The Wicker Story

The story behind Louis Vuitton is one of craft and innovation in the worlds of fashion, jewelry and furniture. The company's modest origins can be traced back to when its founder, Louis Vuitton, left his provincial French city of Anchay in the early 1830s to make a new life in Paris. When he arrived, he toiled as a box maker and packer for more than a decade and built relationships with royals and members of the upper class while working for the empress of France, Eugénie de Montijo. In 1854, Vuitton launched his namesake company with a humble workshop on rue Neuve des Capucines and advertised his services with a small poster that read: "Securely packs the most fragile objects. Specializing in packing fashions." Long before his brand would become known globally for its exemplary top-handle bags and stylish totes, Vuitton produced stackable and rectangular trunks. The most common trunks of the era were round, which weren't ideal for toting and storing. In 1858, Vuitton debuted his lightweight, handcrafted canvas trunks, which were sturdy, rugged and equipped with convenient compartments. Travel's popularity broadened in the late 19th century, and Vuitton's trunks could easily be packed into train cars and ships; upright trunks offered hanging wardrobe storage that would allow his clients to transport their sophisticated garments without worry. Demand increased, and the company grew. When Louis Vuitton died in 1892, control of the luxury house was passed onto his only son, Georges Vuitton. In 1914, a Louis Vuitton store opened at 70 Champs-Élysées. The largest travel-goods store in the world at the time, it became the company's flagship. Today, the fashion house remains one of the most iconic producers of leather goods in the world. Find a diverse assortment of Louis Vuitton bags on 1stDibs.

The real story of the Mona Lisa may never be known for certain. However, most art historians believe that Lisa del Giocondo, the wife of a silk merchant from Florence, posed for the painting. Biographies of Leonardo da Vinci and other historical documents from the Italian Renaissance suggest that the del Giocondos commissioned the work to hang in their new home and to mark the occasion of the birth of their son. On 1stDibs, find a large selection of fine art.

The story behind Hamilton watches goes back to the late 19th century. As railroad tracks were laid across the United States and steam locomotives began traversing vast distances, the American railroad system ran into a problem. Time was not standardized across the country.

Therefore, in 1883, the railroad companies established the four time zones as we know them today. However, train conductors were not always synchronized, leading to deadly railroad accidents. Enter watchmaker Hamilton, founded in 1892. Railway workers would be required to wear a pocket watch to keep on schedule, and the watchmaking industry — especially pocket-watch manufacturers such as Hamilton — benefitted. The company’s timepieces eventually earned the moniker “The Watch of Railroad Accuracy.”

Hamilton transitioned from pocket watches to wristwatches in 1914, as it supplied timepieces to American troops fighting in World War I. The new style of watch also appealed to aviators, and Hamilton aeronautical watches became all the rage among pilots, particularly those flying for the new U.S. Airmail service.

The general public’s interest in Hamilton watches grew rapidly in the 1920s. Legendary polar explorer Admiral Richard E. Byrd timed his historic flights over glaciers and chunks of sea ice with a Hamilton pocket watch in the late 1920s. Hamilton’s Piping Rock watch, an Art Deco-inspired design featuring elegant Roman numerals set in black for the hour markers, debuted in 1928 and was gifted to the New York Yankees to celebrate their World Series win that year. The model was also featured in the film Shanghai Express alongside the brand’s Flintridge watch, further expanding Hamilton’s popularity. (Hamilton watches can also be seen in the films The Frogmen, Blue Hawaii, 2001: A Space Odyssey and Men in Black.) In the second half of the 20th century, Hamilton became well known for several innovations: It developed the first-ever battery-operated electric watch, the Ventura, in 1957, as well as the first-ever digital wristwatch, the Hamilton Pulsar Time Computer, in 1970. Three years later, superspy James Bond donned a Pulsar in Live and Let Die.

Today, the company is part of the Swatch Group, and its headquarters and production facilities relocated from Pennsylvania to Switzerland in 2003.

On 1stDibs, find a wide range of Hamilton watches.

The difference between wicker and resin wicker comes down to the source of the materials. Genuine or natural wicker is a woven material produced out of rattan, bamboo, reed, willow and similar fibers. Resin wicker is a man-made material composed of polymers. As a result, resin wicker tends to be more resistant to the effects of weather than naturally derived wicker. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of wicker furniture.

The real story behind Big Eyes is the life of artist Margaret Keane. She was born Peggy Doris Hawkins on September 15, 1927, in Nashville, Tennessee. When she was two years old, her eardrum was permanently damaged during a mastoid operation. Keane learned to watch the eyes of the person talking to her to understand them, influencing the drawings he began creating as a child. At age 10, she took classes at the Watkins Institute in Nashville. At age 18, she attended the Traphagen School of Design in New York City for a year. She initially earned money by painting clothing and baby cribs in the 1950s until she began painting portraits. Early on, Keane experimented with kitsch. She began painting her signature "Keane eyes" when she started to create portraits of children. Keane's works are now in collections all over the world, including the Museum of Contemporary Art in Madrid, the National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo and the Memphis Brooks Museum in Memphis, Tennessee. On 1stDibs, shop a diverse assortment of Margaret Keane art.

You can use old wicker baskets in a number of ways. Corral small accessories in them to tidy up your entryway or closet or place flower pots inside to create rustic planters. Hang them on the wall as art or extra storage space. On 1stDibs, shop a range of vintage and antique wicker baskets.

Whether vintage wicker is valuable varies based on factors like the maker and what type of furniture it is. Demand is also important: How many pieces like it are available for sale? Because the condition will also greatly affect the value, you may wish to have a certified appraiser inspect your furniture. Wicker furniture from the late 19th century may be valuable, and a complete set of wicker furnishings will certainly garner interest with collectors (as long as the set is in good condition). On 1stDibs, find a collection of wicker furniture and decorative objects.

No, resin wicker is not the same as rattan. Rattan is a natural vine that can be woven into wicker to produce baskets, furniture and other pieces. Resin wicker is a synthetic material often used to construct outdoor furniture due to its weather resistant properties. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of rattan pieces.

A wicker peacock chair is a chair made of wicker featuring a very large back that extends up and around, much like a peacock’s feathers when ruffled. This type of chair first appeared in the early 1900s and became very popular for photographs. Shop a collection of wicker furniture from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

Antique wicker furniture is generally made from rattan. Rattan is a vine-like plant that is located in tropical regions. The bark of the rattan is used for furniture as it is durable, flexible and looks stylish. The core of the plant is also used in furniture-making, making it highly sustainable. Shop a collection of wicker furniture from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

There is no clear-cut answer to the question of what's better when it comes to rattan or wicker. In terms of strength, rattan generally comes out on top. However, the craftsmanship will also impact how long a rattan or wicker piece will last. Some people prefer rattan because it has a more natural appearance, but others prize the more uniform look of woven wicker. Also, rattan furniture tends to be pricier than wicker. On 1stDibs, find a wide range of rattan and wicker furniture.

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.

Wicker is the finished woven product that can be made of either rattan or bamboo. Bamboo is an incredibly solid grass that is difficult to bend while rattan is a vine that’s much easier to manipulate. Shop a collection of wicker furniture from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.

Yes, wicker furniture is in style depending on where you live. For instance, if you live on a coast, wicker furniture is quite popular. It’s considered a timeless material that’s always in style. Find a variety of wicker furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Because wicker can deteriorate very quickly, natural wicker furniture should not be kept outside. Even if you apply water-proofing spray, the furniture will not be fully protected from moisture, mold, and sun.