Cane and Basket Supply
At Cane & Basket Supply Co. in Los Angeles, customers demonstrate a trait not always associated with Southern California: thrift. In these tough times, many are looking to repair old furniture rather than replace it. This 75-year-old business fixes cane seats that have given out, wicker hampers that have unraveled and other old stuff that simply needs some TLC. Don Taylor says he has been coming to the shop for years to have chairs repaired as well as to buy art supplies. Here he swings by to purchase bamboo and half-round reed for his artwork. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
Everardo Avelar, who has worked at Cane & Basket Supply for 34 years, installs prewoven cane into a side chair. The shop can replace woven cane the tradition way: by hand, strand by strand, a method that costs between $125 and $225. Pressed cane comes in ready-made sheets that are cut to size and glued to the frame; a new pressed seat runs $55 to $75. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
A variety of bamboos and reeds are sold at the Cochran Avenue business. The warehouse is full of rattan, which is a vine-like relative of the palm tree. Split or cored, it makes chair cane, binder cane, basket staves and wicker. Solid, rather than hollow like bamboo, the whole canes are used for fences and kung fu stick fighting. Other pieces require rush the dried leaves of bulrushes, cattails or tules. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
Everardo Avelar installs more prewoven cane into a chair. A hammer, wood glue and various types of scissors are tools of the trade. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)
Besides the traditional hexagonal weave, theres a denser straight up-and-down pattern, useful for shelves and cabinet doors. Given the cost of repairs, why not just buy new furniture? Some customers just have a hard time saying goodbye. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)