Low rattan chair and armchair set, Perret & Vibert, 1880
This superb set in natural rattan composed of an armchair and a chair, all in sobriety, has rare charm. It was made at the end of the twentieth century in France.
Rattan furniture developed in the second half of the nineteenth century, especially under the Second Empire, with the fashion of exoticism. New materials such as bamboo or rattan appeared 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 caned seats on frames made entirely of rattan. Around 1900, this furniture takes off with the decision of several French manufacturers to import massively the raw materials from China and Indochina to then realize furniture with the taste of the day always lighter and more decorative.