A dense rectangular block of compressed fibre in olive-tan, its surface bristling with fine hairs and pressed into two visible layers.

Fiber rush is a single ply paper cord. It's great for ladderbacks or any chair with 4 round/squared seat rails, but not for converting from upholstered chairs or caned chairs.

Composition

Paper cord

Handling Notes

  • To use for chair seating, keep the material in manageable hand-sized bundles
  • Keep material in the general shape it was when dry
  • Dunk material in water for 1–2 seconds, drain water off, and wriggle material to work moisture in
  • For maintenance on chair seats, occasionally vacuum off dust and debris
  • Not great for outdoor seating

Applications in Craft

Keywords

Why is this material important to you?

Sturdier alternative to grass rush seats. Great for beginner chair weavers. Originally developed by American Marshall Lloyd to replace round rattan reed when embargoes made importing rattan difficult....

- Brandy Clements and Dave Klingler of Silver River Chairs

Provenance

Silver River Chairs, Weaverville, North Carolina. Acquired 2026.

In Use

Have you used this material?

Please contact Mellanee Goodman, Program Director, Curator, and Materials Specialist, to start a conversation about submitting your work for inclusion on this site.

mgoodman@centerforcraft.org