Thonet bentwood repair

[Jacob]

Just been resurrecting a wrecked rocking chair. All OK but fragile, except for one piece beyond repair; the tightly bent oval piece which fits between chair bottom and back.
Wondering how to replace it.
Bending dry beech not possible for these tight curves, finding a green beech shoot not likely but there's plenty of coppice and hedgerow stuff here abouts; ash, hazel etc.
What would be best or is there another approach?

 

[Inspector]

If you aren't locked into a faithful restoration you could cut veneers and laminate them around a form. Then it would be a matter of shaping from there.

Pete

 

[Jacob]

If you aren't locked into a faithful restoration you could cut veneers and laminate them around a form. Then it would be a matter of shaping from there.

Pete

I 're-soled' the rockers with beech veneer so maybe do the similar with this piece - get it as near as I can then trim carefully and build up laminates and re shape. So it'll be 50% original.