The Caning Shop

Berkeley, United States

4

Closed now

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards

Contacts

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Telephone:
+1 510-527-5010
Website:
www.caning.com
Address:
926 Gilman St, Berkeley, CA, 94710
b/t 7th St & 8th St
West Berkeley
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
0.3 miGillman St & Cornell Av
0.4 mi6th St & Cedar St
0.4 miSan Pablo Av & Cedar St
Categories:
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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Accepts Bitcoin
No
Parking
Street
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Dogs Allowed
Yes

Today

Today 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Closed now
Local time (Berkeley) 4:53 AM Saturday, July 5, 2025

Business hours

Monday –
Tuesday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Wednesday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Thursday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Friday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Sunday –

Description

Specialties

We are the restoration experts for all forms of cane, rush, splint, wicker, rawhide, rattan and Danish chair seat reweaving since 1969.

In addition to doing the weaving ourselves, we are your source for the supplies, books and tools for chair caning, gourd crafting, basket weaving and Ukrainian Egg decorating. We also offer classes and have an open workshop on Friday and Saturday to help you learn new crafts and techniques.

History

Established in 1969.

We started in my garage and used the money we saved in rent for advertising. After 1 year we moved to 1279 Gilman St, where we grew for 10 years.

In1979, needing more space, we moved to our present location and expanded our chair restoration business to include selling supplies for chair caners and basketmakers.

In 1983 our first book, The Caner’s Handbook, was published by Van Nostrand Reinhold. We started our mail order business, expanded our inventory. and began offering classes.

In 1988 we began selling gourds. We added gourd supplies and tools and published our first gourd book, The Complete Book of Gourd Craft in 1996.

Along with our tools, books and supplies we’ve added Angelus leather paints for shoe artists and stock a complete line of Ukrainian Egg decorating supplies year round.

We authored or co-​authored 4 books on Hawaiian crafts, 8 books on gourds, 2 books on chair caning and 1 book on plaited birchbark baskets, all filled with step-​by-​step photographs.

Meet the Business Owner

Jim W.

Business Owner

I graduated from UC Berkeley in 1967 in Geography. I was an elementary school teacher for four years before starting The Caning Shop in Berkeley in 1969.

I love process photography. Lots of visual instruction in the 15 craft books with which I have been involved:

Chair Caning: The Caner’s Handbook The Complete Guide to Chair Caning;

Gourd Crafting: The Complete Book Gourd Craft, Making Gourd Musical Instruments, Gourd Pyrography, Complete Book of Gourd Carving, Making Gourd Dolls and Spirit Figures, Gourd Musical Instruments, Gourds and Fiber Creating Bottles with Gourds and Fiber

Hawaiian crafts: How to Make Hawaiian Musical Instruments, How to Make Hawaiian Ribbon Leis, How to Weave Hawaiian Coconut Palm Fronds. How to Weave Authentic Hawaiian Lauhala Bracelets;

Basketry: Plaited Basketry with Birch Bark

The Caning Shop also recommends

Alpha Restoration Studio

8

reviews

Antiquiteiten

,

Meubelstoffeerder

Jim W. says,

«Guy and Katie do excellent refinishing and furniture repairs.»

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20 reviews of The Caning Shop

No registration required
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
I had three dining room chairs that needed recaning and the Caning Shop was recommended by another local furniture repair business in Emeryville. I brought a chair in for an estimate and Susanne mentioned they also have open studio times if I was interested in learning how to re-​cane the chairs myself.
I took Susanne up on her offer and signed up for open studio time. The owner, Jim, and his staff were very helpful in showing me how to re-​cane my chair. They basically show you what to do and then let you go at it. They allow you to use their tools, most of which I would not ever have known to use or purchase.
If you have any questions, they are there to help. The only cost to me were for materials, and my own time. In the end, I re-​caned all three dining room chairs which turned out wonderful.
They also specialize in other things like gourds, basketry, painted tennis shoes!?, and supplies for all the above. If you get a chance, or have reason to drop in, go in for visit. Very cool place. This won’t be my last time there.
Place rating: 5
Brooklyn, NY
This place is an amazing labor of love! We had a chair with a seat that needed to be recaned and I can’t begin to tell you how happy I am with the work, how absolutely packed and fascinating the shop is (if you’re even remotely interested in basketry, gourds, or cultural anthropology, find an excuse to go!), and how much my husband and I appreciated their good energy and great customer service. Reasonable prices, excellent work, and a real treat to visit. Highly recommend!
Place rating: 1
Oakland, CA
my review is not a good one because our experience was nothing but the worst anyone can imagine possible. To begin with a caning job that he promised would take 2 months because he was too busy took 6 months. Every time we called him he said it will be ready in couple of weeks and finally after four months he admitted that he had not even started on it because he had a bigger job to attend. Anyway, we tried to be patient with him and finally when he was ready to deliver he says wait a minute you might not be happy with the charges. Initially, he had told me that it would be around four hundred dollars and will not exceed $ 500. When I asked what do you mean? He said that it is going to be $ 790 claiming that I had not been specific enough with the repairs needed on the chair. My husband who is a mediator intervened and they made an agreement and he finally delivered the chair to be nice to us. At the delivery, we found out that he hadn’t repaired the seat of the chair. When he was asked about that, he said you never mentioned the seat, if you had that would have been another $ 1500.
I really don’t understand where this man Jim Widess (the owner) is coming from — maybe he is having a hard time in his personal life but he certainly did not act professionally in our case and I would not recommend him to my worst enemy.
He has apparently grandiose ideas about himself and his craft but I think he needs to be upfront about his pricing and timing requirements before taking a job on.
Be careful, if you are considering giving him a job — his work was good but boy what a price he exacts for his skill which I imagine he believes is a rare find.
Place rating: 5
Morgan Hill, CA
My father purchased an antique chair for my daughter that needed to be re-​cained. Shortly after, he died unexpectedly:(
I put off having the chair fixed; I was worried that it might get damaged/​lost.
I took it to the shop and shared my story with the gentleman. He put me at ease and was very kind. I was very impressed with the workmanship. Plus, they had another similar chair that I picked up for baby sis… now we have a set. Beautiful!
Place rating: 2
San Francisco, CA
A bit of advice: CALL BEFORE YOU GO. I drove from Marin this morning after being told they open at 10 am. When I got there at 10:05, the place was locked up. Called and got a message machine. Waited a half hour. Still no one there so I Googled «Caning» and found a place in San Rafael. Best of all, they gave me a better price on the four chairs than I got over the phone from The Caning Shop.
Thanks Caning Shop for wasting my time (and gas).
Place rating: 2
Oakland, CA
I’ve been here before to buy rattan, and it was cool — I remember liking this place. So I went there today for some linen thread, but two hours past their posted opening hour, there was no one there!
Like, man, I know sometimes a person needs to step out for a minute, but maybe hang up a sign or something so I know to come back later?
Their weekend hours suck, too, so if I can’t get there today, I’m SOL.
Oh well.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
I am rocking my baby in the rocking chair my great grandmother re-​caned for my mum when she was pregnant with me. Jim, from the caning shop, 40 years later, re-​caned the same chair for me and my new baby girl. I can’t say enough about the quality of work, and personalized service. So glad I found this place!
Place rating: 5
Oakland, CA
After picking up a pair of quarter-​sawn oak chairs from Freecycle that needed the caning replaced — I procrastinated for six months and then came here. For about $ 10, I got the materials for both seats. Then I procrastinated for 2 months. Finally, I sat my ass down and did it — do you know it took me less than an hour to do both seats and almost a year later — the chairs still look good?
Caning is really not that difficult and procrastinating doesn’t make it happen faster!
The folks at this shop are super helpful in giving you information and demonstrating how they do what they do — so you can do it at home. I was told to phone if I had any questions or frustration but the process was so thoroughly explained to me in person and the informational sheet was so detailed that the whole project was a breeze!
If you have problems — well, drop me a line — maybe you can hire me. ;)
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
My husband and I had been wanting to fix the cane back on a chair for awhile and did not know where to go. A friend recommended The Caning Shop and we went just to buy the cane, but got a class right then and there from Jim, the owner, and he only charged us for the material. We really impressed and pleasantly surprised that a place like this still exists. Jim was very nice and helpful. We walked out with a new cane back that we did ourselves. His assistant was great, too. We’ll definitely be back.
Place rating: 2
Berkeley, CA
Awwwkwaaarddd. I am not totally familiar with the Cane shop, but I had a beautiful antique chair that needed some repair for an arm that was no longer able to bear weight. There was a mohogany piece that had been broken off the arm and we (my girlfriend and I) were excited about getting in sitting shape :) Well after we had a seemingly pleasant gentleman come out and help us, we proceeded to have a really awkward exchange, and it was dissapointing. I am African and my girlfriend is Jewish. I am not sure why, but he made the experience not worth doing business together. I will leave it at that.
Thank You Unilocal for inspiring fairness in treatment
Place rating: 5
Richmond, CA
This place is great. Very friendly people and good prices. I have made several purchases there; usually art supplies for my 6th grade class. It is the only local place I know of that has Ukrainian egg supplies. A true gem.
Place rating: 5
Berkeley, CA
I went to The Caning Shop to look for Ukrainian Egg-​making supplies for Easter. I had never made these eggs before, and asked for help. The man working there was SO nice and helpful, and completely exceeded my expectations. Not only did he talk me through the whole process, but he actually let me practice with his equipment so that I would get a feel for what I would be doing.
It was a wonderful experience, and I will definitely go back for any egg-​dying needs I have in the future. I give The Caning Shop and A+ for excellent service.
Place rating: 4
Emeryville, CA
I shopped at the Caning shop since I needed some supplies to dye eggs with my younger cousins for easter. I prefer to buy locally, so I searched online for Ukrainian egg painting tools, found this shop and drove up there to get the supplies.
The lady who helped me was very knowledgeable and friendly. I love supporting local businesses, especially ones with good customer service.
Place rating: 4
Berkeley, CA
I brought in a chair with a wicker seat that needed minor repair. The woman working there looked at it and wanted the man working there to look at it. He took the chair from her and started working on it. I thought all I was going to do was bring in the chair and have them write up a ticket, then I’d be back to pick it up – apparently not. I was concerned how much this would be since he just took the chair and started fixing it, but a few minutes later it was done and they said no charge. Only four stars since I found the lack of communication a little odd, but nice people doing good work.
Place rating: 5
Chicago, IL
I took a basket weaving class at the Caning Shop yesterday – I had never made a basket before. Jim was incredibly patient with us and let us stay for the entire afternoon. I had never made anything like this with my hands before and it was amazing to be taught the craft. This is such a great place!
Place rating: 2
Alameda, CA
The 2 star explanation: «Meh. I’ve experienced better» sums up perfectly my experience with this place. Funny that the current 6 other *glowing* reviews all sound suspiciously like friends’. All glow, no real examples, except for excitement about caning. I got the feeling they preferred I not browse around (so I didn’t). Selection not special, prices not competitive, service sketchy (an older woman, owner/​manager type, may have reached that age where she doesn’t try to hide her bitchiness; new employee, young guy was ok). I’m guessing the gourd part of their shop is dieing off due to online competition — many, many great gourd supplies online at other places, with better prices!
Place rating: 5
Berkeley, CA
The Caning Shop has been around since 1969. Jim Widess pretty much started the gourd art trend, as well as being one of the first people to bring back the art of chair caning (the wicker matting in old chairs).
They do furniture restoration, wicker, caning, as well as specilaizing in gourd art, basketry, and several other craft-​related areas.
They are very kind, as well as being extremely knowledgable and having a broad breatdh of experience.
Place rating: 4
San Leandro, CA
I used to live very close to this shop, but never knew it existed until I was sent here for supplies for a bookbinding class.
As the other reviewers have noted, the Caning Shop offers supplies for basketry weaving, gourds, etc. But, you can also buy waxed linen thread here for bookbinding. They offer many colors. Yay!
Place rating: 5
Sausalito, CA
This place is awesome for art supplies like leather/​gourd/​egg dyes & many other incredibly interesting crafting projects. They’ve got a great supply of books on how to decorate gourds. Have you ever wanted a gourd shaver? I didn’t until I saw it here.
If you need a chair caned or want to learn how to basket weave, this is your place.
It’s a great little place that seems to be very secret & unrecognized. Not for long!
If you think I’m just a crafting geek, check out their website
. There’s bound to be something that will appeal to you, too. You’ll be drawn to the physical store. I just know you will.
Place rating: 4
Berkeley, CA
I love this store… I have no idea why anyone would go in, but if you ever get an itch to make a wicker chair, this is your place! Apparently, they offer classes for basket weaving and decorative gourds (check their website).
I needed 10 bundles of chair cane for my architecture final project model and this was an answer to my prayers. I won’t forget you Caning Shop!