CANING

Caning an Amana made chair was a craft done by a few in the Amana Colonies, including my dear mother.  She caned handmade rockers, chairs, and antique pieces.  The caning was done with plastic or natural can, the later being more desirable and required great skill. There were seven steps to the caning process, including the binding.  The natural reed had to be soaked in water for pliability, the plastic reed came off a spool.. The cost of the caning depended on the number of holes around the chair seat or back. Some chairs were canned in set, others singly, and still done today at local furniture shops or in the home, as did my mother.