Rush is the dried stem of various water plants, principally the bulrush and related species, which is twisted into a cord and woven to form chair seats, mats and baskets. A rush seat is made by winding the twisted rush around the four rails of the seat frame in a pattern that builds up from the corners towards the centre.
Rush seating has a long history in English country furniture and was used on ladder-back and spindle-back chairs made in regional workshops, particularly in Lancashire, Cheshire and the North West, as well as in France, the Low Countries and colonial America. The Arts and Crafts movement revived rush seating for simple, honest furniture, notably in the Sussex chairs produced by Morris and Co. and the work of Ernest Gimson. Rush matting was also laid on floors in historic houses before woven carpets became widespread. An original rush seat in good condition is uncommon, as the material eventually dries, breaks and wears, and many seats have been renewed. A well-made replacement by a skilled rush weaver is acceptable to most buyers. Rush should be kept away from direct heat and occasionally lightly dampened to prevent brittleness.
