Cane Table Revival

Wicker and cane furniture is fashionable again, fetching good prices at auction houses and vintage stores. But after 50 years, the average piece, like this deco-revival table, can appear worse for wear, especially if it’s been exposed to the elements.

Using Water
After stripping away any flaking lacquer, mildew and faded surfaces, give the table a hose down.
TIP: If you live in an area with water restrictions, do it on the lawn on a water-usage day.

Origins of cane furniture
Cane is the general term for bamboo, rattan, sugarcane and some palms.

Rattan is a climbing palm found mainly in south-east Asia that is cut, steamed and dried, then bent and shaped, often to form the frame or base for wicker furniture.

Wicker is the process by which cane becomes furniture, referring to the weave or binding. A rattan table is made of rattan, but a wicker table can use rattan or bamboo.

Cane was first used by the ancient Egyptians who used it to weave baskets, wig boxes, chairs and chests. In Victorian Britain, it became popular because it could be used outside in gardens and it gathered less dust than upholstered furniture.

Cane furniture fell out of favour in the early 1900s when simple, clean lines were the design trend, a result of more sophisticated manufacturing.

In the 1950s and ’60s a more affluent society revived it for resort-style living, using cane for verandahs and holiday homes. The lightweight but sturdy furniture came to symbolise a more relaxed and carefree approach to living.