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In the 1850’s the ‘American Rattan Company’ of Massachussets started a new industry by building the first machine to slice Wicker strands from Rattan poles. Now, 170 years later, the new founder, Mark Mosher aka “Rattan Man(TM)” re-started the Rattan furniture business after retiring from the U.S. Air Force in 2002. Mark chose the business because he loved the rustic and tropical look of this handcrafted furniture. Quality control was part of his extensive training in the Air Force and he has made it a big part of his operations at American Rattan. This dedication to quality care and customer service has earned him the highly trusted A+ Rating with the BBB. Mark also maintains a Blog at RattanMan’s World of Furniture and has documented the history of Rattan and Wicker furniture in this article THE HISTORY OF RATTAN AND WICKER FURNITURE IN AMERICA
How Buying Rattan and Wicker Furniture Helps the U.S. Economy
The American Rattan Journey
Master Seargent (MSgt) Mark Mosher, aka. “Rattan Man(TM)”, a 21 year veteran of the U.S. Air Force had just started his retirement leave on September 1, 2001. He had begun his post retirement plans and was in the process of starting his new Rattan and Wicker furniture business. He didnt know it at the time, but all of his planning was about to come to an abrupt halt. Just 11 days into his leave, America was attacked by terrorists on that tragic day we’ll never forget on Sept. 11, 2001. The following day the Air Force cancelled MSgt Mosher’s retirement and he was ordered back to Air Force active duty. Fortunately there were no further attacks on our country and 6 months later MSgt Mosher was again allowed to begin his retirement for a second time. And this time it would be permanent. Now he could focus on his new furniture businesss in earnest and thats exactly what he’s been doing for the last nearly 20+ years! Mark has maintained a simple and straightforward customer service philosophy all of these years – “provide the best possible products, at the lowest possible prices, and with the best customer service”. And working with his team of hardworking, highly trained and knowledgeable consultants he has delivered on that promise. Mark chose Rattan and Wicker as a business because he loves the rustic and tropical look of the furniture. Mark is also the web designer and online marketing manager. Its important to note that Rattan and Wicker furniture can blend wonderfully with your current furniture and brings so much warmth and beauty to any setting. In fact Mark loves this furniture so much that he added his new trademark “The Rattan Man” to his business in 2016. You will see “The Rattan Man” when you visit this amazing store online at https://www.americanrattan.com/ After visiting and finding collections and styles you like its a great idea to call us at 1-888-265-4695 to discuss fabrics, availability, and other details with our knowledgeable team of Rattan consultants.
Wicker Furniture – An American Legacy by Mark Mosher – “Rattan Man(TM)” and Founder
First of all its interesting to note that the first company in the U.S. to use machinery to shave Wicker strands off raw Rattan Cane was the AMERICAN RATTAN COMPANY operating in Fitchburg, MA.. This is important to note in the production of American made Rattan furniture.
Wicker and Rattan furniture as a commercial industry was created in America and not in Asia as many assume. The American production of wicker furniture began in the 1840’s. This occured after the Chinese opened a number of treaty ports to foreign trade. Clipper ships would leave China bound for America with a variety of goods. Raw cane rattan was used as dunnage to secure the cargo and prevent shifting. This raw cane would then be discarded and left at the docks on America’s east coast. One day in 1844, a 33-year-old grocer by the name of Cyrus Wakefield, collected an armful of the discarded rattan that had been abandoned at Constitution Wharf in Boston. Wakefield took notice on how flexible the cane was and an idea struck him. Could the cane be wrapped to produce furniture? Wakefield was not a furniture maker by trade but he still bent the rattan to produce a chair. He saw the infinitie potential of the material and quit his grocer job to pursue the rattan and cane idea full time..
It wasnt long when Wakefield realized he couldn’t pursue a legitimate Rattan furniture manufacturing company using slow manual stripping processes. He needed a machine-based production capability. In the 1850’s the AMERICAN RATTAN COMPANY of Fitchburg, Massachusetts was the only company using machinery to split raw rattan into wicker. Wakefield was familiar with the American Rattan Company because they were one of his customers for the raw Cane Rattan poles he was importing. He followed American Rattan Company’s example in setting up a manufacturing operation on Canal Street with the same type of machinery.
To start his business Wakefield traded the raw rattan to basket makers and furniture manufacturers. The manufacturers used just the outer cane to weave chair seats and backs. In 1855, Wakefield and his wife left Boston and moved to South Reading, Massachusetts. There he established the Wakefield Rattan Company. He continued to sell the imported rattan throughout the United States and he continued to experiment with wicker furniture. Bending oak or hickory into flowing shapes, the frames were filled with ornate rattan patterns and wrapped with split cane.
Wakefield realized the reed or inner pith of the whole rattan plant had tremendous flexibility, enabling him to create ornate, Victorian designs. Throughout the 1860’s the Wakefield Rattan Company cornered the market on the wicker furniture industry. From 1865-1880, the majority of wicker furniture was made for indoor use, although it was becoming fashionable as garden and porch furniture. A businessman and investor, Wakefield’s generosity also matched his success. He would donate both the money and the land for construction of the South Reading town hall and in 1868, the citizens of South Reading voted to rename their town Wakefield in his honor.
Wakefield Rattan Company had fierce competition from another furniture maker, Heywood Brothers Company of Gardner, Massachusetts. Their rivalry from the 1870’s through the late 1890’s would mark the period known as The Golden Age of Wicker, as both furniture designers created increasingly exotic and elaborate wicker pieces. Their originality and craftsmanship were unparalleled.
In response to this new trend, the Heywood Brothers and Wakefield Company began to produce similar designs in 1905, but with added features such as built-in footrests and magazine holders. By the 1920’s there was a marked increase in the number of wicker items available. Besides settees, rockers, dining sets and occasional tables, items included phonograph stands, tea carts, smoking stands, floor and table lamps, planters, blanket chests, china cabinets, baby buggies, desks and sewing cabinets.
You would be surprised to know that there are still manufacturers here in the U.S.A that build wicker and rattan furniture. There are only a few but its nice to know we have kept that expertise here in America and of course keep those jobs here as well. You will note the American made items on our site with the MADE IN USA label. And as you might expect a lot of the manufacturing is also done in the Philippines, Indonesia, and China.Wakefield’s early designs still form the basic framework of ideas used in today’s Rattan and Wicker furniture.
Home of American Rattan and Wicker
- Conversation chairs (an S-shaped wicker sofa) allowed 19th century courting couples to sit face-to-face without touching.
- The airier look of wicker at the turn of the 20th century was largely due to rising costs in labor and increases in tariffs on imported rattan. This economical style of open weaving is most often found on chaise lounges and armchairs, designed for use by hotels. Manufacturers named these products after well-known resort areas, including Bar Harbor, Southampton and Newport. Today, open weave wicker of this period is usually referred to as Bar Harbor
Rattan and Wicker furniture is an original American craftsman tradition dating from early in the 19th century. In the 1840’s Cyrus Wakefield started the first Rattan furniture company in South Reading, Massachusetts. Watch American craftsmen build Classic Rattan furniture right here in the U.S.A factory!
In 1897 the Wakefield Rattan Co. merged with the firm of Heywood Bros. and for the next two decades this newly formed company all but monopolized sales of quality wicker furniture. As the 1900’s progressed, Victorian and Art-Nouveau designs were considered increasingly gauche. Angular European designs began to curry favor and the Arts and Crafts movement took hold. The Gustav Stickley Company of Eastwood, New York began creating no-nonsense Mission-style furniture in oak and willow.
In response to this new trend, the Heywood Brothers and Wakefield Company began to produce similar designs in 1905, but with added features such as built-in footrests and magazine holders. By the 1920’s there was a marked increase in the number of wicker items available. Besides settees, rockers, dining sets and occasional tables, items included phonograph stands, tea carts, smoking stands, floor and table lamps, planters, blanket chests, china cabinets, baby buggies, desks and sewing cabinets.
You would be surprised to know that there are still manufacturers here in the U.S.A that build wicker and rattan furniture. There are only a few but its nice to know we have kept that expertise here in America and of course keep those jobs here as well. You will note the American made items on our site with the MADE IN USA label. And as you might expect a lot of the manufacturing is also done in the Philippines, Indonesia, and China.Wakefield’s early designs still form the basic framework of ideas used in today’s Rattan and Wicker furniture.
Home of American Rattan and Wicker
Did you know?
Conversation chairs (an S-shaped wicker sofa) allowed 19th century courting couples to sit face-to-face without touching.
The airier look of wicker at the turn of the 20th century was largely due to rising costs in labor and increases in tariffs on imported rattan. This economical style of open weaving is most often found on chaise lounges and armchairs, designed for use by hotels. Manufacturers named these products after well-known resort areas, including Bar Harbor, Southampton and Newport. Today, open weave wicker of this period is usually referred to as Bar Harbor.
How Buying Rattan and Wicker Furniture Helps the U.S. Economy
THE AMERICAN RATTAN TEAM MEMBERS
WEBSITE MANAGEMENT
Mark Mosher, AKA RattanMan®
Founder, Content Manager, Online Marketing, Product Implementation, Website Operations Manager
Mominul Shuvo
Websight Coding Design and Systems Manager
ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT
Bebe Mosher
Co-Founder, Accounting Dept.
ONLINE SALES TEAM
Marie Mosher
Customer Support & Communications Manager
David Mosher
Online Sales Representative
CUSTOMER SERVICE
Top Reasons to Shop American Rattan for Indoor and Outdoor Rattan and Wicker Furniture
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