There is something exotic and alluring about natural rattan furniture, not only is it comfortable and stylish, it’s also very sustainable. Rattan grows very quickly, making it a much more renewable resource than hardwood. It’s also handmade with the production process performed by local workers who are masters of their craft, making it a purchase you can feel good about without sacrificing any aesthetics!
Any outdoor space will benefit from the presence of rattan garden furniture, it’s beautiful and durable, which is why it’s such a perennial favourite of garden lovers everywhere. But have you ever considered where rattan comes from and what it’s actually made of? From ancient Egypt to the Victorian era rattan continues to delight us into modern times, so let’s find out more!
Most people might think that rattan comes from a tree, but it actually comes from a fast-growing vine. The length of the vine varies in length depending on how high it attaches itself to its host tree as it seeks light from underneath the forest’s canopy. There are over 600 species of rattan spanning Africa, Asia, and Australia. The largest variety hails from Indonesia, which is the world’s leading supplier of rattan.
The rattan plant has further uses than just garden furniture, the vine bears a fruit filled with red resin that is used to make paint and varnish, as well as incense! Rattan is also used in traditional medicine and to weave baskets, which were the forerunners to use it to make furniture.
The garden furniture we enjoy today can be traced back through history to Egypt on the Nile, where archaeologists discovered early rattan pieces dating as far back as 3000 BC. The rattan furniture of today came into use at this time, and its popularity spread around the Mediterranean. Following the civil war between Octavian and Cleopatra, Egypt fell under the power of Rome, and its wonderful weaved outdoor rattan garden furniture swiftly became a hit with the beauty-loving Romans, where it lent itself perfectly to the sumptuous Roman villa lifestyle.
As with so many things the Romans adopted from the Near East, the methods and techniques used to make rattan furniture spread all across the empire, eventually reaching distant Britain. It wasn’t until the Victorian Era that rattan really caught on in Britain, thanks to Queen Victoria who realized its potential, and ordered it to be shipped in from her far-flung tropical Asian colonies.
At that time most people were used to sitting on rigid wooden chairs that were ornately carved, but rather uncomfortable, as well as being a bit stodgy in appearance. Rattan furniture held an exotic and artistic allure that also happened to be sensible, solid, and comfortable. Its open form made it highly breathable, perfect for patio furniture, garden chairs, and garden tables, and soon all of Britain fell in love with rattan furniture and it could be found in gardens and patios all across the kingdom.
So, the next time you relax in your lovely rattan garden furniture, you can imagine you are in the fine company of pharaohs and queens!
