2024 Author: Beatrice Philips | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 05:33
Furniture made from natural materials has always been highly valued. Of course, the palm belongs to wood: solid wood or veneer. But lovers of original solutions are happy to acquire furnishings from the vine. Wicker furniture brings a touch of the East, exotic colonial chic or relaxed Mediterranean to the interior.
What is this material?
The art of making wicker furniture came from the countries of Southeast Asia. The liana of the tropical rattan is the ideal raw material for this craft. In the era of Asian colonization, wickerwork was brought to Europe.
Openwork armchairs, bookcases and headsets were especially popular in Victorian England.
A rare aristocratic house did without such interior and exterior items. The Russian answer to the overseas material was the willow vine.
The advantages and disadvantages of vine furniture are due to the characteristics of the raw materials, first of all, willow twigs, although other species can also be used: hazel, mountain ash, aspen. And there are several varieties of willow itself suitable for such work:
- willow;
- rakita;
- holly willow;
- tagalnik;
- blushed.
Willow shrubs for industrial vine weaving grow in nurseries, thanks to cultural cultivation, their shoots do not branch very much and have increased flexibility.
Technological stages of preparation of rods:
- cutting - carried out by hand, with a pruner or a sharp knife, from late autumn to early spring, when sap flow begins;
- sorting - rods are selected by diameter and length;
- boiling or steaming - the rods are immersed in boiling water or passed through steam in a special chamber;
- sanding - cleaning from the bark is carried out using special "pinch-breakers" of various configurations;
- bleaching - fumigation with sulfur vapor or sulfuric acid solution with slaked lime;
- drying - at least 20 hours in a dryer with a temperature of 70 ° C or several days under the sun.
Pros and cons
Furniture made of high-quality, properly harvested vines, looks beautiful and has remarkable properties:
- elasticity, fragility;
- strength due to the high density and uniformity of the fibers;
- good moisture resistance;
- environmental friendliness;
- light weight and mobility is one of the main advantages over solid wood furniture;
- ease of care;
- original appearance;
- harmonious combination with metal, glass, wood;
- affordable price.
Cons of wicker furniture:
- tendency to dry out in direct sunlight;
- intolerance to temperature changes, deformation from them;
- the vine is afraid of rain and snow;
- the twigs of willow vines are much shorter than the rattan vine and are uneven in diameter, so you have to use small pieces;
- excessive weight and mechanical loads of such furniture are contraindicated;
- cheap models of low quality have a creak;
- if the frame is cracked or the weaving has dispersed, then the repair and restoration of the product will be quite costly or even impossible.
What kind of furniture is there?
Vine furnishings are divided into outdoor furniture (country, garden, for summer cafes) and that which is intended for interior furnishings.
The European style is characterized by the use of vines in combination with other textures and materials, while the Asian approach implies fully wicker items.
According to the manufacturing method, furniture from a vine can be:
- frame - with a rigid and durable base made of wood or metal;
- frameless - stiffeners are made of 2-3-year-old thick rods and cuttings.
By application, similar furniture is grouped into categories
For rest and sleep, couches, sofas, benches, sun loungers, sun loungers, armchairs (ordinary, hanging and rocking chairs) are used. As well as full-size beds and baby cribs
For storing things: chests, chests of drawers, cabinets, wardrobes, whatnots, shelves
Dining groups: tables, chairs, stools. Even such a specific thing - a high chair for children - can be made of vines
Additional furnishings: coffee tables, poufs, screens, floor lamps, table lamps and lampshades, flower stands, beds for cats and dogs, boxes and interior baskets
Furniture made of natural unpainted vine is distinguished by a special golden color - from light to thick brownish shade . Staining and etching is used to smooth out the uneven tone of the rods or for greater decorativeness. Both natural and synthetic dyes are used. The lacquer applied to the product gives a shiny surface.
Weaving types
Various techniques are used to weave furniture, thanks to which durable and beautiful items are obtained.
The technique is chosen depending on the purpose of the furniture and the expected weight loads. Most often, the product combines several weaving methods.
These are the following types:
- simple solid;
- layer by layer;
- weaving in rows;
- square or checkerboard;
- Herringbone;
- rope (forward and backward).
Open-mesh weaving with open cells gives a special decorative effect to the product. It can be simple or complex, diamond-shaped, circular, lattice.
Plastic willow vine is one of the most suitable materials for beginners in the field of weaving furniture. This activity can become a favorite hobby that brings in a good income. You can master it thanks to the schemes available on the Internet.
Selection Tips
When choosing furnishings from the vine, you should pay attention to the following nuances:
- If the product is made of thin, unsmiled rods, then it will have a low cost, but it will not last long either. These rods are best used for wattle fences and baskets.
- More durable and expensive furniture is made from fairly thick and sanded rods with a strong braid.
- The ideal raw material is a boiled vine, flexible and protected by this method of processing from the effects of harmful microorganisms.
When buying, you need to check the stability of the furniture, the absence of distortions. Cabinet doors should be easy to open, drawers should be simple and easy to remove.
The optimal solution for outdoor use can be furniture made of artificial material. A modern development is a polymer vine (for example, by DeckWood).
This material, with its texture, shape and flexibility, completely imitates a natural product, and even surpasses it in the following parameters:
- completely moisture resistant;
- resistant to mechanical stress;
- not subject to decay and drying out;
- UV resistant;
- withstands temperatures from -50 to + 70 ° С;
- painted in production, does not require varnishing and impregnation;
- durable.
The nuances of care
Caring for natural wicker furniture is not very difficult:
- Dirt is easily removed with a slightly damp cloth.
- To improve the appearance and create a protective film, it is recommended to regularly use wax polish (from Pronto, Mebelux, etc.).
- Dusty vines and removable padded seats can be vacuumed.
- Furniture for a country veranda must certainly be removed under the roof or covered with a film from the rain, and if it is still wet, then dry naturally.
- A vine that has dried out in the sun can be tried to be saved by covering it with a damp cloth. In winter, move the furniture to a warm room.
- Wicker tabletops must be protected from coffee, tea, and wine stains. Fresh stains are quickly removed by lemon juice or baking soda. Old defects are sanded and re-varnished.
- Do not place hot dishes directly on the vine - use coasters.
Recommended:
Beds Made Of Solid Wood (54 Photos): Double Beds-sofas And Bed-houses, An Ottoman Bed "Bali" And Other Models, Beds 160x200, 200x200 And Other Sizes
Solid wood beds are the best man has ever thought of. They are comfortable, practical, and most importantly safe, not capable of harming human health. Modern bed designs come in a variety of shapes, such as cottage beds or sofa beds. What is the peculiarity of the ottoman bed? What are the shapes of double beds? What is special about the Bali bed? What other models made the top 5 best sleeping arrangements?
Marble Tables: Round Top Marble Kitchen Dining Tables And Coffee Tables, Other Types, White, Black And Other Colors
Marble tables: the pros and cons of furniture. Popular designs of marble top kitchen dining tables and coffee tables. Stylish examples in the interior
Rocking Chair For A Summer Residence: Features Of Garden Rocking Chairs For The Street. Types Of Country Rocking Chairs. What Materials Are They Made Of?
A rocking chair for a summer residence is a classic element of comfort. Consider the features of garden rocking chairs for the street, types of country rocking chairs. What materials is the furniture made of? How to choose?
Wicker Rocking Chair (44 Photos): Features Of Hanging Models, Weaving Materials For Furniture From A Vine For A Summer Residence, The Nuances Of Choice
What is a wicker rocking chair? What are the features of pendant models? What materials of wicker furniture from a vine are suitable for a summer residence? How to decorate an interior with a wicker rocking chair?
Furniture Made Of Logs (46 Photos): Chairs, Armchairs And Tables For A Summer Residence With Your Own Hands, Outdoor Round Wood Benches And Garden Sofas, Beautiful Chopped Beds
Everything about furniture made of logs: chairs, armchairs and tables. How to make furniture for a summer residence with your own hands? Various options and manufacturing instructions