolved,” says Shea, ‘‘wicker pieces were often cranked out by the hundreds and were supposed to be identical. But bored factory workers started to add their own embellishments and it is these variations that make antique pieces such a delight to find.” Those people who crafted wickerwork were often. as imagi- native as lacemakers in terms of design. Spiderweb and herringbone ‘ caning and chevron patterning are among the most prominent. Wicker was not confined to the “happens onl It's a hu e selection of vertical and =: horizontal blinds and pleated shades. . likes of porch chairs, either. Wicker was used to make clock cases, fire screens, footstools, sewing stands, vanities and baby carriages. As rattan became more difficult and expensive to obtain in the 19th century, faux wicker was made from paper and manufac- tured on loons in Jong sheets. Today’s wicker can be a showcase for any home. Crafts- people from the American South in particular have kept the folk art alive, and it is there that you can find new, unpainted wicker made from hickory or ash. . “A room of wicker can give rustic look,’? says Shea. ‘‘Com- bined with pillows of various col- ors and fabrics, you have ver- satility and durability while preserving a craft that is North American in its truest sense.”’ Distributed by the Los Angeles Times Syndicate. 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