Ethnic but modern; lightweight yet sturdy
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Wicker furniture is emerging as a favoured item for interior decoration of homes and offices because of its lightweight properties and ethnic looks, writes T. Nandakumar.
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Wicker furniture offers comfort, durability, versatility and liveability.
– Photo: S. Mahinsha
Cane beauties: Wicker furniture imparts an ethnic touch and old-world charm to any interior.
Fresh and elegant, lightweight yet sturdy and durable, wicker furniture is emerging as a hot choice for interior design. The smooth, clean, graceful lines and informal, airy look imparted by cane and bamboo furniture have made them an essential element in home and office decor. One of the qualities of wicker that has appealed to designers is its flexibility to adapt to any kind of décor or drapery. Though lending itself to contemporary design, it imparts an ethnic tou
ch and old-world charm to any interior.
Wicker furniture is available in natural, stained or painted surfaces. It offers comfort, durability, versatility and liveability. Because of its natural finish and colour, it mixes well with upholstered pieces. It is also popular as outdoor furniture because it is easy to clean and is lightweight.
Wicker is the process of weaving natural materials such as cane or bamboo into various patterns. The furniture is made by weaving interlaced slivers around a frame and moulding it into desired shapes to create sofas, chairs, tables or beds as well as dressers, chests, night stands, wardrobes and mirror frames and decorative pieces such as lampshades, baskets and planters.
Most wicker furniture is manufactured by hand. Apart from India, the main manufacturing centres are China, Indonesia and Philippines.
Two types
There are two types of wicker in India – cane which is a kind of palm, and bamboo which belongs to the grass family. Both the materials are used to create a variety of conventional and trendy furniture to appeal to different markets.
According to P. Ashok Kumar, CEO of the Alappuzha- based JK Cane Industries, wicker furniture is emerging as a favoured item for interior decoration of homes and offices because of its lightweight properties and ethnic looks. “Modern, trendy designs appeal to upmarket clients who are willing to shell out a fortune to decorate their living rooms. Hotels and resorts catering to foreign tourists constitute a major chunk of our clientele,” he says.
Because of its flexibility, cane lends itself to being woven into different shapes and hence is the preferred material for sofa sets, dining tables, chairs, wardrobes and even staircase railings. Being more rigid, bamboo is ideal for curtains, handicrafts, fencing and flooring and load-bearing joints of cane furniture.
Both cane and bamboo are treated to remove moisture and repel fungus, before being crafted into furniture. They are also subjected to pesticide treatment. Wicker furniture can be polished, waxed or painted to change its look and character. With a little care, it can last for several years. It is advisable to vacuum or dust the furniture regularly and clean it with a damp cloth. A layer of lacquer or furniture polish will restore the finish to a jaded wicker chair or sofa and keep it looking fresh. Painted wicker can be freshened with a new coat of paint.
Sources
Most of the cane used for manufacture of furniture in Kerala is sourced from North East India or imported from Indonesia. “Customers vouch that there is nothing to beat the comfort of cane furniture. The flexibility of cane makes for relaxed seating while the woven surface ensures adequate air flow to keep it cool. There are people who claim that cane has a natural vibration that helps the human body to relax”, says Mr. Ashok Kumar. The new design trends in the market for wicker furniture pose a challenge for the handful of manufacturers in Kerala.
C.P. John, president of the Centre for Cane and Bamboo, an umbrella organisation set up to network growers, craftsmen, NGOs and exporters, stresses the need for Government intervention to equip the sector for the international market. “Though micro-lathes and light machines for sliving cane and bamboo are available in the domestic market, design research is still in its infancy. There are also problems with procurement of raw materials. The Government should step in by setting up a design institute and providing a long- term commitment on zero sales tax and concessions in import tax for cane”, he says.
Mr. John points to the need to tap the growing market for building materials like corrugated sheets made out of reed mats and bamboo floor tiles and value-added decorative products such as baskets and flower vases made of cane and bamboo.
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