This article forms part of the Decorative and Applied Arts Encyclopedia, a master reference hub providing a structured overview of design history, materials, movements, and practitioners.
Introduction: Wakefield Rattan in Design History
Wakefield Rattan refers to the furniture produced by the Wakefield Rattan Company and its successor, the Heywood-Wakefield Company, a pivotal force in the development of American wicker and rattan furniture during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Emerging at the intersection of industrial manufacturing and decorative arts, Wakefield Rattan represents a key chapter in the evolution of furniture design, material culture, and global trade networks.
The company’s work demonstrates how imported materials—particularly rattan from Southeast Asia—were transformed through mechanisation into accessible, stylish furnishings that shaped middle-class domestic interiors in the United States.
Origins of Wakefield Rattan and Industrial Expansion
Cyrus Wakefield and the Introduction of Rattan
The origins of Wakefield Rattan lie in the entrepreneurial vision of Cyrus Wakefield, a Boston-based businessman who recognised the potential of rattan as a furniture material in the mid-nineteenth century. Initially encountered as packing material in shipping cargo, rattan’s flexibility and strength inspired its industrial application.
By the 1850s, Wakefield established the Wakefield Rattan Company in South Reading, Massachusetts (later renamed Wakefield), developing machinery to process and weave rattan into furniture forms. This marked a decisive shift from craft-based production to proto-industrial furniture manufacturing.
By 1865, the company employed over 200 workers and had become one of the largest producers of rattan goods globally.
Material Innovation: Rattan as a Design Medium
Properties and Appeal of Rattan
Rattan, a climbing palm native to Southeast Asia, differs significantly from bamboo in its structure and properties:
- Solid and fibrous rather than hollow
- Highly flexible when steamed
- Capable of forming complex curvilinear shapes
- Lightweight yet durable
These qualities made it ideal for both structural frames and woven surfaces, enabling a wide range of furniture types, from chairs and settees to cradles and railway seating.
Global Trade and Cultural Exchange
Rattan entered Western markets through European colonial trade routes in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. By the Victorian period, it had become associated with:
- Exoticism and tropical leisure
- Refinement in bourgeois interiors
- Light, hygienic alternatives to heavy wood furniture
Wakefield’s innovation lay in domesticating this global material for American industrial production.
The Rise of American Wicker Furniture
From Craft Tradition to Industrial Production
The term wicker refers not to a material but to a weaving technique, historically applied to willow, reed, and rattan.
Wakefield’s contribution was to mechanise this process, transforming wicker from a craft tradition into a scalable industry. This shift aligned with broader nineteenth-century trends:
- Industrialisation
- Expansion of middle-class consumption
- Increased demand for affordable decorative goods
Victorian Popularity and Domestic Interiors
Between approximately 1890 and 1910, wicker furniture reached peak popularity in the United States.
Wakefield products were widely used in:
- Parlours and conservatories
- Porches and verandas
- Summer houses and resorts
Their appeal lay in their visual lightness and ventilation, which contrasted with the heavy, upholstered furniture typical of Victorian interiors.
The Heywood-Wakefield Merger
Consolidation and Industry Leadership
In 1897, the Wakefield Rattan Company merged with Heywood Brothers & Company, forming the Heywood Brothers & Wakefield Company.
This merger consolidated two major competitors in wicker and rattan manufacturing, establishing a dominant force in American furniture production.
The unified company:
- Expanded mechanised production
- Diversified product lines
- Integrated design innovation with industrial efficiency
Design Influences
Heywood-Wakefield’s designs drew from major stylistic movements, including:
- Art Nouveau
- Arts and Crafts Movement
- Aesthetic Movement and Japonisme
These influences resulted in a wide stylistic range, from:
- Ornate Rococo Revival wicker
- To simplified, rectilinear forms aligned with modern design principles
Typologies and Design Characteristics
Rococo Revival Wicker
Wakefield Rattan is particularly associated with Rococo Revival wicker furniture, characterised by:
- Scrolling forms and curvilinear ornament
- Elaborate weaving patterns
- Decorative display pieces such as étagères
A notable example is the wicker étagère (1897–1905), now held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which demonstrates the fusion of industrial production with decorative exuberance.
Functional and Simplified Forms
By the early twentieth century, design trends shifted toward:
- Simpler geometries
- Reduced ornamentation
- Greater emphasis on function
This transition reflects broader movements toward modernism and functional design, anticipating later developments in industrial design.
Technological Advancements: The Lloyd Loom
A significant innovation associated with the Heywood-Wakefield Company was the adoption of the Lloyd Loom in the early twentieth century.
This process:
- Used paper-wrapped wire instead of natural fibres
- Enabled faster, cheaper production
- Expanded accessibility to lower-income consumers
However, it also contributed to a decline in perceived quality, as machine-made wicker lacked the craftsmanship of earlier handwoven pieces.
Decline and Legacy
Changing Tastes and Economic Pressures
Following the Great Depression, wicker furniture fell out of favour in mainstream American interiors. It became associated with:
- Economical substitutes for wood furniture
- Outdated Victorian aesthetics
Production challenges, rising costs, and international competition eventually led to the closure of Heywood-Wakefield in 1979.
Twentieth-Century Revival
Despite this decline, wicker and rattan experienced a revival from the 1950s to the 1980s, re-emerging in:
- Resort architecture
- Film and popular culture
- Youth countercultural aesthetics
This revival redefined wicker as both nostalgic and fashionable, restoring its cultural value.
Design Significance
Wakefield Rattan occupies a critical position in design history for several reasons:
1. Industrialisation of Craft
It represents the transition from handcrafted furniture to mechanised production, a defining moment in modern design.
2. Global Material Exchange
The use of rattan highlights the role of colonial trade networks in shaping Western decorative arts.
3. Middle-Class Consumption
Wakefield products democratized design, making decorative furniture accessible to a broader public.
4. Stylistic Evolution
The company’s output reflects the shift from Victorian ornamentation to modern functionalism.
Conclusion: Wakefield Rattan in Contemporary Perspective
Today, Wakefield Rattan furniture is widely regarded as collectible and historically significant, valued for its craftsmanship, material innovation, and role in shaping American interiors.
As both an industrial and cultural phenomenon, Wakefield Rattan exemplifies the convergence of:
- Craft and machine production
- Local manufacturing and global materials
- Decorative tradition and modern design
Its legacy continues to inform contemporary interest in natural materials, sustainable design, and the enduring appeal of woven furniture.
Related Articles
Sources
Heywood-Wakefield Company. (n.d.). Heywood-Wakefield Company. Retrieved August 6, 2025, from https://www.heywoodwakefield.com/pages/about
The Metropolitan Museum of Art. (n.d.). Étagère, Heywood Brothers and Wakefield Company (1897–1905). https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/3554
Maximalist.org. (n.d.). Heywood-Wakefield rattan: Streamline history & design. https://www.maximalist.org/design/heywood-wakefield/rattan/
Morris, E. A. (2012). The development and effects of the twentieth-century wicker revival (Master’s thesis). Smithsonian Associates and Corcoran College of Art and Design.
Discover more from Encyclopedia of Design
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.