Antique Cane Furniture

Chloe Hughes Interior Design Expert

Chloe is a highly-regarded expert in all things vintage and antique. She’s excited to share her vast knowledge with readers and clients wishing to infuse their homes with a mixture of old-time warmth and modern comfort. In addition to her design work, Chloe regularly volunteers at her local community center, teaching DIY projects to adults and kids.

Updated 30/04/2021

Not unlike wicker, cane furniture has a similar design and style that suits a certain folk and a very humid region of the world. And cane furniture has been around for hundreds of years, ever since plantations in island countries harvested sugar cane for the colonies. If you are curious what the furniture looked like all those many years ago, and perhaps want some for yourself, take a look at our collection of antique cane furniture.

Buying Guide

The warm and inviting appearance of antique cane furniture has brought a resurge of popularity of this old fashioned style. Cane weaving dates back to the late 17th century. Cane was used to keep parasites and bugs away because they could not burrow into the loose weaves.

Green living has prompted an increase in furniture that is natural and easy to clean. Transitional styles have also given way to an antique look to add charm.

What are antique cane furniture made of?

Cane - Cane comes from the vine of the rattan plant. The outer shiny skin is strong enough to hold hundreds of pounds. When cut into strips it is used in weaving of baskets, cane on chairs and other household items.
Polyethylene Wicker - A synthetic form of cane is polyethylene wicker. It will be obvious that you do not have antique cane furniture when this material is used. However, it provides a nice mimicked recreation of the beauty of cane.
Wood - Solid wood provides a base for cane that is stretched and secured. Often a hardwood like mahogany or walnut bring a sturdy and long lasting piece of furniture.

What are the most popular styles of antique cane furniture?

Oriental - The Far East introduced many styles of cane furniture that are still popular today. Dining room chairs with cane backing, wicker patio furniture and stylish rattan coffee tables with banana legs deliver sophisticated living with hand woven cane that is durable. Drum tables made of Polyethylene Wicker are stunning when used on a patio. They are weather resistant and can easily hold the weight of plants of small statues.
Contemporary - Bentwood Chairs use heated cane to manipulate the shape of cane into curves and dips for chairs and rockers. Used with a solid wood frame of hardwood, the straight or curved design make them suitable with contemporary or minimalist styles. Designers first became interested in this style in the 1840s and it has remained a classic ever since.

How to take care of antique cane furniture?

If you have antique cane furniture, you probably have a good understanding of the historical value of the piece. Cane must be cared for and kept away from dry heat. Natural cane can become brittle and break. Seats and backs made of natural cane should be treated regularly with lemon oil, orange oil or mineral oil in order to keep the strips flexible and able to bear weight. Never use antique cane furniture as a step stool. They are made for even distribution of weight.

Sagging cane can occur from lots of wear. There is a way to bring life back to a limp cane seat. Turn the chair upside down and apply a wet warm cloth to the bulge. Leave in place overnight. Remove the cloth and allow the cane to dry completely. The fibers will shrink and tighten the strands for a more uniform look and feel. Always have your chair repaired by an experienced cane installer if rips or cuts accidentally occur.