ARTICLE

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   Manufacturer
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   Wicker

     Wicker is any sort of hard woven plant fiber formed into a useful object. Wicker is usually used for baskets or furniture.

     Materials used can be any part of a plant, such as the cores or canes of rattan stalks, or the whole thickness, as with willow switches. Other popular materials include reed and bamboo.

     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 an ideal inexpensive option 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. It has been proposed that the extensive use of wicker objects in the Iron Age had an influence on the development of the patterns used in Celtic art. In recent times, its aesthetic was influenced heavily by the Arts 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.