About
Chen Foo Kee represents a vanishing tradition as one of Singapore’s last remaining rattan furniture makers. As the second-generation owner of Chun Mee Lee Rattan Furniture, he carries forward a family legacy that spans decades and crosses borders, embodying the rich cultural exchanges that have shaped Southeast Asian craftsmanship.
The craft’s journey began with Chen’s father, who mastered rattan furniture making in Hong Kong before bringing these skills to Singapore. The cross-cultural transmission reflects the region’s interconnected artisan traditions, where techniques travelled with craftspeople seeking new opportunities.
Inheriting both the business and the craft, Chen has become a custodian of tradition rattan working techniques that require exceptional skill and patience. The craft demands intimate understanding of the material’s properties, knowing how to bend, weave, and join natural fibres to create pieces that are both functional and beautiful.
In an era of mass production, Chen’s dedication to traditional rattan craftsmanship preserves not only specific skills but also a philosophy of making that values natural materials, techniques, and the irreplaceable human touch in creating furniture that lasts generations.
