Rattan Conservatory Furniture / Cane Conservatory Furniture, UK

What is Rattan / Cane Conservatory Furniture...

Rattan in Cane Conservatory Furniture Manufacture

When thinking about Cane Furniture, it is often the case that people think about the Bamboo plant. However, it is the climbing vine Rattan that is most commonly used in the construction of furniture, primarily due to it's unique combination of strength, durability and flexibility.

What is Rattan?

Rattan is a large, spine-covered climbing vine found in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia and can grow in excess of 180 metres. It has become a valuable harvest due to its strength and versatility, and while it has been used for purposes as diverse as the construction of homes, bridges and scaffolding, it is most widely used commercially in the production of Cane Furniture.

Rattan Fact... Indonesia is the worlds main supplier of Rattan, accounting for around 70% of global trade!

Harvesting Rattan for Cane Conservatory Furniture Production

The process of harvesting rattan is by no means an easy one!

The Rattan farmer will climb the tree around which the Rattan is wrapped with a machete. An initial strike will open the rattan while another will split the outer layer exposing the core Rattan, which can then be peeled out.

The next stage in production is for the Rattan to be washed to remove any stains and dirt. Then the Rattan is cured, altering the colour form a pale green into a yellow colour by smoking it with sulphur.

After curing, the Rattan just needs to be dried in the sun before it is ready to be used in the manufacture of baskets, binding and of course, Cane Furniture!

Rattan - An Environmentally Friendly Product

In addition to the various benefits of Rattan in the production of Cane Furniture, it is an extremely environmentally, socially and economically friendly product.

Rattan harvesting provides a steady income for the poor communities that farm it. Farming Rattan is labour intensive and only requires simple tools and machinery. It generates diverse employment opportunities in area's where this would typically be more of a luxury than an expectation.

Rattan is a sustainable crop; it grows quickly allowing supplies to be maintained. Better still, it grows amongst existing trees, hugging the trunks and branches, and as such it actively discourages deforestation in area's where it is grown!

For further reading...

A number of informative sources have been used in creating this website, listed in the footer of the page. For more information about Rattan, we would recommend the comprehensive student report at UC Berkley News Centre.

Quality Doesn't Have to be Expensive!

All Haddon House conservatory furniture is hand crafted from materials sourced from sustainable sources in Indonesia and Malaysia, to create one of the most stylish collections of conservatory furniture available today.

Because they deal direct and cut out expensive middle men, Haddon House can offer all their customers the best prices available - savings of up to 50% against MR prices!

And they even offer a fantastic price guarantee - if you find the same conservatory furniture in the same fabric anywhere for less, they will refund the difference!