University of Reading Museums and Collections

Paint your wagon red!

It takes a lot of skill, craftmanship and patience, backed up by centuries of local tradition and style to paint an English wagon. Each one is different, differing according to village, town, region and individual painter.

All of these objects may be on display in the Museum of English Rural life's redisplay (from top, l to r):

This photograph of a man caning a chair instantly reminded me of the Parks & Recreation scene where Ron Swanson teaches us how to cane a chair for charity.

The humour lies in what's perceived as a fairly naff, straightforward and antiquated task. But, as with most things, it becomes more interesting the more you look into it.

Introduced to England during the second half of the 17th century, caned chairs were prized for their strength, attractiveness and the ease with which they could be repaired. It's also thought that they owe some of their popularity to an influx of faux bamboo chairs, a craze started at Brighton Pavilion. It was part of a wider fascination with the East, and another product of Orientalism, colonialism and world trade.

I think it's making a comeback. The warm, deep colours of the wood against the creamy colour of the cane is something that puts me in mind of classy living rooms and summer.

(Image: P DX374 H10_1)

Ever seen a chair chair?

(P DX318 PH5/90)