Blue and white rattan bench – Perret & Vibert, circa 1880

This bright blue and white rattan bench was made by Perret & Vibert at the end of the 19th century. Its airy armrests and incredible colours give this piece sophisticated and original accents.

Rattan furniture developed in the second half of the 19th century, especially during the Second Empire, with the fashion for exoticism. New materials such as bamboo or rattan appear in the decoration to quickly become essential elements. After an eclipse under the Empire and the Restoration, caning reappeared under Napoleon III and was a resounding success.

The Second Empire saw the manufacture of wickerworked seats on a frame made entirely of rattan. Around 1900, this furniture took off with the decision of several French manufacturers to import raw materials from China and Indochina on a massive scale, and then to make furniture that was increasingly light and decorative.