Inspired by a love of woodwork and a passion to explore the art of steam bending, Woodbender was started in 1988 by Charles Mast and was soon joined by his wife Shirley and father John. From the outset, we specialised in bending solid wooden timber, reviving a closely guarded and secretive old-world tradition from 1700 Europe. Through hands-on trial and error, our team taught themselves how to bend kiln-dried timber and constructed much of the custom machinery required. 

Over the past three decades, Woodbender has experimented with numerous timbers and designs, leading to our current Collection of bentwood dining chairs and stools. Everything is made to order locally, in the Cape Winelands of South Africa, using sustainably sourced Ash timber from certified forests.  

Our unwavering commitment to our unique product and team has enabled us to grow into a sizable enterprise. From the humble beginnings of a small office unit to the large factory we operate in today, Andy Mast & Emily Bovell are dedicated to continuing their parents’ and grandfather’s legacy.  

With a heritage steeped in artisanal craftsmanship, the Mast family has been synonymous with supplying quality bentwood furniture to the contract and residential market for decades. Andrew and Emily are determined to carry this legacy forward and to grow the international footprint of our company. 

They are committed to innovation and growing a team around them that shares the family’s passion for beautiful wooden furniture, ensuring exceptional quality and service and constantly looking for more ways to improve our sustainability as a company.