Grandma’s Chair Gets Cool Again
Cane furniture - pieces featuring woven rattan webbing typically seen on chair backs and seats - experienced major revival starting 2018. Once associated with dated 1970s and grandparent furniture, cane became highly desirable through vintage market appreciation and new production incorporating the traditional technique into contemporary designs.
The material offered texture and visual interest while maintaining minimalist aesthetics. Cane’s natural, organic quality aligned with broader design movements emphasizing natural materials, handcrafts, and biophilic design. The woven webbing provided transparency and lightness that solid furniture couldn’t match, making cane pieces feel airy in small spaces.
Vintage cane furniture from the 1960s-70s became collectible, with prices rising significantly on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and antique stores. Contemporary brands like CB2, West Elm, and Article introduced new cane pieces, often pairing traditional webbing with modern silhouettes and finishes. This mix of vintage authenticity and contemporary design made cane accessible to various aesthetics.
The trend benefited from Instagram’s visual platform - cane’s texture photographed beautifully, creating interesting shadows and patterns. However, practical concerns emerged: cane can sag over time, requires careful cleaning, and breaks if sat on roughly. These maintenance realities meant cane pieces often worked better as occasional seating than everyday-use furniture.
Sources:
https://www.architecturaldigest.com/