Original Malawi Cane
Vintage Floral Karoo Chair
Vintage Floral Karoo Chair
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Born in the hands of master weavers in Malawi and finished by our Cape Town upholstery team, this armchair is the rare kind of piece that stops a room in its tracks.
The frame is hand-woven from natural Malawi cane - each strand placed with the unhurried precision that only true craft produces. The open latticework base, the gently curved barrel back, the solid wraparound arms: all of it woven, not manufactured. No two are ever identical.
What makes this piece exceptional is what came next. Our upholstery team sourced a length of vintage botanical fabric - ivory ground, full-bloom roses, trailing leaves in sage and ochre - and cut it to fit this chair alone. The result is a conversation between two craft traditions: African weave and European textile, meeting in a single, unrepeatable object.
This is a one-off. When it’s gone, it’s gone.
Materials
Materials
Materials used to make Malawi Cane furniture include a local hardwood, bamboo cane and water reeds.
Shipping & Returns
Shipping & Returns
Malawi Cane has over a decade’s experience shipping around the world. So whether you need something delivered domestically in South Africa, or a container to Europe, we will take care of the logistics for you.
All our furniture is fumigated. In the unlikely event that you see signs of borer beetle (dust on the floor below the chair) within 6 months of purchase, please let us know and we will exchange the chair.
Dimensions
Dimensions
70 X 60 X 70
Care Instructions
Care Instructions
All Malawi Cane products are made using natural rattan from Malawi. As with any natural product, care should be taken when exposed to the elements. Varnish or paint treatment is recommended for outdoor patio use.
Without care, and if exposed to constant direct UV rays or rain, the chairs will eventually go a silvery / grey colour and deteriorate, offering a rustic, Provençal look.
To prolong the life of your Malawi Cane pieces, we recommend:
- Regularly dusting them with a dry soft cloth.
- For spots a little harder to get to, use a soft bristle brush.
- If it’s raining, keep them undercover. It’s important to keep them dry and avoid a build- up of moisture and mildew. If they do get damp or wet, simply dry them out on a warm, sunny day when you next can.
- If there is heavy or prolonged periods of rain or humidity, we recommend bringing your pieces indoors during that time.
Please note that if a dark ‘mould’ ever forms, this is usually superficial and can be scrubbed off using a spoon of oxalic acid (available at most hardware stores) mixed in 5L of water and then rinsed.
From Malawi to the world
It takes one person one week to make a single Malawi Chair. After that the artisans use bicycles to transport the furniture to our trucks, and then to our warehouse and quality control facility in Cape Town. From there we send out containers to the world.
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National and international shipping
Did you know Malawi Cane handles all shipping for clients throughout South Africa and the world? Get in touch to discuss.
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Hassle-Free Exchanges
All of our furniture is fumigated against beetle. You can rest assured that we will exchange any damaged or infected product.
