Versatile Rattan

April 1981

中文

Picturesque rattan can be substituted for wallpaper as a novel interior decoration.

Rattan is a tropical vine found extensively in Asia in the jungles of Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. Only a small quantity of top-quality rattan can be gathered from Taiwan's eastern mountain region. Imports of raw material from Indonesia are therefore the basis of the island's prosperous furniture business.

Rattan furniture, combining simple ancient and modern styles, has grown to be a leading sector in Taiwan's furniture industry. Last year, exports of Taiwan-made rattan furnishings earned US$40 million in foreign exchange. Japan was the main customer, followed by the United States, Australia, Canada and various other countries around the world. At present Taiwan has nearly 100 rattan furniture plants, some 20 of which have introduced scientific production methods and semi automated manufacturing equipment. One of these is Ye Fun Company, which has assets totalling US$35,000 and employs 700 people. It is the biggest export firm in the line in Taiwan with overseas sales rising from a value of US$2.3 million in 1976 to $10 million last year.

Ye Fun founders, Kuo Wan-lai and Yang Chao-chuang, provide a good example of how hard work has led to success in Taiwan's rattan furniture industry. They were born in the farm village of Kuanmiao in Tainan County, which has a flourishing bamboo industry. In 1949, Yang, then aged 16, was working with his 26-year-old neighbor Kuo in making bamboo products, for sale in Tainan, some 13 kilometers away. Later on, they moved to Taitung, and began marketing items made of fine rattan found in the mountain region of Hualien County. By 1968, they had formally established the Ye Fun Company and began importing Indonesian rattan through Hong Kong. They struggled for three years until 1971, when demand on the Japanese market began to exceed supply. Ye Fun made a sustained effort to learn manufacturing techniques, both from foreign producers and from its own experience, and constantly improved quality. By 1976, foreign sales were rising rapidly, and the factory was expanded.

Ye Fun's management puts the company's success down to being in the right place at the right time, and achieving harmony among its workers. When rattan was first imported from Indonesia, Taiwan's bamboo industry was under- developed, and was easily eclipsed by the rattan furniture industry. The people of Kuanmiao were already skilled weavers of bamboo, and easily made the switch to rattan. Today, about 80 percent of Taiwan's rattan furniture factories are located or around the town.

Entire living room sets can be made from rattan, along with wardrobes, dressers, screens and other household accessories. The objects have the simplicity of olden times, while at the same time fitting in with modern taste. The elegant and refined lines of rattan furniture give a feeling of freshness and purity.

Rattan furniture's strongest point is its durability. With age, its off-white color changes to an attractive s copper hue. Its pure, simple and rustic style has never gone out of fashion. It is equally suitable for a castle or a cottage.

Anyone who sees the raw material after it is imported into Taiwan will inevitably ask: "How can these ugly-looking, twisted vines be transformed into such outstanding furniture?" At the Ye Fun plant, each piece is measured and placed in a different warehouse according to size. Pieces are selected by length for making different types of furniture. They are softened in a high- temperature oven and straightened, then their coarse outer layer is ground smooth. The pieces are trimmed and fastened together into the crude shapes of furniture. After weaving, the objects are spray-painted and finally examined for quality before packing and delivery. Factories such as Ye Fun have mechanized the cutting and softening processes, while the other steps are done by hand.

Another company, Taiwan Marujus Rattan Furniture, has mechanized manufacturing equipment according to a design worked out by the manager. Most products are sold to the United States.

Some small factories often sets of living room furniture made by a master craftsman with several decades' experience. He personally selects the hardest, heaviest and most durable rattan, then designs the piece and weaves it by hand. Those who sell the finished product consider it a work of art.

Taiwan's rattan furniture industry has one big flaw. The avalanche of orders from Japan has created an excess of demand, which means manufacturers can only cater to Japanese tastes, and have neglected independent designing. Nevertheless, the development of Taiwan's rattan furniture industry is stabilizing, and manufacturers have announced that from now on, they will adopt a policy of that creating their own styles.

[Picture Caption]

1. Picturesque rattan can be substituted for wallpaper as a novel interior decoration. 2. Workers spray-painting chairs. 3. Fastening pieces together to make a chair. 4. Bundles of imported rattan. 5. Worker assembling decorative lampshade. 6. Skilled female worker weaving the top of a table.

1. Complete living room set made from rattan. 2. Hanger made from vines is a refreshing indoor plant decoration. 3. Screen, hanging lamp and table lamp complement the set of table and chairs. 4. Baskets which can be used to hold yarn, books or magazines. 5. Cozy swivel chairs. 6. & 7. Two sets of elegant living room sets.

1. Long dining table and original off-white screen. 2. Dresser and stool are favorites among modern women. 3. The refreshing look of this dining set can even whet the appetite. 4. Containers with many uses for the whole family.