Woven rattan plant supports
I have been exploring ways in which rattan cane can used as a sculptural framework to support hanging plants and their meandering stems. The resulting woven pot hangers are available to purchase on line and in our shop in Penzance. Each, though similar, is one of a kind, with its own unique expression.
The creation of the Doodle Knot soon followed, each a unique compostion of twists and turns from a single piece of cane in which a Tillandsia airplant can nestle. When hung, they are feather light and provide all the support and air circulation these little plants need
Rattan cane is harvested from the woody spiny stems of Asian jungle palms, an emblemic feature of diversity in tropical and to a lesser extent, temperate forests. They have long sucker shoots, tendrils and spines that will reach out and attach themselves to the trees, using them like a climbing trellis in search of light through the canopy. Often seen as invasive and capable of pulling down other vegetation, they are harvested by local populations providing a resource for construction, food and medicine
Once harvested the cane, with its internal spongey tissue and tough surface has a tendency to curl expressively, with wonderful malleability, allowing it to be formed into suspended vessels in which plants can inhabit and climb. This is a beautiful entire reversal of the palm’s natural tendency to climb and support itself on jungle flora