Wicker furniture has been around for centuries. It has been popular in the US since colonial times, when it was utilized as porch or garden furniture. More recently, wicker has made its way indoors and is considered today to be one of the most sought-after furniture types, both indoors and out. Older pieces are much revered at antique malls and shops, both on the East and West Coasts.

“Wicker,” as an expression, refers to the end product created by weaving strands harvested not only from bamboo and rattan plants, but also from willow trees. Many of the early wicker pieces were crafted from willow and bamboo, as these materials were quite accessible to many parts of the world. Rattan, which is a type of palm harvested mainly in Indonesia, was not seen in the Western Hemisphere until much later. Both bamboo and rattan have a cane-like structure as their core. This cane is the origin of most of the materials used for furniture construction, since, when steamed, they can be bent into any desired shape. The shape holds when the material cools. This same cane can also be used as the inner scaffolding of woven chairs and tables. Both bamboo and rattan are sturdy, wear-resistant, and relatively light. They can be finished and painted with a myriad of substances, molded into dramatic, decorative pieces, and used as furnishings in the most elegant of living rooms, or on the most rustic of patios.

Rattan garden furniture is well-known in the more southern regions of the US where the summers are long and the weather inviting. The natural materials can withstand the elements to a certain extent, but should be well-covered if they are exposed for extended periods. Another option would be synthetic rattan, which is made of polyethylene, and is tinted and shaped to have the exact appearance of the natural material. It is, of course, impervious to water, does not fade in the sun, and must only be protected in the depth of winter. This synthetic rattan is often mistaken for its natural cousin and is frequently used for the construction of indoor pieces as well, making it one of the most versatile materials used in modern furniture construction.