For the Love of Rattan
Where do we begin with our love of rattan? Ancient Egyptian Pharaohs were buried with their rattan furniture, and the Ming dynasty used the lightweight palm to make military shields, which tells us something about its durability.
Rattan itself is a variety of climbing vine, more flexible than bamboo and highly resilient, which is why even very old vintage rattan can often be found in complete sets. It thrives in the jungles of Southeast Asia and parts of Africa, and from the 16th to 18th centuries, rattan furniture was all the rage in British Colonial style.
The tropical wood can stand up to extreme weather and live happily outdoors, which makes it a perfect material for island life and the natural flow between indoor and outdoor spaces.
✤ Yves, Truman and the Swans ✤
Early American design embraced that interior to exterior flow, incorporating rattan into their homes no matter where they were located, and the widespread popularity of woven wicker in commercial furniture actually originated in New England. The period of late 19th century Massachusetts makers became known as The Golden Age of Wicker, and craftspeople innovated with rattan cane to create ever more elaborate pieces we still love today. Many decades later, mid century modernists like Paul Frankl and Isamu Kenmochi fully embraced rattan, and the sumptuous apartments of the chicest people in the world featured the natural wood in new and experimental forms. You can spot pieces in the bohemian luxe extravaganzas of Yves St. Laurent and Pierre Bergé’s Paris and Manhattan apartments, and perhaps the chicest of them all, Babe Paley, aka Truman Capote’s queen in Swan, used it everywhere at her Jamaica estate. Back in New York, Truman himself was prone to lounging on a rattan chaise at his Sagaponack house (and we wouldn’t say no to the daring cerulean blue peacock chairs and wicker writing table in his indigo themed living room).
✤ The French Riviera ✤
Our rattan collection is designed in the South of France in true Côte d'Azur style. Each piece is fabricated in Thailand and exclusive to Casa Branca.The fluted accents and carved details evoke the mid century European coastal lifestyle beloved by designers like Le Corbusier. We suggest incorporating the all-season, all-climate pieces into any interior for a fresh twist on classical accents.
Not seeing the perfect thing online? Our Palm Beach boutique has many items not featured on our website. We’d love to help you find something from our onsite inventory – reach out anytime! Lead times vary across styles, please contact us directly for current lead times or any other inquiries.
