Caning & Rushing
SERVICE OVERVIEW - WHAT IS CANING?
Revitaliste’s caning services refer to the process of repairing or replacing the caning on a piece of furniture. It’s a common mistake to group cane, wicker and rattan into a single category and use these terms interchangeably. Wicker is a process referring to the woven furniture made from a variety of materials (i.e. cane, seagrass, etc.). Cane is a product of the rattan plant, a vine-like relative to the palm tree, found primarily in tropical areas throughout Southeast Asia. The exterior of the rattan plant - essentially its bark - is removed and processed into thin strips. These malleable but strong strips of cane are intricately woven to create caned furniture. The stalk of the rattan plant is used to construct rattan furniture.
HOW WE APPROACH CANING SERVICES - HAND CANING VS. MACHINE CANING
Before beginning a caning revitalization project, we must first determine whether your furniture is hand caned or machine caned (also called sheet or pressed caning). While the end result of both types are beautiful, the work involved to restore each type is quite different.
Hand caning, most common in antiques and higher-end furniture, is an expert, labor-intense process, and is therefore more expensive to repair than machine caning. That said, the price is well-worth the quality of the product: a machine caned piece will last about ten years, while a hand caned piece can last twenty to forty years.
Hand caning is distinguished by its small holes, while sheet caning has a router groove around the perimeter. A machine caned chair cannot be converted into a hand caned chair. A hand caned chair can be converted into a machine caned chair (often done for cost savings), however the original craftsmanship may be compromised.
As both hand and machine caning is difficult to spot repair (i.e. patching holes), it is most common to fully replace the caning when holes are present. New cane can be stained to match any finish.