Plywood

A Material Story

Christopher Wilk

$60

Hardback

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English

Thames & Hudson
01 September 2017

Architecture; Decorative wood & metalwork

Beautiful, sustainable and ubiquitous, plywood's worth far exceeds its general reputation. A manufactured wood product, it is capable of being moulded, which means that its applications are exceptionally wide-reaching - automobiles, architecture, furniture, sculpture, trains, boats and aeroplanes, to name a few. It is also this property that gives plywood-manufactured products their unique, stylish and timeless aesthetic, such as the famous dining chairs designed by architectural pioneers Charles and Ray Eames and Marcel Breuer.

This book is a full exploration of the design, technological, social and cultural history of plywood. Beginning with the earliest examples of its usage in Ancient Egypt, the majority of the story takes place from the 1930s to the present day, first charting its prominent use in architecture, followed by the post-war DIY culture that revolved around the material. From the 1960s, plywood experienced a decline as it was replaced by cheaper substitutes, but since the 2000s has undergone a renaissance in appreciation of its aesthetic, practical and sustainable qualities.

This is the first comprehensive study of the history of plywood and its myriad applications throughout the ages.

By: Christopher Wilk
Imprint: Thames & Hudson
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 255mm, Width: 210mm,
Weight: 1.220kg
ISBN: 9780500519400
ISBN 10: 0500519404
Pages: 240
Publication Date: 01 September 2017
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Introduction • 1. Plywood Becomes Plywood (antiquity–c. 1900) • 2. Manufacturing Plywood (1807–c. 1910) • 3. The Veneer Problem (1850s–1930s) • 4. Plywood Flies and Fights (1911–1945) • 5. Building the Modern World (1920s–1940s) • 6. Plywood Shows its Face (1945–1980s) • 7. The Fall and Rise of Plywood (1960s–today)

Christopher Wilk is Keeper of Furniture, Textiles and Fashion at the Victoria and Albert Museum. He is the author of books on Marcel Breuer, Frank Lloyd Wright and on the Thonet furniture company.