RUSH SEATS

To contact us:

Phone: 972-253-1300

Fax: 972-254-1926

Email: pswofford@chaircaningandsupplies.com

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Rush has been used in seating since the time of the Pharaohs. It has been in general use since the mid-fifteenth century.

 

Material for Rush Seats comes in two types three if you count the two types of natural rush.

 

Fiber rush— which is a high grade of kraft paper. It is pre twisted in several sizes.

 

Natural rush— Is Cattails or Bull Rush,

Cattails are more readily available in the U.S. Bull rush is imported from England or Europe. These are the most common materials used in rush seats.

Fiber rush comes in diameters from 4/32 to 7/32in. There are two colors

Kraft brown which is close in color to a paper grocery sack, and golden brown which is close to the color printed.

An average size chair (about 14in across the front rail) requires about 2lbs to weave.

Fiber rush is the easiest to weave, because it has a uniform size and

Requires no twisting.

 

Bull Rush (Scripus lacustris) because it is a plant material it is only available on a seasonal basis. (This material makes some beautiful rush seats.)

 

Cattails (Typha lattifolia) is harvested locally in the U.S., so it is more readily available but still seasonal.

 

Which one do you use? Most chairs are re-rushed with fiber rush due to cost and ease. If you have a fine antique chair use real/natural rush, if you take it to someone make sure they use natural rush. The cost is considerably more but so is the chair.

 

Rush seats fall under the category of chair caning, since it is a form of seat weaving.