In early times rush always served a function in the seats of chairs and stools, and was very seldom if ever used on the better class of furniture. The use of cane or rush on furniture for decorative purposes only is distinctly a modern idea. Utility rather than beauty prompted the introduction of seats of rush.
Modern furniture of excellent design and workmanship employs rush seats. These are either woven over a separate frame and inserted or are an integral part of the chair, being woven over the seat rails of the chair itself. [Fig. 36] shows a modern adaptation of a ladder back chair with rush seat. The rush on this chair is woven over the rails. [Fig. 37] shows a flat view of the seat.
Rush.—Rush is the name applied to many fistular, stemlike plants of similar or like growth. Properly, rush belongs to the sedge family. The different species vary greatly in appearance; some are low and slender, some are tall and leafless, and some are broad leaved. They are found in wet places thruout the northern hemisphere, along banks of sluggish streams, and in lowlands and marshes. The great bulrush is common and familiar, while the chair-maker’s rush is not as well known. The plants most commonly known as rush are called by the names of flag and cattail. In fact, flag and cattail are very generally used for rush seating. The technical names of the different species of rush are not pertinent or desirable here.
FIG. 37. SEAT OF LADDER BACK CHAIR.
Other Materials.—Materials other than rush may be used for rush seating, as has been stated. Rush is rather hard to manage in that no appreciable length may be handled because of the shortness of the leaf. Twisting is necessary. Fiber, or similar materials, is to be recommended for shop use because a great length is procurable, and the twist is made. It is made of machine-twisted paper, and comes in long indefinite lengths. It is tough, strong, and serviceable, and procurable in spools of about one hundred pounds each. [Fig. 38] shows such a spool together with a bundle of rush. It is manufactured with or without a flexible wire center and costs from 10 to 15 cents a pound. It may be had in several colors and sizes.
Raffia is well known thru its general use in basketry and allied work. In rush seating it has no conspicuous place, altho it may be utilized to great advantage. Raffia is the leaf of a certain palm, cut in narrow widths and varying in length from 2 to 5 feet. It is bought in hanks by the pound, bleached or unbleached, and in colors. The natural unbleached raffia costs about 25 cents per pound; colored about 75 cents. The hanks should not be untied, but as strands are needed they should be pulled out from the head end of the hank. If improperly handled, raffia will become badly tangled.
