- Wicker
Wicker is hard woven
fiber formed into a useful object. Wicker is usually used forbaskets orfurniture . Wicker is made of material ofplant origin, but nowadaysplastic fibers are also used.Materials used can be any part of a plant, such as the cores or canes of
rattan stalks, or the whole thickness, as withwillow switches. Other popular materials include reed andbamboo .Often a frame is made of stiffer materials, after which more pliant material is used to fill in the frame. Wicker is light yet sturdy, making it suitable for furniture that will be moved often. It is often used for porch and patio furniture.
Wicker furniture has been documented as far back as ancient Egypt [http://web.archive.org/web/20070527133903/http://www.bergen.org/AAST/Projects/Egypt/egyptian_social.html] , and wicker baskets have been found in
Pompeii [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4695097.stm] . It has been proposed that the extensive use of wicker objects in theIron Age had an influence on the development of the patterns used inCeltic art . In recent times, its aesthetic was influenced heavily by theArts and Crafts movement at the turn of the 20th century.The oldest and most prominent North American manufacturer was Heywood-Wakefield in
Gardner, Massachusetts . Antique wicker products are highly sought after by collectors.ee also
*
Wicker Man :*"The Wicker Man "External links
* [http://www.wakefieldlibrary.org/wakhistorypix.htm Wakefield Library display (historic photos of factory and products)]
* [http://www.wickerpedia.org Wickerpedia (Information regarding wicker and its many uses)]
Great examples of wicker at > > http://www.stixnthings.com
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