Rattan, wicker and bamboo are each different from one another. Each is distinct in its origin, and also in how it is processed and used.  Many people own rattan furniture because it is lightweight and easy to move, but even more people love rattan because of the beachy, tropical feeling of relaxation and fun that it evokes. But what's the difference between rattan and bamboo and wicker? 

What is Rattan?

Rattan is a root that grows horizontally along swampy forest floors. Rattan is idea for furniture-making, because it is solid (not hollow) and can be reshaped.  Rattan is typically 1 to 2 inches thick, and it can grow several hundred feet long.  When Rattan furniture is made, the strands of rattan are boiled, and while it’s wet, it gets bent or shaped. Then, it keeps this new shape when it dries. Rattan is used to make vintage rattan furniture of all kinds – rattan bedroom furniture like bed frames and bedside tables, as well as rattan chairs, rattan couches, rattan tables, etc.

Rattan furniture was a very popular mid-century modern furniture, and it has experienced a huge resurgence in popularity over the last few years. Rattan furniture was used on the sets of many movies and television shows over the last 50 years, including, "The Golden Girls," and, "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."  We carry the same rattan couch and chairs that were used on the set of, "The Golden Girls," so you can own them too! 

This September, our rattan furniture was featured on the cover of Architectural Digest with Cara and Poppy Delevingne, who selected rattan furniture from our store for their new home in Los Angeles. Harveys on Beverly has the largest stock of vintage rattan furniture in the world. Because we buy from private individuals and estates, we have some of the most rare pieces of rattan furniture in the world.   

The term rattan refers to the horizontally growing roots of some 600 different varieties of Asian palm trees. It grows in hot climates across the globe, but is predominantly harvested in the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.

What’s the Difference Between Rattan and Bamboo?

Bamboo is a plant which grows straight up. It is hollow, and therefore, it is more fragile than rattan. Tiger or Tortoise bamboo is made by staining the bamboo with wet mud, and then firing it to set the mud spot stains. This process was invented by Europeans in the 19^th century. 

Here is an example of a bamboo forest in Asia.

What’s the Difference Between Rattan and Wicker?

Wicker is by definition woven. It was originally made from hemp, but now several other types of stick-type plants have been used for this. Many Chinese immigrants worked on the railroads in the early 20^th century in the United States. It was common for them to smoke hemp as they were working, so hemp seeds were scattered all along many of the railways in the U.S. As this hemp grew, some began to harvest the rope-like plant material, and weave it into baskets, containers and chair frames. Sometimes thin strands of Rattan are used to make wicker. Nowadays, wicker is often made of synthetics, such as polyethylene.