Questions & Answers
Our trusted network of 1stDibs sellers answer common questions
Is rattan better than wicker?
1 Answer
No, rattan isn't better than wicker — they're not interchangeable terms. The use of rattan stretches from prehistory to IKEA. To clarify, rattan is not bamboo, which is a rigid, hollow reed. Stalks of rattan are dense, steamable and bendable, which is why it lends itself to curvaceous designs and infinite creative uses in a way bamboo does not. Nor is rattan synonymous with wicker, which is a broader term for woven items — often made of rattan fibers but also of willow, other pliable reeds or even synthetic materials. Wicker and rattan tend to get a bit of a bad rap, but they can actually mingle with a wide range of styles — when done the right way.
Find vintage rattan chairs, dressers, stools and other furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Find vintage rattan chairs, dressers, stools and other furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
1stDibs ExpertSeptember 5, 2024
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Shop for Rattan Furniture on 1stDibs
Carl Aubock 6 Forks with Leather Holder, Corn Cob Skewers #3679, Vienna, 1930s
Located in Vienna, AT
A set of six small forks with a leather holster, model no. 3679, designed by Carl Auböck and executed by Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Vienna. Originally conceived in the 1930s, this model...
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Serving Pieces
Materials
Brass, Nickel
Bamboo, Brass and Smoked Glass Coffee Table, Italy, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Marvelous and truly unique Mid-Century square coffee table in bamboo and brass, completed by a smoked glass top and a reversible black and white lower tier. This incredibly stylish o...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Materials
Brass
Thalia Rattan Floor Lamp - Double Head Handcrafted Woven Rattan Standing Lamp
Located in Oxford, GB
Thalia — Floor Lamp
Designed by Bill Parry for Rattanology
There is a moment, just after dusk, when a room needs only one thing. The Thalia knows what it is.
Drawing from the lang...
Category
2010s Philippine Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
Materials
Brass
Marcel Breuer Cesca Chair in Chrome and Straw, Signed Gavina, Italy, 1960s
By Gavina, Marcel Breuer
Located in Roma, IT
Gorgeous mid-century Cesca chair in chromed metal, Vienna straw and black lacquered beech wood. This beautiful chair was designed by Marcel Breuer and produced by Gavina in Italy dur...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
Materials
Metal, Chrome
American Designer, Floor Lamp, Iron, Wood, Rattan, USA, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A freeform iron, dark-stained wood and rattan floor lamp designed and produced in the US, c. 1950s.
Wear consistent with age and use.
Dimensions of Lamp (inches): 71.0"H x 32.0"W x...
Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
Materials
Iron
Hans J. Wegner Ry26 Teak Sideboard with Woven Cane Doors, Denmark, 1960s
Located in Berlin, DE
Designed by Hans J. Wegner for Ry Møbler, this iconic Ry26 sideboard is a refined example of Danish Modern design from the 1960s. Crafted in teak, the cabinet combines Wegner’s chara...
Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Sideboards
Materials
Rattan, Oak, Teak
