The technique—pressing thin layers of wood veneer into molds—was pioneered by Thonet in Germany, in Finland by Alvar Aalto. Marcel Breuer and Charles Eames who used it to achieve gentle curves in chairs, tables, and armrests. Their experiments set the stage for later Danish masters like Arne Jacobsen and Hans J. Wegner, who pushed plywood into ever more daring, sculptural forms.

Odd, flowing silhouettes were not just for looks: the curves improved ergonomics, reduced weight, and made furniture easy to mass-produce without losing a handcrafted feel. By the 1950s, bent plywood had become a hallmark of Nordic modernism, symbolizing the blend of natural material, human comfort, and industrial innovation.