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Rush & Cane Seating Restoration in Oxfordshire & Gloucestershire
We offer high-quality rush seating restoration in Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, and cane chair repair with our antique furniture restoration service.
Restoring rush and cane seating involves intricate techniques tailored to these unique materials. Rush seating, woven from natural plant fibres, demands precise hand weaving to repair damaged sections. Clive Payne meticulously removes worn strands and reweaves the seat, ensuring a tight and durable finish that maintains the chair’s original appearance. Cane seating, made from rattan or bamboo, requires careful attention to detail. Restoration involves replacing broken or sagging cane strands, employing traditional hand caning methods. Each strand is intricately woven into the chair’s frame, following specific patterns to match the original design. Both rush and cane seating restorations necessitate expertise in weaving techniques, material selection, and a deep understanding of the chair’s construction.
Rush and cane can offer a much more comfortable seating surface than wood. Antique ladderback chairs, for example, were constructed using cane or rush seating. However, with the advent of central heating, rush and caned work dries out it becomes brittle and breaks apart making the chairs or item unusable.
The Process of Rush & Cane Chair Repair – Re-Caning & Reseating
The process involves assessing the chair’s structural integrity, replacing damaged or missing components, and seamlessly integrating the new weaving with the existing frame. Rush and cane seating restoration is a skill that is still done by hand. Caning is a method of weaving chair seats while in the process of cane chair repair. Cane work can be conserved, small holes are able to be repaired using matching cane reclaimed from other items. Cane is usually only replaced when it is not possible to restore the original. At Clive Payne, we are able to replace both rush and cane work, re-caning seats and antique furniture.
Member of the British Antique Furniture Restorers Association (BAFRA)
The British Antique Furniture Restorers’ Association (BAFRA) is a nationwide organisation of skilled people engaged in furniture conservation, furniture repair and furniture restoration. Every BAFRA member is an expert in their field and is actively involved in Continual Professional Development to keep abreast of advances in knowledge, skills and technical developments.
Clive Payne and his small team of highly skilled craftsmen have worked with some of the country’s finest houses, museums, antique dealers and collectors of period antiques. Over the years Clive has developed the highest of standards in Rush & Cane Seating Restoration in Oxfordshire and Rush & Cane Seating Restoration in Gloucestershire, joining the British Antique Furniture Restorers Association (BAFRA) in 1997 and now specialises in conserving and restoring oak and country furniture from the 15th to 18th centuries, together with all furniture from the early 18th to 19th centuries.
Rush & Cane Furniture Restoration FAQs
What is rush and cane seating?
Rush seating has been around for hundreds of years and is surprisingly comfortable and durable. However, due to the nature of the material, rush seating may fade or wear over time. Rush seating involves weaving natural plant fibres to create a seat, while cane seating uses rattan or bamboo strands woven into a chair’s frame, both traditional techniques for chair construction. Chair caning is specifically the craft of applying rattan cane to a piece of furniture such as the back of chairs or the seats of chairs. The cane used for furniture is typically derived from the rattan vine.
Why might my rush and cane seating require restoration?
Rush and cane seating are surprisingly both comfortable and durable. However, due to the nature of the material, rush and cane seating may fade or wear over time. The restoration of rush and cane chairs is a specialist job that requires each strand to be specially woven together neatly, to create a tightly woven seat. Rush and cane seating restoration should always be performed by an experienced restorer.
What is the method used for rush and cane seating restoration?
Rush and cane seating restoration is an antique method of weaving chair seating. Restoration typically includes inspecting the structural integrity, replacing damaged or missing parts, and meticulously weaving new rush or cane to repair or recreate the seat. The restoration of rush chairs is a speciality, with each strand being specially woven together neatly from rush of varying thicknesses, to create a tight woven seat. Cane work can be conserved and small holes are usually able to be repaired using matching cane reclaimed from other items. Cane is usually only replaced when it is not possible to restore the original.
What types of seating require rush and cane restoration?
Rush and cane restoration are vital for chairs featuring woven seats crafted from natural plant fibres (rush) or rattan/bamboo strands (cane). These techniques are commonly found in antique and vintage chairs, often in styles like ladder-back, Windsor, or various traditional European and American designs. Ladderback chairs get their name from the horizontal spindles that serve as the back support for them, which are reminiscent of a ladder. The majority of antique ladderback chairs are constructed using cane or rush and so typically require this type of restoration.
Can rush or cane seating be restored if severely damaged?
Clive Payne can often restore severely damaged rush or cane seating. Restoration involves carefully assessing the extent of damage, removing worn or broken sections, and intricately weaving in new material to recreate the seat. With expertise in traditional weaving techniques, restorers can revive even extensively damaged seating, breathing new life into these cherished pieces while maintaining their historical authenticity.
How long does rush or cane furniture restoration take?
The duration of rush or cane furniture restoration varies based on the damage and intricacy of weaving required. Simple repairs might conclude within days, while comprehensive restoration, involving careful weaving and structural repairs, could span weeks. Each restoration process is tailored to the specific needs of the piece, ensuring meticulous craftsmanship and a revived authentic seat.
Will the restored rush or cane seating match the original design?
Restored rush or cane seating aims to seamlessly replicate the original design. Clive Payne can meticulously match weaving patterns and materials, striving for an indistinguishable integration with the chair’s original style. Through expert craftsmanship and attention to detail, our restorers ensure that the newly woven rush or cane aligns flawlessly with the chair’s framework. The goal is to revive the seat’s authenticity, preserving its historical integrity while offering a renewed and visually cohesive appearance that honours the craftsmanship of the original design.
Why choose Clive Payne for rush and cane seating restoration?
With a deep understanding of traditional weaving techniques, we meticulously restore damaged seating to its former glory. Our commitment lies in matching original designs, ensuring seamless integration, and honouring the chair’s history. Trust our dedication to craftsmanship, authenticity, and attention to detail, ensuring your cherished rush and cane seating retains its timeless allure for generations to come. Over the years Clive has developed the highest standards in rush and cane seating restoration and is a member of the British Antique Furniture Restorers Association (BAFRA). As a member of BAFRA, Clive Payne is fully accredited, works to the highest standards and ethics and has been rigorously assessed and vetted.
If you have a piece of cane or rush furniture that has a woven seat, back or surface that you are considering restoring, or if you need your cane chairs re-seated please do not hesitate to contact me. All restoration work is done entirely by hand using traditional techniques.
Call 01608 658856 or click the button below to make an enquiry.
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