Caning (furniture)

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This article is about the technique used for weaving furniture. For the physical punishment, see Caning.

In the context of furniture, caning is a method of weaving chair seats and other furniture. Caning material is derived from the skin of rattan vines grown mostly in Indonesia, the Philippines and Malaysia. Some vines reach 500 feet in length. One of the earliest woven chair seats is in the Metropolitan Museum of Art collection. It was owned by Reni-seneb, a scribe of Dynasty 18 (1539 - 1295 BC). A wood chair with ivory inlay, it had a string mesh seat which has been reconstructed. Caning or cane is a term which is incorrectly generically used to describe any woven seat.

Other kinds of woven chair seats include Rush (natural and paper), Danish Cord, Shaker Tape, Binder Cane, Flat Reed and Splint.