Welcome to Wicker Matters
We set up our company because we have a passion for wicker and wicker products. We hope to bring you many interesting facts about wicker and offer you a huge variety of wicker products.
There are many advantages of wicker garden furniture. It’s extremely lightweight, low maintenance and inexpensive. there are many varied designs available from contemporary or the classical look, it will blend in perfectly with any style of home décor.
It’s not surprising that wicker is increasingly popular. Wicker furniture dates back well before the Victorian times and has now made a huge come back. Synthetic wicker has increased the use of wicker in outdoor situations as the synthetic wicker products are weather resistant, although they can fade if left in direct sunlight for long periods of time. The history of wicker furniture goes back to the ancient Egyptians. They took the idea of using swamp reeds to make furniture and wicker baskets. The term ‘wicker’ is the process of weaving and not the material itself. In addition to furniture, wicker was also used to make wicker storage baskets.
The material used by the Egyptians was reeds that grew on the banks of river Nile. It wasn’t long before the Romans started to make their own wicker products. By the 16th and 17th centuries wicker furniture was popular in Europe and when it eventually arrived in Asia, they discovered they could use local rattan, which is an even more versatile reed.
Although the Victorians used wicker furniture for outside use, they progressed to bringing it inside as the attractive designs made it elegant for indoor use. In the early 1900’s wicker products fell out of favour, but by the 1960’s and 1970’s its popularity was on the rise again.
The introduction of synthetic plastic weaves has increased the popularity of wicker as an outdoor furniture material. Today’s synthetic material is woven around a steel or aluminium frames. This makes the furniture very sturdy, but retains its lightweight property. Different colours of synthetic wicker is now available, making it ideal to fit in with any garden or indoor style. Natural raw materials are still most popular when making baskets for hampers.
You can keep your wicker baskets looking in tip top condition and extend their working life by showing them some love and attention and keeping them clean. They’re not hard to do and will only take a few minutes of your time. You might even enjoy doing them!
Keep away from heat and direct sunlight. If you’re going for a picnic on a hot sunny day, you don’t have to keep your basket covered up. However, if you are storing your basket, keep it out of direct sunlight as the ultra violet light from the sun can cause it to fade. Keep the basket away from the fire or radiators as these will dry out the basket completely and it will become brittle.
Avoid grease and dirt. If you can stop your basket getting excessively dirty in the first place, less cleaning is required. Keep the basket away from the cooking stove where splashes of grease or oil may land on the basket. Soot from open fireplaces will also make the basket dirty very quickly.
Line the basket if you are keeping products in the basket that may leak moisture. If you intend to keep food in the basket, make sure it is lined or that the food is in appropriate containers to stop food particles or moisture from the food getting into the wicker. Here are example of fitted baskets that are lined and often used to hold food. Laundry baskets are also lined to help protect the clothing from sharp wicker.
Clean your basket. Don’t over clean your basket, but every so often you can take a feather duster and give it a good dusting. If you have stubborn marks on the basket, try a damp cotton cloth and rub gently. If you need to add a weak detergent, make sure you remove the detergent after the dirty mark has been removed. The less you have to do to clean the basket the better. Making the basket too moist will cause the fibres in the wicker to expand and they may not recover well.
Synthetic Wicker
Synthetic or man made wicker has emerged as a popular option for furniture and has created its own market. The material used is a type of plastic such as vinyl or resin. The material is made into thin pliable strips of uniform thickness and width. It’s woven around the furniture frame, often made of light but strong material such as aluminum, to cover the frame and create the furniture. The resin or plastic can be made in a variety of colours, although it is usually a shade of brown. It offers excellent resistance to the weather, although it can fade if left in direct sunlight for sustained periods of time. Synthetic wicker is also used in the manufacture of baskets for hampers and wicker storage baskets.
Cleaning synthetic wicker is easy. Dirt and dust can easily be removed with a weak detergent and warm water mix simply wiped over the surface of the wicker. For more stubborn grime, soak the affected area with a stronger detergent and leave for a couple of minutes before wiping.
To make the furniture more attractive, cushions and covers can be added. The covering material is often fade resistant and in some cases, water resistant.
As with most things in life, there is a variety of qualities available and at different price points. The more expensive wicker will generally last longer, although this is not always the case. There are many styles available and many shapes. Wicker is one of the most versatile products and the type of furniture it can be applied to is limited only by the imagination. It’s light, durable, affordable, easy to clean, weather resistant, attractive, versatile and comfortable.
Wicker furniture can be found at many hotel gardens, golf clubhouse patios and almost any outdoor scene where furniture is required. Wicker log baskets are still primarily made from natural wicker.
Natural Wicker
The two basic types of wicker products are natural and synthetic. Both use weaving as the main construction method, but the final products are very different. Seen here are examples of wicker baskets.
There are a number of natural products that can be woven, including rattan, willow, sea grass and raffia. Currently, rattan is one of the most popular materials. rattan is the stem or trunk of a climbing palm. In search of light, the palm uses its spines to climb and wind itself up nearby trees. The rattan palm grows up to 600 feet (almost 183 meters) in length. The outer layer is called cane, and the inner bark is reed. The plant grows quickly and when cut, is quick to re-grow. This makes it a sustainable material and relatively environmentally friendly. One piece of furniture may incorporate many different types of materials.
Natural wicker furniture has been popular for many years. It is attractive, light, durable and comfortable. It is often used in ‘hot’ weather as it allows air to circulate and is easily wiped clean.
Wicker has the potential for the furniture designer to be very creative. It can be fashioned into almost any shape and the weave can be adapted to make many different patterns. The natural finish of the wicker can be customised, just like wood. It can be stained, painted or simply left in its natural finish. It will usually be sanded and sealed. Pictured here are wicker storage baskets that have been sprayed white.
Natural wicker products can be used outside, but they should be treated if they are going to be exposed to direct sunlight and rain. Moisture resistant or weather resistant coatings are now available to help protect the products from the elements.
To keep your natural wicker in good healthy condition, dust it regularly. occasionally you can wipe it down with a weak solution of warm water and detergent. After cleaning, wipe it over with a wax or furniture oil to help seal and protect it.
One of the most common uses of natural wicker is in the manufacture of baskets for hampers.
People often think of wicker as a plant material from which certain products are manufactured, but it isn’t. Wicker is actually the term for any piece of woven furniture.
Many of the techniques used to produce wicker furniture are also used to make wicker baskets. Weaves are made of spokes, or vertical supports and weavers, which are the horizontal strands. Reed and willow are two of the most commonly used materials in wicker products. To make the reed or willow pliable enough to weave, it is first soaked in hot water. The length of time it needs to be left in the water will depend on its rigidity, often dictated by its thickness. It is also dependent on how pliable it will be required to be to fit the shape that it is intended to fit. Wicker log baskets require strong and thick material that often has to be woven into a circular shape, and the material must therefore be quite pliable during weaving.
There are many unique patterns created in wicker products and the techniques to create these patterns have developed over many years and in many different locations. The most common weave is the simple over one spoke and under the next, similar to weaving a rug. The edge of the weave tends to change to a form of braiding to neatly finish the weave and prevent the weave from coming undone.
Caning, which generally refers to weaving seats and backs only, incorporates different types of weaves. These weaves can range from a simple open weave leaving large stop-sign shaped openings throughout the piece to an intricate snowflake weave that predominately uses hexagon-shapes.
Using combinations of weaves, intricate patterns are produced to form the piece. Some wicker patterns are so detailed that actual images are created out of the weaving such as flags, faces and shapes.
Wicker Coffins
There’s a new way to go green even after you have passed on. Taking wicker storage baskets one stage further, wicker coffins are increasingly popular and are made from sustainable materials such as willow and as such they are considered environmentally friendly. They are relatively inexpensive when compared to hard wood coffins and can be very decorative. They may also be made from sea grass and bamboo.
Reckoned to be one of the oldest forms of furniture craftsmanship, wicker has been popular with a whole range of people in society from the rich to the poor, from the average Joe to past presidents. In the White House, President John F. Kennedy had a prized rocking chair fitted with a seat and back of woven rattan, one of the materials used to make wicker furniture. Pictured left is one of many wicker log baskets available today.
Wicker furniture and wicker baskets have been with us for many years. Some of the oldest surviving specimens of wicker boxes made of reeds and palms have been found in the ancient Egyptian pyramids, while ancient Syrian statues depicting wicker crafts have also been found. Wicker craftsmanship spread throughout Asia and Europe. The baskets had many uses and there are many examples of ancient wicker storage baskets.
The large-scale wicker industry took hold in America in the 1840′s when a young man named Cyrus Wakefield observed rattan, used for packing material around ships’ cargo, being cast off of ships in the Boston harbor. He could see the rattan’s potential as a raw material for furniture manufacturing and made a career from selling both the material and the furniture made from it.
By the 1850s, wicker furniture was growing in popularity as a functional piece of furniture in America. From 1865 to 1880, the majority of wicker furniture was only for indoor use, but slowly it started moving outdoors. As tastes evolved, manufacturers began to offer specialized items such as baby carriages and music stands along with painted pieces.
Due to new design trends and materials, wicker’s popularity waned in the 1930s. Yet, the style and comfort were rediscovered by the 1970s and continue to be popular today. Homeowners are increasingly interested in expanding their living space outward. Wicker has been a great option for outdoor living since the Victorian times, and with new advances in technology, it’s an even more logical choice for today’s patios and porches.
Once or twice a year you might want to consider giving your wicker baskets a good clean. The weave of a wicker product makes it ideal for collecting dust and dirt. The material in wicker products vary, some are plastic, but most are natural materials such as willow. If your baskets are made from natural materials you need to take some care when cleaning them.
Steps to follow
- Take out any washable liners and put them in the laundry for washing. Liners are commonly found in wicker laundry baskets. Most will go into the washing machine, but check the washing instructions to be sure.
- Take a hose pipe or shower and start by rinsing the wicker baskets with clean water. This will remove the majority of the loose dirt and grime.
- Keep the water pressure low, so you don’t damage the wicker. The pressure should feel comfortable if directly onto your hand.
- Make a gentle soap solution from warm water and washing powder. Apply the solution to the wicker using a soft sponge. If you have a dirty patch that you feel a more abrasive approach, don’t be tempted. keep with the soft sponge as an abrasive material can cause permanent damage to the wicker. If some dirt can’t be removed, apply the solution to a soft cloth and leave on the cloth covering the dirty area to allow the solution to loosen the dirt.
- The next step is to remove the solution with a thorough rinse using clean water. Make sure none of the soap solution is remaining.
- The final step is to thoroughly dry the wicker. Outside in the sunshine is ideal, but inside heated rooms are fine. Drying may take several hours.
If you do manage to break your wicker, it’s not easy to get it repaired and it’s probably cheaper to replace it altogether. Good luck cleaning your wicker baskets for hampers and don’t forget to be gentle.
Traditionally, wicker baskets have been used as baskets for hampers, laundry baskets, storage baskets and log baskets, but you’ll be surprised at some of the uses people are putting them to. Wicker baskets are surprisingly strong. Proof, if proof were needed, of the fact that wicker baskets are strong and robust can be found by looking at the wicker baskets used in conjunction with hot air balloons. They are clearly strong enough to take the weight of several men, but light enough to mean they can easily be moved from location to location.
Wicker Eel Trap
The picture above shows a wicker eel trap. Sold for approximately £100 each, these baskets are placed in eel teretory, containing appropriate bait to entice the eel in.
Garden Trug
Wicker can be put to good use in the garden. Fences or screening made from wicker is long lasting and looks natural in the garden. Made from sustainable materials, such as willow, its also friendly to the environment. Garden furniture has become increasingly popular, although much of it is made from man made materials to withstand the UK weather. Pictured below is a hanging chair made from willow.
Hanging wicker chair
In the house wicker baskets are used to contain many different items. It’s easy to clear up the kid’s toys if you can just scoop them up and put them into a wicker storage basket. Baskets of dried flowers always look attractive when use to decorate the house. Knitting, books, toiletries, fruit and many other items can be stored in baskets. Wicker laundry baskets are very popular.
Gift basket
Gifts presented in willow baskets are always well received. These are particularly popular at Christmas, when they are used to present food items. Many companies present Christmas hampers to their best customers or suppliers.
Baskets for hampers are manufactured worldwide, but large scale production is in the Far East. Willow is one of the most common materials in the manufacturing process of wicker baskets and despite the fact that the willow plant will grow in many parts of the world; much of it is grown in the Far East. In countries where labour costs are relatively low and conditions for growing willow are good, a local community can be employed to plant, grow and harvest the willow, before it is used locally to weave into willow baskets. Although labour costs are still relatively low in the Far East, labour costs are increasing and with ever increasing shipping costs, manufacture for the European market may become more cost effective in Europe than in the Far East.
Basket weaving is a skill enjoyed by many people. Most of these people enjoy weaving as a hobby, but some turn it into a commercial venture. Often the small companies or individuals will make a basket to order, allowing the customer to specify their desired dimensions.
Wicker Log Baskets in the UK are a seasonal product. During the winter months the demand for log baskets is at its greatest. The willow used to make log baskets is thicker than that used in picnic baskets. The thicker willow is less pliable and consequently more difficult to weave, but it’s stronger than thinner willow, which is necessary when used in baskets designed to hold heavy logs.
Wicker Laundry Baskets are often lined to protect clothing from ‘snagging’ on the rough endings of the woven material. Wicker Storage Baskets come in all shapes and sizes. Sets of drawers made from wicker products are becoming increasingly popular. Demand for laundry and storage baskets is consistent throughout the year in the UK.
Wicker baskets can be put to many uses and have become popular because of their unique qualities. Generally speaking, wicker is both robust and lightweight. Wicker refers to the weave, but the actual material from which the wicker is made can be any material that is pliable enough to be woven. Quite often the material used is willow, which is a plant that grows quickly in ideal conditions. Willow is cut from the same plants year after year, making it a sustainable product and consequently friendly to the environment. Other wicker products are synthetic and these wickers are increasingly popular for use in garden furniture as it is resistant to most weather conditions.
Many types of basket are manufactured from wicker. Picnic hampers are commonly manufactured from different types of wicker. Wicker laundry baskets are popular because of their lightweight properties and their ability to stand the wear and tear of everyday use. Wicker storage baskets come in all shapes and sizes and are popular in domestic and commercial use. Wicker log baskets can be large or small, but are strong and can comfortably hold many logs.
Wicker products are available in any colour, but the natural wicker products, i.e that made from plant material are often different shades of brown, depending on the treatment through which the plant material has been put. The bark may have been removed from the willow. It may have been steamed or even double steamed. Even the natural materials can of course be spray painted any colour, but this takes away the natural appeal of the product.
The skill of weaving a wicker basket is enjoyed by many people in the UK. Some people are produce products for profit, some of which can be made to dimensions specified by the customer. Large scale production of wicker baskets is common place in the Far East, and in particular China.
