A Passion for Viennese Canework
Robert Roth turned his back on his original profession as an architect for the art of seat weaving. Today he is but one of the few who still masters the Viennese canework technique.
Be it from the Far East, America, or England: Robert Roth has all forms of weaving in his repertoire. Moreover, he meticulously researches their origin. But his specialty is the “Wiener Geflecht” – handmade from fibers of the rattan palm tree. With time-honored knowledge and skill, he can repair the original design classics by Marcel Breuer, Mies van der Rohe, or Josef Hoffmann.
“When the furniture doesn’t have the woven surface anymore, they’re worthless.”
“There’s even some Thonet chairs here that are more than 150 years old. The furniture is passed down in the family or some people are collectors because they have a love for old things. It is really great that people trust me with these antiques and that I can contribute my mite to their preservation,” explains the charming seat weaver to our editor Stephanie Rugel. And he also tells of the problem behind it: “When the furniture doesn’t have the woven surface anymore, they’re worthless.” Recently Roth has also woven modern designs by young Viennese designers.
Robert Roth also offers regular canework workshops so this beautiful handcraft profession doesn’t die out.