RATTAN furniture has a timeless appeal that transcends trends.
Elegant and versatile, rattan is an ideal material for durable, eco-friendly home furnishings that add a natural accent to any space.
While modern factories mass producing rattan furniture are more prevalent, smaller businesses offer unique designs, quality and craftmanship.
StarMetro visited one such shop at Jalan Klang Lama, Kuala Lumpur, where rattan furniture makers Ng Ho Fan, 60, and Hong Woon Heong, 70, continue to pursue this painstaking craft.
Artisans who specialise in crafting rattan furniture typically use traditional techniques.
The raw material is soaked in warm water before it is plied or woven to make it easier to shape.
This also prevents the rattan from cracking in the process.
Those looking to furnish their homes should look out for such small shops, which offer custom designs and hand-crafted furniture pieces that differ from modern rattan collections.
Shopping at these small enterprises also supports local craftsmen, who are also able to perform rattan furniture repairs.
Gallery
Varnishing is the last step to give the furniture a polished finish. (Right) Ng and Hong attending to a customer at their shop in Jalan Klang Lama.
Left: Hong (right) showing a customer an armchair with a footrest crafted from rattan.
Ng chooses rattan poles to make furniture at his shop in Jalan Klang Lama. — Photos: AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star
Ng arranges an assortment of rattan furniture for sale at his shop.
With much dexterity, Hong weaves the seat of a rattan chair.
A tool is used to push the rattan strips into place and tighten the weave.
Rattan furniture maker Ng Ho Fan,60, varnishes a rattan chair as a last process . —AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star
Rattan strips being soaked in warm water before they are woven.
