A new generation of artisans shares the ins and outs of weaving cane, cord, grasses and leather to add texture and warmth to contemporary furniture.<\/p>\n
Consider the recent re-emergence of wicker. Although the term is of Scandinavian origin \u2014 vika<\/em> in Swedish means \u201cto bend\u201d and vikker<\/em> translates as \u201cwillow\u201d \u2014 this weaving method dates back to ancient Egypt, some 5,000 years ago, when woven furniture was crafted with reeds and swamp grasses. Lightweight and durable, wickerwork has been widely used and prized throughout history, but it was in the damp, dusty Victorian era that wicker furniture, viewed as more hygienic than upholstery, soared in popularity.<\/p>\n Then, during the Second World War, when rattan and seagrass were in short supply, furniture makers turned to the strong three-ply Danish cord as a substitute. Later, woven pieces fell out of favour when they became associated with the fusty wicker tables and chairs that an older generation relegated to rec rooms and rickety sun porches.<\/p>\n The tide has since turned. Wicker is back, but this time, with a focus on how natural materials and traditional weaving methods enhance the spare elegance of mid-century modern, Scandinavian and Shaker-influenced furniture pieces.<\/p>\n Wovens tick many boxes for homeowners nowadays. A global pandemic has inspired us to feather our nests with inviting furniture, and wicker\u2019s warm, textured organic surfaces fit the bill, alongside its sustainability and how it supports local artisans. In sync with the wicker trend, Canadian companies have been incorporating natural materials, such as cane and grasses, as well as Danish cord and leather, into innovative designs.<\/p>\n CASA CUBISTA<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Founded in 2015 by Torontonians Arren Williams and David Pimental, this home goods brand has tasked itself with sharing Portugal\u2019s traditional materials and crafts with the world. Its Cane Collection, which debuted in 2018, includes a chair, coffee table, side tables-cum-stools and pendant light shades. \u201cOur can pieces are made by Julia and Sergio,\u201d says Williams. \u201cJulia\u2019s father was a weaver of traditional fishing baskets. She married S\u00e9rgio, who started weaving too, and their family keeps the tradition alive.\u201d The chair and coffee table are revivals of mid-century sales that the family has been crafting for decades. \u201cWe love how the basket-style seat is separate from the base, allowing you to change the pitch,\u201d notes Williams. The pendant shades are new designs conceived along the way, as Williams and Pimental learned about more weaving options for the cane material. \u201cFor us,\u201d says Williams, \u201cit\u2019s always about simple modern shapes and collaborating with the craftspeople to come up with something hands-on that works.\u201d<\/p>\n HAMILTON HOLMES<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Sculptor and furniture maker Nicholas Hamilton Homes has been in business for 14 years at his eponymous studio in Hamilton, Ontario. His Oxalino Captain\u2019s Table and OS Chair and the Shoreman\u2019s Bench all showcase Danish cord, a sustainable material made of paper fibre derived from wood certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. \u201cThe cord brings so much texture and depth to contemporary design,\u201d says Hamilton Holmes. \u201c[And] the warmth and irregularity of woven cord is a strong contrast with the materials of cold minimalism.\u201d The Captain\u2019s Table, introduced in 2018, was actually inspired by the original Danish cord associated with Danish mid-century modern furniture. \u201cThe [table\u2019s] design features an original approach to weaving around a triangle form,\u201d explains Hamilton Homes. \u201cI experimented until I found a way to support the piece both structurally and aesthetically.\u201d That design, which is available as a coffee table and as accent tables, is a mix of wood, marble and cord. For the OS Chair and Shoreman\u2019s Bench, he employs a traditional basket-weave technique for the seats, which provides more flex and comfort than a wood seat.\u201d But the real benefit is aesthetic,\u201d he says. \u201cDanish cord looks nice and feels nice to touch and experience.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n STUDIO LANI<\/strong><\/p>\n Lani Adeoye, who has lived and worked in New York, Toronto and Lagos, currently divides her time between the latter two cities. This McGill University grad founded Studio Lani in 2017 and has garnered critical acclaim for her sculptural lighting and furniture creations. Adeoye\u2019s work has been featured in Elle Decor, Architectural Digest, Dwell and Design Milk. Her art celebrates West African traditions and techniques, filtered through her own contemporary sensibilities. The Talking Stool, for example, is constructed in the familiar tabouret format but with an unconventional twist. Sculpted floor matting, woven from locally grown grasses by craftswomen in Nigeria, provides comfortable \u201cupholstery\u201d seating. \u201cThe material is sustainable and has a timeless appeal,\u201d notes Adeoye. \u201cIt adds that human artisanal vibe to spaces.\u201d Leather accents are applied using traditional show-making methods. Her collection also includes the graceful Cata Stool with its woven-leather seat, sculptural legs and leather-wrapped metal frame.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n ATELIER ARKING<\/strong><\/p>\n Comprised of eight talented makers, Atelier Arkingis led by J.H. Moon, who founded this collective in 2008, in Flamborough, a community within the city of Hamilton. The studio\u2019s refined creations, which are much sought after by the interior-design trade, offer a full range of furniture \u2014 seating, tables, benches and beds, including cane and woven-leather pieces.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sothebysrealty.ca\/insightblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/InsightSpring22_Wicker02.jpg\")
<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sothebysrealty.ca\/insightblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/InsightSpring22_Wicker01.jpg\")
<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sothebysrealty.ca\/insightblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/InsightSpring22_Wicker03.jpg\")
<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sothebysrealty.ca\/insightblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/InsightSpring22_Wicker05.jpg\")
<\/div>\n
![\"Insight:](\"https:\/\/sothebysrealty.ca\/insightblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/InsightSpring22_Wicker04.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n