Sculptural Log Holder in Bent Plywood with Crossed Arches, Scandinavian Work, 1960s

This log holder is composed of two wide bands of moulded plywood, bent into half-moons and crossed one into the other to form a cradle with four upright points. The faces are veneered in walnut with warm figuring, while the edges reveal the pale strata of the plywood, underscoring each curve with a graphic line. The object rests on the arches themselves, without any other base.

This mastery of bent laminated wood is the direct legacy of the post-war Scandinavian research, from Alvar Aalto to the Danish workshops, who made moulded plywood a noble material. Here, the utilitarian object attains a genuine sculptural presence, playing with solids and voids.

Condition report: Good overall condition. Sound and lustrous veneers, a few superficial marks of use inherent to the function, rigid structure. A graphic piece by the fireside, which can also serve as a giant catch-all or a sculptural magazine rack.