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Wood bends with heat, pressure, and patience. When curved, it gains a new kind of strength and fluidity, carrying the gesture of the maker’s hand in every line. This week’s selections highlight designers who use bent wood not as ornament but as structure itself, turning grain, arc, and joinery into lasting form.
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| WOODEN CHAIR |
| Dan Svarth |
| Designed by Dan Svarth, the Wooden Chair for A. Petersen combines hand-shaped pine elements with precision bending that defines both back and seat. The curvature follows the grain, allowing structure and comfort to coexist within a minimal silhouette. Each component speaks to the dialogue between engineering and touch that bent wood makes possible. |
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| ARMCHAIR 45 |
| Alvar Aalto |
| Alvar Aalto’s Armchair 45 uses the curve as its defining language. Steam-bent birch forms continuous arms that wrap seamlessly from leg to support, giving the chair a rhythm that is both structural and tactile. The design demonstrates how curvature can soften the experience of wood without diminishing its integrity, a principle central to Aalto’s modernism. |
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| AX |
| Hvidt & Mølgaard |
| Originally designed by Hvidt & Mølgaard in 1950, the Ax Chair was one of the earliest examples of Danish plywood innovation. The seat and back are formed from curved layers of wood joined with precise angles that seem effortless yet require exacting construction. Its open frame and organic planes show how bent wood can bring lightness and strength in equal measure. Available in oak or walnut. |
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| PK0 A |
| Poul Kjærholm |
| The PK0 A, designed by Poul Kjærholm in 1952, captures the elegance of bent plywood reduced to a single sweeping gesture. Two interlocking wooden shells create an intersecting curve that functions as both seat and frame. Shown here in Oregon pine, the chair reads like a study in balance, where curve replaces joinery and form defines stability. Also available in black ash. |
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| NEPTUNUS |
| Åke Axelsson |
| Designed by Åke Axelsson, the Neptunus Chair demonstrates how curved wood can convey both structure and ease. The solid beech frame is shaped into continuous arcs that support a seat and back of refined proportion. Each bend serves a purpose, guiding the eye along a precise, architectural line while maintaining a sense of softness through its measured curvature. The result is seating that unites craftsmanship, comfort, and formal clarity. |
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