Hand Cane - Traditional Seven Step Hand Caning (with drilled holes)

Holes are drilled around the perimeter of the chair frame and individual strands of cane are hand woven through the series of drilled holes.

Pre-Woven Cane

Pre-woven sheet cane is set into a routed out groove on the top side of the chair, held in place with a reed spline, no holes drilled in framework.

Binding Cane or Rattan

Binding cane or rattan is used to weave Danish Mid Century Modern furniture.

Examples to the left are a magazine rack that sits under a table woven for Bex Vintage. Photographed on a Niels Møller Model 57 Armchair.

Top right photo courtesy of Louche Milieu of a Hans Olsen rocking chair rewoven by Caning Canada.

Middle right Market Place find of a side table with a cane magazine rack.

Bottom right photo courtesy of Reclaim Vintage YYC caned back settee rewoven by Caning Canada.

Riempie Chairs

Riempie chairs can be traced back to the traditional 17th century Dutch, Flemish, and English chairs. Riempies or leather straps that were readily available were used in place of cane or reed strips which had to be imported.

In the early 1820s, settlers in South Africa were on the move and needed lightweight chairs that utilized the materials available and the technique of riempies was most common. A simple, lightweight and strong chair that embraced the South African heritage.

Riempie chairs have stood the test of time and are still being produced in South Africa today.

Now I don't do leatherwork however I have found that weaving the Riempie chairs with two different gauges of cane provides a clean textured yet simply finished seat that is well suited to the chairs. Replacing the traditional leather straps with cane has been well received as the Riempie strapping with time transfers a powdery and caulk-like substance to one's clothing.

Binding cane is also used to wrap Mid-century Modern MCM lamps and pod chairs.

Hanging Medallions Woven in Cane Sunshine Pattern

Hanging medallions can be woven in a sunrise pattern or using the seven-step hand cane method.

This project consisted of a three-seater settee with three hanging medallions on the backrest and two armchairs with hanging medallions. The backs of all pieces were completed in the Sunrise pattern and the arms were completed in the standard seven-step hand cane method.

Rising Sun Cane Pattern

The rising sun pattern forms a sun ray with tight holes at the bottom of the ray and wider spaced holes along the sides and top of the ray.

Setting Sun Cane Pattern

The setting sun pattern forms a sun ray with tight holes at the top and the sides of the ray and wider spaced holes at the bottom of the ray.

Blind Cane / French Cane

Blind Caning / French Caning is when the holes of a hand caned chair do not go all the way through the chair frame.

Double-Sided Caning is when both sides of the chair frame are caned. Double caned surfaces are also usually blind caned as well.

Marcel Adios Breuer 1902 - 1981

The Cesca chair was designed in 1928 by Marcel Breuer using tubular steel and either hand-woven cane or pre-woven cane.

The three official manufacturers of the Cesca chair were Thonet starting in 1927, Gavina in the 1950s, and Knoll in the 1960s. The chair was named after his daughter Francesca.