Assembled Set of Seven Viennese Thonet Bentwood Chairs
View Similar Items
Assembled Set of Seven Viennese Thonet Bentwood Chairs
About the Item
- Creator:Michael Thonet (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 33.5 in (85.09 cm)Width: 16 in (40.64 cm)Depth: 16 in (40.64 cm)Seat Height: 18.5 in (46.99 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 7
- Style:Vienna Secession (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Early 20th Century
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Good joinery with an aged, distressed on the wood finish. Age appropriate wear.
- Seller Location:Rio Vista, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1555216854372
Michael Thonet
The development of bentwood for use in furniture is one of history’s most significant innovations in design. A range of renowned mid-century modern designers such as Alvar Aalto, Arne Jacobsen, and Charles and Ray Eames drew heavily on this technological advancement, and the success of their enduring works owes to the efforts of pioneering German-Austrian industrialist and designer Michael Thonet — founder of Thonet and widely considered the father of bentwood furniture.
Bentwood furniture dates as far back as the Middle Ages, but it is the 19th-century cabinetmaker and master of parquetry Michael Thonet who is most often associated with this now-classic technique. Thonet in 1856 patented a method for bending solid wood through the use of steam, and from there, the bentwood look skyrocketed to furniture fame. He experimented with bending birch rods into rounded shapes — forming delicately seductive, curving Art Nouveau creations that were a daring departure from the heavy, hand-carved designs attributed to his contemporaries.
The Boppard-born Thonet honed his carpentry skills in his father’s workshop, where he carried out experiments with plywood and modified the Biedermeier chairs that populated the studio. He received an invitation from Austrian Chancellor Prince Metternich to contribute Neo-Rococo interiors to the Liechtenstein City Palace in Vienna. From there, the cabinetmaker gained international recognition, including at London’s Great Exhibition of 1851, which featured works created by members of the Arts and Crafts movement as well as industrial products. Thonet showed a range of furniture at the fair and won the bronze medal for his bentwood chairs. He incorporated his family’s company, the Thonet Brothers — or Gebrüder Thonet — with his sons in 1853.
Considered the world’s oldest mass-produced chair, Michael Thonet’s ubiquitous Chair No. 14 demonstrated that his patented bentwood technology made it possible to efficiently produce furniture on an industrial scale.
Often called the Coffee House chair — the company’s first substantial order was for a Viennese coffeehouse — the No. 14 remains an icon. Thonet originally designed the chair in 1859, and it is considered the starting point for modern furniture. Composed of just six parts, the chair, with its simple, lightweight design, belies its durability. The No. 14 was followed by the No. 18, or the Bistro chair, in 1867, and the 209, or the Architect’s chair, of which Le Corbusier was a fan. (The influential Swiss-French architect and designer used Thonet furniture in his Pavillon de l’Esprit Nouveau at the 1925 International Exposition of Decorative Arts in Paris.)
The business began mass-producing furniture. By the end of the 1850s, there were additional Thonet workshops in Eastern Europe and hundreds of employees. Michael Thonet’s reputation attracted the attention of notable architects including Otto Wagner, Marcel Breuer and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.
Thonet’s patented bentwood technology also yielded an improvement to rocking chairs for his company — in the middle of the 19th century, Michael produced a series of rockers in which the different curved parts were integrated into fluid, sinuous wholes. Thanks to Thonet, the humble rocker acquired something unexpected: style. And bentwood furniture was embraced by a series of design greats — the innovation can be found in the seating that Josef Hoffman designed for Thonet, in the elegant Superleggera chair created by Gio Ponti and Alvar Aalto’s expressive Paimio armchair.
The No. 14 chair earned a gold medal at the 1867 Paris World’s Fair and reportedly sold 50 million copies prior to World War I. Today it’s a staple furnishing in countless movies, television shows, restaurants, bars and homes.
On 1stDibs, find an array of antique Michael Thonet seating, tables and more.
Erin Lane Estate is based in the San Francisco Bay Area, and its team of furniture restorers, art curators, professional appraisers and Asia specialists sources prime vintage and antique furniture from the finest estates in Northern and Southern California. Erin Lane Estate specializes in Hollywood Regency, McGuire, Chinese and Japanese pieces.
- Set of Six Labeled Thonet No. 14 Bentwood Bistro ChairsBy ThonetLocated in Rio Vista, CAIconic set of six matching 19th century early Thonet No. 14 konsumstuhl bistro or coffee shop chairs crafted from bentwood. Known as the "chair of chairs" with over 50 million produc...Category
Antique 19th Century Polish Vienna Secession Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsBentwood
- Set of Four Thonet Style Bentwood and Cane ArmchairsLocated in Rio Vista, CACharming set of four bentwood and cane armchairs designed by Michael Thonet. The armchairs feature gracefully sculpted arms and heart motif back splats. Made in the French cafe bistr...Category
20th Century Polish Vienna Secession Armchairs
MaterialsBentwood, Cane
- Pair of J. and J. Kohn Austrian Bentwood and Cane ChairsBy Jacob & Josef KohnLocated in Rio Vista, CARare pair of Austrian Viennese bentwood chairs produced by J. and J. John. handcrafted beechwood frames featuring a round handwoven cane seat. Supported by four round legs conjoined by a round stretcher. Each seat is stamped JJ Kohn Austria...Category
20th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Chairs
MaterialsCane, Beech, Bentwood
- Pair of Thonet Cafe Daum Style Bentwood ArmchairsBy Salvatore Leone, Michael ThonetLocated in Rio Vista, CARare pair of Michael Thonet Cafe Daum style bentwood armchairs produced by Salvatore Leone. Originally designed for the Cafe Daum in Vienna. These chairs fea...Category
Antique 19th Century Italian Vienna Secession Armchairs
MaterialsCane, Lacquer, Bentwood
$3,200 Sale Price / set20% Off - Pair of Josef Hoffman for Thonet Prague Bentwood Dining ChairsLocated in Rio Vista, CARare pair of No. 811 Thonet chairs or Prague chairs designed by Josef Hoffman. The chairs feature an iconic bentwood frame design with square shaped arms and a caned seat and back. E...Category
20th Century Polish Art Nouveau Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsCane, Bentwood
- Set of Ten 19th Century J and J Kohn Bentwood Cane ArmchairsBy Jacob & Josef KohnLocated in Rio Vista, CARemarkable and rare set of 10 matching labeled late 19th century bentwood bistro dining armchairs made by J and J Kohn Vienna, Austria. Each chair has an ...Category
Antique 19th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsCane, Bentwood
- Classic Set 6 Thonet No. 18 Bentwood Bistro Dining ChairsBy ThonetLocated in Buffalo, NYClassic set 6 Thonet Bentwood Dining /Bistro chairs, model # 18.Labeled Made in Czechoslovakia.Nuce clean matched set, Retains original warm honey blonde fini...Category
Vintage 1940s Czech Vienna Secession Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsBentwood
- Classic Set of 6 Bentwood Cafe Dining Chairs, Attributed to ThonetBy ThonetLocated in Buffalo, NYClassic set of 6 bentwood cafe dining chairs attributed to Thonet, recently reupholstered in a leopard print fabric, set consists of 4 matching chair...Category
Vintage 1930s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Bentwood
- Pair Thonet chairs 1920s-1940s Bentwood Viennese weavingBy Michael ThonetLocated in Hannover, DEPair of Thonet chairs, model No. 18 + model No. 215. Design by Michael Thonet in 1859. Production period approx. 1920-1950s. Sturdy beech bentwood chair frame. Refurbished and o...Category
Vintage 1920s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsTeak
- Set of Four Large Slender Bentwood Dining Set by ThonetBy Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbHLocated in Los Angeles, CASet of four large slender bentwood dining set by Thonet, early 20th century European production. Seat fabric can be changed with C. O. M. (one yard...Category
Antique Early 1900s Austrian Jugendstil Side Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Bentwood
- Set of Four Large Slender Bentwood Dining Set by ThonetBy Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbHLocated in Los Angeles, CASet of four large slender bentwood dining set by Thonet. Early 20th century European production. Seat fabric can be changed with C. O. M. (one yard...Category
Antique Early 1900s Austrian Jugendstil Side Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Bentwood
- Set of Four Large Slender Bentwood Dining Set by ThonetBy Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbHLocated in Los Angeles, CASet of four large slender bentwood dining set by Thonet, early 20th century European production. Seat fabric can be changed with C. O. M. (one yard...Category
Antique Early 1900s Austrian Jugendstil Side Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Bentwood