Plywood: A Material Story

Christopher Wilk

Hardcover | 21.84 x 2.79 x 26.16 cm | 240 pp

Thames & Hudson | 2017 | 9780500519400

Published in association with the V&A, this is a comprehensive history of plywood, from its use in 18th-century furniture to its popularity in the digital age.

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.