Caning
Also called cane, caned, cane back, hand caning, pressed cane, sheet cane
A traditional furniture weaving technique using flexible rattan bark strips to create open, lightweight seats and decorative panels.
What It Is
Caning is a traditional furniture technique that weaves narrow, flexible strips cut from the glossy outer bark of the rattan palm. Used primarily for chair seats, seat backs, and cabinet door inserts, caning creates a durable, springy, and ventilated surface with an airy aesthetic.
How It Works and Quality Marks
Master craftspeople create traditional hand caning by threading individual cane strands through small holes drilled along the frame perimeter, typically weaving a seven-step octagonal grid. You can identify hand-woven caning by inspecting the frame edge; tiny drilled holes and finished knots line the back or underside. Pressed cane instead uses pre-woven sheets set into a continuous perimeter groove with a wooden spline. Hand-caned construction demonstrates exceptional skill, delivering natural flex, strength, and lightweight comfort.
Common Confusions
Caning is frequently confused with wicker, rush, and solid rattan. Wicker describes a weaving style using round reed, willow, or synthetic cord. Rush seating wraps twisted grasses around frame rungs in dense triangular envelopes. Rattan refers to the sturdy structural vine itself, while cane consists specifically of the peeled exterior bark.