Our Materials

LEATHER

Palma Brava uses rawhide leather (taken from the second layer of hide) which is thick and tough and able to withstand the expansion and contraction caused by extreme temperature changes. All exposed joints are bound with leather to give a neat appearance and added strength.

RATTAN AND WICKER

Rattan is a solid jungle vine; fibrous in nature and vertically grained (unlike wood’s cross grain). Because of this, it is extremely tough yet flexible enough to be formed into intricate shapes without losing its exceptional strength. Technically, it is an above-ground root which grows upward, intertwining along the surface of trees and bushes while seeking sunlight, until the vine has reached up to hundreds of feet in length. The steps following involve cutting, straightening, curing and drying the poles for a precise length of time, enabling it to withstand climatic changes. The poles are shaved and softened, then shaped by hand around jigs and molds. Unlike lesser quality furniture (which is merely nailed and glued together), the best construction is assembled using screws and dowels. There are many different varieties and quality levels of rattan available, and as such are graded accordingly. An added plus is that rattan furniture is environmentally friendly; once rattan is cut, new growth will create another vine that will be ready for harvesting in ten to twelve years.

Wicker furniture is made from strands that have been extracted from a single solid rattan pole by means of a splitter. Approximately one quarter of an inch or less in diameter, the wicker is woven into various products. Harder, denser wicker should be used for furniture, while soft and porous wicker should be used for baskets and hampers.

Bamboo is a hollow tropical tree trunk. Bamboo cannot be bent, and is prone to splitting because of its hollow nature.

Cane is the outside peel of rattan, usually woven into seats and chair backs for wood furniture as well as rattan and wicker.

WROUGHT IRON

Producing well-built wrought iron furniture starts by using solid furniture grade iron bars in the main structural framework, not hollow tubing which is sometimes used in less sturdy furniture. Only solid iron bars are always used in the construction of Palma Brava iron main frame. Welding the bars together is a skill and an art in itself executed with precision to permanently bond the bars together while achieving an aesthetically neat and uniform joint. Palma Brava iron furniture is hand hammered and finished to give the piece an aged and rustic look instead of a chrome appearance.

Palma Brava's iron preparation necessary for rust prevention involves stripping the iron down to a bare and clean surface using a zinc phosphate process. The iron is then sealed with an epoxy enamel and then sprayed with a high-grade acrylic finish for protection.