an ode to the papasan chair

Ever since I was little I loved sitting in my papasan chair. They were just so cute and brought you back to the womb so to say. I would get all fetal positioned on it and melt into it. Well I still do that. I have two hand-me down papasan chairs, thanks Mom!!! The papasan chair gained it's popularity back in the groovy 60's. Part of that was thanks to the Vietnam war. US military men used to chill out on the papasan chair while stationed in the Philippines. Since they were so damn comfy, they brought those bad boys home to their families to enjoy. Pier 1 started carrying them when they opened in 1962 (I know, I can't believe they have been around that long) and are still carrying them today. Rattan, wicker and grasses are a really popular design astetic rightn now and thankfully they are also pretty eco-friendly as well.
The papasan chair is made out of renewable rattan. Rattan is similar to bamboo but more solid, no hollow space. Rattan is a major export in asia, mostly coming from the Philippines and Indonesia. It's economic value has helped prevent deforestation of other tropical hard woods that aren't as quick to grow as rattan is. It is also easier to harvest and transport than other woods. It does not grow as quickly as bamboo however. Bamboo growth is just crazy!! With that said, go ahead and enjoy your papasan chair, it is semi-eco friendly!!!


Fun Facts about rattan.

Rattan has fruit that ooozes red liquid , called dragon blood, it can be used as a natural dye.

Rattan is the only acceptable weapons material used in the Society for Creative Anachronism martial arts.

Rattan is also the preferred material to make canes, used for caning bad Americans who find it necessary to spray paint cars.

I hope the useless info will help you answer a trivia question at a bar one day :)