Wicker

Wicker is a material made of plant stalks, branches or shoots formed by a kind of weaving into a rigid material, most often used for baskets or furniture. Wicker is traditionally made of material of plant origin, but plastic fibers are now also used. Wicker is light yet sturdy, making it suitable for furniture that will be moved often like porch and patio furniture. A variety of plants are used, from reeds, grasses (including bamboo), creepers such as rattan, and thin tree branches, especially willow. Rushwork and wickerwork are terms used in England.

History

Wicker has been documented as far back as ancient Egypt, made from indigenous "reed and swamp grasses." Middle-class families could only afford a few pieces, such as small tables. However, archaeologists working on the tombs of the wealthy pharaohs (rulers) have uncovered a wider variety of wicker items, including "chests, baskets, wig boxes, and chairs.". Wicker even found use in the Achaemenid Empire on the battlefield, in shields.