We all recognise Rattan Garden Furniture as a classy and sophisticated addiction to our outdoor spaces in todays era, but the history of Rattan is surprisingly old, dating back to ancient Egyptian times. There is evidence of furniture being made through the weaving techniques that has made rattan famous, within Pharaoh’s tombs and subsequently, the Romans adopted and evolved the technique using wicker.
The use of natural materials like bamboo and wicker may initially have had relatively humble origins, but with the spread of this furniture across Europe via the Roman empire and the subsequent wide use and further spread through the British empire, the global phenomenon of garden rattan furniture grew. There was a significant resurgence of the use of wicker and rattan furniture during the 1960’s onwards which saw items being made for inside the home after the style was mixed with fabrics and adopted by high profile designers. There is a good possibility that the elevation of Rattan furniture for a stylish and premium product for the garden, came from the acceptance of this style inside the home.
There is of course something special that comes from a feeling of bespoke or handmade Rattan furniture and an appreciation of not only the craft itself, but also the perception of hand made toil affecting the value, possibly even subconsciously. The robustness of the materials used in rattan furniture and the connection with natural product, lends itself perfectly well for use in gardens and outdoor spaces, with the avoidance of potential discolouration and rust that can occur with other furniture. The history and subsequent global spread of these products, along with the use by high profile socialites, furniture designers internally and externally and it’s connection with nature escalate rattan garden furniture to the dizzy heights and popularity we see today.
