Wakefield Rattan Company

Wakefield Rattan Co.
Now-demolished Wakefield Rattan Company buildings, c. 1985
Wakefield Rattan Company is located in Massachusetts
Wakefield Rattan Company
Wakefield Rattan Company is located in the United States
Wakefield Rattan Company
Location134 Water St., Wakefield, Massachusetts
Coordinates42°30′11″N 71°3′59″W / 42.50306°N 71.06639°W / 42.50306; -71.06639
Built1889
MPSWakefield MRA
NRHP reference No.89000692 [1]
Added to NRHPJuly 06, 1989

The Wakefield Rattan Company was the world's leading manufacturer of rattan furniture and objects in the second half of the 19th century. Founded by Cyrus Wakefield in 1851 in South Reading, Massachusetts (now Wakefield), it perfected machinery for working with rattan, developing looms for weaving chair seats and mats. Its products also included wicker furniture and baby carriages. The company also successfully found uses for previously wasted portions of the plant, using shavings to create baling fabric and floor coverings. Its products were available throughout the United States.[2]

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  2. ^ "NRHP nomination form". Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved 2011-11-29.