Caning Canada Woven Chair Repair

Cane, Rattan, Danish Cord, & Fibre Rush   

Danish Cord Chair Repair, Caning Canada

Danish modern furniture incorporates minimalist design creating functional furniture with pure, clean lines. Chair frames are specifically designed to accept Danish cord material woven in a certain style. 

Danish paper cord is a twisted paper cord which has been used to weave seats since the 1920s. Danish modern furniture  gained popularity after World War II in Denmark and other European countries. The cord is a robust 3-ply paper product estimated to last up to 60 years with regular use and proper care. The cord is slightly waxed to resist dirt and stains and, in its natural beige state, is an environmentally friendly material as it isn't bleach. 

Mid-century and modern Danish cord chairs are woven with the standard basket weave pattern or the traditional rushing pattern. Chair frames are designed to accept a specific style of weaving and are therefore not interchangeable. Some furniture designs weave the material through slots in the chair frame taking the material down in front of chair rails or the back slats. 

Main Contributors

Hans Wegner 1914-2007 -  The Master of the chairs best known for his Wishbone Chair (1949), also known as the Y Chair,  Shaker-style chair CH36, double rail  dining chair CH23,  chair PP112 from 1978,  and J16 rocking chair, chair 25 lounge chair.    

Peter Hvidt 1916-1986 -  Mod 316 teak dining chair 1960s

Hans Olsen 1919–1992 -  rocking chair designed by Hans Olsen for Juul Kristensen in Denmark, circa 1960s

Niels O. Møller 1920-1982 - Chair models 55, 56, 66, 67,  71, 75, 77, 78, 83, and 84. 

What is Caning?

Cane, rattan or wicker furniture has been around since ancient Egypt.  Cane material comes from the outer bark of the rattan plant. Caned furniture provides that open and airy feel from the 19th-century antique settees or midcentury-modern dining chairs.

Cane is a product of the outer bark of the rattan palm native to Southeast Asia. The top side of a strand of cane is naturally smooth and is non-porous. The back or bottom is the raw side that exposes the porous cellulose fibres of the plant. 

Caning has become the term that incorporates the craft of pre-woven cane, handwoven cane, rattan, Danish cord and fibre rush weaving. 

Caned furniture has been around globally since the late 1600s replacing upholstered furniture known to harbour vermin. 

Woven seats were typically found in England and France in the 1700s until the early 20th century, with classic Mid-Century Modern design becoming popular. The modern caning-inspired design is known as the "Cesca chair," which includes popular midcentury caned pieces such as Marcel Breuer's Cesca side chair, Pierre Jeanneret's Easy Chair, and Josef Hoffmann's Bentwood chair for Thonet.

Appreciate the artistry and craftsmanship of furniture woven by hand as it is quickly becoming a lost skill performed by only a few people in Canada.