Ludvik Volak and Drevopodnik Holesov
Ludvik Volak (1909-1989) ranks among the most important designers of post-war Czechoslovak furniture. He is particularly renowned today for his celebrated modular room dividers composed of bent wood elements, which have become references of Central European design from the 1960s. These openwork structures, both decorative and functional, are among the most sought-after creations of 20th-century Czechoslovak furniture.
Trained in cabinetmaking and furniture design, Volak developed an aesthetic language based on simplicity of lines, balanced proportions, and the possibilities offered by bent wood. His works reflect a constant pursuit of visual lightness and functional efficiency, major characteristics of Central European modernism.
Two modular bent wood room dividers by Ludvik Volak produced by Drevopodnik Holesov in the 1960s.
Bent wood at the heart of his work
In the 1960s, Ludvik Volak reinterpreted in a resolutely modernist manner the Central European bent wood tradition inherited from Thonet, Kohn, and Fischel. The assembly of repetitive curved wood modules enabled him to create openwork room dividers that have become vintage design references. This original approach combines technical innovation, visual lightness, and modularity, perfectly meeting the needs of contemporary interiors of the era.
These pieces allow for structuring and delimiting different spaces within a single living area, whether a living room, office, or dining room. Thanks to their modular design, Volak’s creations offer structures that are simultaneously light, solid, and adaptable, particularly suited to space dividers, open shelving units, and contemporary interior arrangements.
The collaboration with Drevopodnik Holesov
The majority of Ludvik Volak’s best-known models were produced by Drevopodnik Holesov, a major Moravian manufacturer specializing in contemporary furniture. This collaboration gave rise to several iconic creations, notably the celebrated modular room dividers, as well as armchairs, bookcases, and furniture designed for modern interiors of the 1960s and 1970s.
Long less known in Western Europe than the great names of Scandinavian design, Ludvik Volak now enjoys growing interest among collectors. His creations occupy an important place in the history of vintage furniture and rank among the most sought-after productions of Czechoslovak design from the second half of the 20th century.
