While the first name that comes to mind when thinking of bentwood furniture might be Thonet (maker of the iconic Thonet No. 14 chair or “bistro chair”), Michael Thonet and his subsequent studio, the Gebrüder Thonet (Thonet Brothers), had a strong competitor in 19th-century Vienna: Jacob & Josef Kohn (also referred to as J. & J. Kohn).
Founded in 1849 by a father and son with the motto “Be one step ahead,” Jacob & Josef Kohn created modern furniture for indoors and out from Austrian beech. At the turn of the 20th century, after establishing itself with mastery of everything from chairs to coatracks and even doll furniture, J. & J. Kohn began working closely with the Wiener Werkstätte, the artisan cooperative cofounded by Austrian architect and designer Josef Hoffmann (Gustav Klimt and Koloman Moser were also members). Through this partnership, J. & J. Kohn produced an array of furniture in bentwood, cane and upholstery, which it sold through showrooms across Europe and North America. Its designs throughout the first decade of the 20th century reflect the Art Nouveau movement that was quickly gaining traction across Europe.
Price wars and mergers ensued during the First World War. Changes in the organizational structure of Thonet included a merger with Viennese company Mundus in the early 20th century, which followed Mundus’s becoming a majority stakeholder in J. & J. Kohn — these mergers yielded the formation of Mundus-Kohn and later, in 1922–23, Thonet-Mundus. The new conglomerate went on to produce examples of its bentwood furniture in keeping with the modern style of the Vienna Secession. While Thonet rebuilt, rebranded and expanded in the United States and elsewhere after World War II, J. & J. Kohn never produced furniture under that name again.
On 1stDibs, find a variety of antique J. & J. Kohn furniture including bentwood wingback chairs designed by Josef Hoffmann and other seating, side tables, beech nesting tables and more.
Stool Model 616 / S, designed by Otto Wagner for Jacob & Josef Kohn
By Jacob & Josef Kohn, Otto Wagner
Located in Vienna, AT
Beech bentwood or plywood designed about 1905 by Otto Wagner for Kohn. Original condition newer restored.
Beech, Plywood
J.&J. Kohn - Josef Hoffmann - Stool - Beech
By Josef Hoffmann, Jacob & Josef Kohn
Located in Budapest, HU
Crafted circa 1900 by the renowned J.&J. Kohn, this striking stool, designed by the visionary Josef Hoffmann, stands as a paragon of early modernist design from the Viennese Secessio...
Fabric, Beech
J.&J. Kohn - Stool - Beech
By Jacob & Josef Kohn
Located in Budapest, HU
J.&J. Kohn Height-Adjustable Bentwood Stool, Austria, circa 1900 A beautifully restored bentwood stool designed by J.&J. Kohn, dating to circa 1900–1905. Crafted from beech wood, st...
Leather, Beech
Jugendstil causeuse no. 6611 attr. to Otto Wagner for Thonet
By Jacob & Josef Kohn, Otto Wagner
Located in Hronská Breznica, Banskobystrický kraj
Jugendstil causeuse no.6611 atr. to Otto Wagner for Thonet. Professionally stained and repolished.
Beech, Bentwood
$467Sale Price|20% Off
J.&J. Kohn - Piano stool - Beech
By Jacob & Josef Kohn
Located in Budapest, HU
Restored J.J. Kohn Piano Stool in Black Lacquered Beech, circa 1900 This beautifully restored piano stool by renowned Austrian furniture maker J.J. Kohn features a timeless silhouet...
Beech
Jugendstil stool no.715 by Otto Wagner for J.J.Kohn
By Jacob & Josef Kohn, Otto Wagner
Located in Hronská Breznica, Banskobystrický kraj
Jugendstil stool no.715 by Otto Wagner designed for Paris World Exhibition in 1900 for J.J.Kohn. Professionally stained and repolished.
Beech, Bentwood
Secession Stools by J&J Kohn
By Jacob & Josef Kohn
Located in Hronská Breznica, Banskobystrický kraj
Secession stools by J&J Kohn with engraved legs. New upholstery.
Fabric, Beech
Minimalist Beech Wood Stool, France, 1960's
By Pierre Gautier-Delaye
Located in New York, NY
Elegant stool in the style of Pierre Gautier Delaye Seat is elegantly embossed Good vintage condition minor loss on one corner (please see picture 14) Price does not include ship...
Beech, Plywood
Thonet Armchairs by Otto Wagner
By Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH, Otto Wagner
Located in Vienna, AT
Beach bentwood design by Otto Wagner about 1900 The fabric on the chairs is obsolete but I can offer you huge range Vienna Secession fabrics instad of. Delivery time 5-6 weeks
Beech, Bentwood
$10,276
H 39.38 in W 47.25 in D 19.69 in
Original Josef Hoffmann & J. & J. Kohn Bench Vienna Secession, 1901
By Woka Lamps, Jacob & Josef Kohn, Josef Hoffmann
Located in Vienna, AT
A very rare and early bench, obviously the role model for the famous Barrel chair #720 which was presented four years later, in 1905.
Bentwood, Plywood
Josef Hoffmann 795 Barrel Ensemble , by J. & J. Kohn
By Josef Hoffmann, Jacob & Josef Kohn, Woka Lamps
Located in Vienna, AT
A rare Variation of Hoffmanns ‘720 Half-Barrel Settee Lit.: Die Wiener Werkstätte 1903-1932, Gabriele Fahr Becker, Taschen Verlag S. 106 Material: Bentwood and Plywood.
Beech
$5,861
H 29.53 in W 21.65 in D 22.44 in
Art Deco Model 721 Arm Chair by Otto Wagner for J&j Kohn, 1900s
By Otto Wagner
Located in Hamburg, DE
Elegant bugholz armrest chair by jacob & josef kohn after a design by otto wagner from the turn of the century. A design piece of early modernity. A functional design with special m...
Wood
Original Josef Hoffmann & Kohn Jacob Chair from 1914
By Josef Hoffmann, Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH, Woka Lamps
Located in Vienna, AT
A very rare undocumented chair by Josef Hoffmann and J&J Kohn. An identical chair with leather upholstery is available as well.
Bentwood
$3,970 / set
H 31.89 in W 15.75 in D 17.72 in
Pair of Salon Chair No.423 by Josef Hoffmann for J&J Kohn
By Jacob & Josef Kohn, Josef Hoffmann
Located in Hronská Breznica, Banskobystrický kraj
Pair of Cabaret Fledermaus chairs no.423 by Josef Hoffmann for J&J Kohn after professional renovation with new fabric.
Fabric, Beech
$3,500
H 29 in W 22 in D 21 in
Rare & Early 1900's Pair of Josef Hoffmann Fledermaus Armchairs by J & J Kohn
By Josef Hoffmann, Jacob & Josef Kohn
Located in Oakland, CA
Pair of early 20th Century Josef Hoffman Fledermaus armchairs, constructed by Josef and Jacob Kohn of Austria. Newly upholstered in Josef Hoffmann designed linen fabric. The finish a...
Fabric, Beech, Lacquer
Office Chair nr.714 by Otto Wagner for J.J.Kohn
By Otto Wagner
Located in Hronská Breznica, Banskobystrický kraj
Office chair nr.714 by Otto Wagner for J.J.Kohn. Excellent original condition with signs of usage.
Leather, Bentwood
$5,478
H 32.29 in W 24.81 in D 21.66 in
Jugendstil Vintage Armchairs Office Chair No 714 Jacob & Josef Kohn circa 1902
By Jacob & Josef Kohn
Located in Vienna, AT
Jugendstil armchairs model no 714 designed in Style Otto Wagner, and produced by Jacob & Josef Kohn, 1902. Documented in the company´s catalogue Kohn from 1903. The chairs were made out of mahogany stained beechwood and shellac hand polished. While the frame was made out of beechwood, the back and seat were made of perforated plywood...
Plywood, Beech
$57,000 / set
H 29 in W 54 in D 28 in
Josef Hoffmann 'Buenos Aires' Suite by J&J Kohn, Austria, Early 20th Century
By Jacob & Josef Kohn, Josef Hoffmann
Located in Austin, TX
A wonderful Vienna Secessionist parlor suite by Josef Hoffman, manufactured before 1920 by J & J Kohn, Vienna, Austria. The suite comprised of a settee and pair of armchairs or club ...
Leather, Beech
J & J Kohn Chair 714 by Otto Wagner, 1920s
By Otto Wagner
Located in Čelinac, BA
Jacob and Josef Khon 714 chair by Otto Wagner Wiena 1920s.
Bentwood
Original J.&J. Kohn Piano Stool, Early 20. Century
By Jacob & Josef Kohn
Located in Schwerin, MV
Bentwood stool from the late 19th or early 20th century, made by the company Jacob & Josef Kohn (Austria-Hungary). Kohn was a competitor of Thonet, which temporarily merged with Thon...
Wood
Original J.&J. Kohn Piano Stool, Early 20. Century
By Jacob & Josef Kohn
Located in Schwerin, MV
Bentwood piano stool from the late 19th or early 20th century, made by Jacob & Josef Kohn (Austria-Hungary). Kohn was a competitor of Thonet, and after World War I, during the Great ...
Wood
Original J.&J. Kohn Piano Stool, Early 20. Century
By Jacob & Josef Kohn
Located in Schwerin, MV
Bentwood stool from the end of the 19th or beginning of the 20th century by Jacob & Josef Kohn (Austria - Hungary). Kohn was Thonet's competitor, which temporarily merged with Thonet...
Wood
Bentwood Stool, J.&J. Kohn, Late 19th Century
By Jacob & Josef Kohn
Located in Schwerin, MV
Elegant bentwood stool from the Art Nouveau period by the traditional company J.&J. Kohn, Austria - Hungary. This stool exudes the charm of a bygone era and, with its solid craftsma...
Wood
Original J.&J. Kohn Piano Stool, Early 20. Century
By Jacob & Josef Kohn
Located in Schwerin, MV
Bentwood stool from the end of the 19th or beginning of the 20th century by the company Jacob & Josef Kohn (Austria - Hungary). Kohn was the competitor company of Thonet, which tempo...
Wood
Otto Wagner, pair of stools, c. 1901
By Jacob & Josef Kohn, Otto Wagner
Located in Firenze, IT
Rare pair of stools model number 412 designed by Otto Wagner and manufactured by Jakob and Joseph Kohn in 1901 in Vienna. Beautiful specimen of the Viennese Secession, the stools, ar...
Brass
Vienna Secession Fledermaus stool by Josef Hoffmann for J &J Kohn
By Jacob & Josef Kohn, Josef Hoffmann
Located in PRAHA 5, CZ
Rare stool from famous set of furniture designed by Josef Hoffmann for Viennese cabaret Fledermaus in 1905. Executed by J&J Kohn, Vienna under catalogue number 728/S. In original con...
Beech
Original Kohn Stool, Late 19th Century
By Jacob & Josef Kohn
Located in Schwerin, MV
Original Kohn bentwood stool with Viennese weave from the end of the 19th or beginning of the 20th century from the J.&J company. Kohn, Austria. The stool is made of bent beech wood ...
Wood, Braid
Original J.&J. Kohn Piano Stool, Early 20. Century
By Jacob & Josef Kohn
Located in Schwerin, MV
The piano stool is made of solid beech wood and has a seat made of curved plywood with a linear structure. The surface is black and has shellac. The stool is very stable and can be a...
Wood
Art Nouveau Piano Stool, Early 20th Century
By Jacob & Josef Kohn
Located in Schwerin, MV
Elegant, very solid Art Nouveau piano stool/swivel stool made of lacquered beech wood with a genuine leather seat. The piano stool has three curved f...
Metal
Small Salon Stool - J&J Kohn
By Jacob & Josef Kohn, Michael Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
A rare small salon stool, not found in period catalogues. The only known one of this type from this well-known and prestigious company. (Normal stools are 47cm high, this one has a h...
Textile, Bentwood
Original J.&J. Kohn Piano Stool, Early 20. Century
By Jacob & Josef Kohn
Located in Schwerin, MV
Bentwood stool from the early 20th century by Jacob & Josef Kohn (Austria - Hungary). Kohn was Thonet's competitor, which temporarily merged with Thonet after World War 1 in the cour...
Wood