SOME
OF the modern home owners are going in for cane furniture as it
gives an antique and natural look to the interior.
Manufacturers of cane furniture are getting orders to suit the
needs of the house — be it the sofa set, centre table, corner
stand, garden chairs or a "moda."
The cane strips used for weaving panels are the outer layer of
the Rattan Palm, a prolific climbing plant of the East.
Treatment
It is strong but coming from a living plant, it does need treating
with consideration to achieve the many years of service it is
capable of. Since it is not as sturdy as wooden furniture, even
if a strip in a cane chair or sofa breaks, it can spoil the beauty
of the entire piece and can be the beginning of further ripping
apart and cracking.
So, if any strand breaks, it should be got repaired immediately
as each snapped strand puts additional strain on the next one.
The dry condition resulting from heaters, blowers and air ducts
are the enemy of cane work and hence should be placed as far away
from them as possible.
The cane will dry out to a brittle condition and then the individual
strands can snap very easily.
The cane can sometimes become loose or sag. A monthly water treatment
will re-tighten the strands: spray the cane with water or sponge
it, but it should be dried naturally before use.
Colour change
New cane work will mellow to a lovely warm brown colour naturally
in only a few months and last longer than the painted ones. If
it has to be painted to match the wall paint, only spirit-based
wood dyes have to be used.
They have the ability to adhere to the glossy surface of the cane.
It is better to avoid paints, varnishes and lacquers as they seal
the strands, making them brittle. Any localised pressure, like
someone often standing on a cane chair or stool, will easily break
the seat. A load that is evenly spread out is quite safe.
Boiling the cane in diesel and coconut oil or by treating the
cane with sulphur are the normal ways used by cane manufacturers
to keep the cane furniture bug-free. The untreated cane furniture
is prone to insect attack or infestation.
Insecticide is sprayed over the furniture to prevent it. If the
cane furniture is attacked by pin-hole borer insects, they bore
through the cane and leave a fine powdery substance on the floor.
The furniture needs to be treated immediately.
Cane chairs, if used in the garden, have to be protected from
direct sun and rain as the cane loses its elasticity and cracking
occurs due to exposure to direct sun and rain.
Dusting
The cane can be kept free from grime and dirt by dusting regularly
with a brush or by vacuum cleaning.
Chemical products such as thinner or benzene should not be used
to clean the blemishes. It is better to send the furniture to
the manufacturer to get it treated.
Mix one part of boiled linseed oil with two parts of turpentine
and apply on the cane furniture for 15 minutes, wipe out the excess.
Do this once a year after 3-4 years of purchase to prevent the
cane from drying out and becoming brittle.
To tighten a sagging chair, the porous underside of the cane should
be sponged with hot water and allowed to dry slowly; repeat the
procedure if necessary. This brings back the original tension.
Cane will be there forever, though stylish furniture of other
materials has flooded the market.
