1930s
Design Timeline - Alvar Alto

Alvar Alto's tea trolley. 

It first appeared in 1936, and has remained in production ever since. Bent and laminated wood is used both as structure and decoration.

In the years after 1917 when Finland gained its independence from Russia, it's designers were trying to find an expression for their national identity. Alvar Alto was an important part of this movement. It is believed that, during this period upto the end of thirties, he produced some of his best designs. Alvar Alto though a modernist was not given to extremist ideas in design. Finland during this time had a very vocal Functionalist lobby known as the 'Funkis'... Alto, though was never a part of it.

Cantilevered chair, 1931-32 by Alto, out of laminated wood and lacquered plywood.

source- partly from conran directory of design