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Michael Thonet Sofas

Austrian, German, 1796-1871

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.

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Creator: Michael Thonet
Thonet - Michael Thonet - Seating group (3) - No. 511 - Beech
By Michael Thonet
Located in Budapest, HU
Thonet - Michael Thonet - Seating Group (Set of 3, Model No. 511) Material: Beechwood Style: Jugendstil (Austrian Art Nouveau) Period: 1900-1910 Origin: Austria This stunning set of...
Category

Early 1900s Austrian Jugendstil Antique Michael Thonet Sofas

Materials

Beech

Viennese Sofa J&J Kohn Nr.8
By Jacob & Josef Kohn, Michael Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
Manufactured in Austria by the Jacob & Josef Kohn company. Very good original condition. It can withstand normal daily use. Fixed knitted seat
Category

Early 20th Century Austrian Belle Époque Michael Thonet Sofas

Materials

Beech, Bentwood

Antique Bentwood Sofa Thonet No. 1, Austria circa 1860
By Michael Thonet, Thonet
Located in Zagreb, HR
Very rare bentwood sofa Thonet No 1, manufactured in the 1960s by Thonet. Professionally restored, retaining beautiful old patina and some normal traces...
Category

Late 19th Century Austrian Belle Époque Antique Michael Thonet Sofas

Materials

Beech, Bentwood

Viennese Sofa Jacob & Josef Kohn Nr.4, circa 1875
By Jacob & Josef Kohn, Michael Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
Manufactured in Austria by the Jacob & Josef Kohn company. Marked with very old type of paper label. Newly restored.
Category

Late 19th Century Austrian Belle Époque Antique Michael Thonet Sofas

Materials

Beech, Bentwood

Michaël Thonet Gebrüder Thonet Austria Bentwood Sofa
By Michael Thonet
Located in Grenoble, FR
Michael Thonet, Austrian bentwood chaise is composed of beech with an adjustable back with two arms, a scrolling base, and cane paneled seat. New cane and perfect condition.
Category

Late 19th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Antique Michael Thonet Sofas

Materials

Cane, Bentwood

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Otto Wagner Settee Bench Bentwood, Thonet, Austria, Vienna Secession, circa 1905
By Thonet, Otto Wagner
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A Vienna Secession bentwood settee by Otto Wagner and manufactured by Thonet, Austria, circa 1900. This settee is an authentic piece which is in great original condition with nice p...
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Early 1900s Austrian Vienna Secession Antique Michael Thonet Sofas

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Beech, Bentwood

Bentwood and Cane Thonet "Caminsessel" / Fire Place Chair No. 1, c. 1860
By Thonet
Located in Surbiton, GB
Rare folding cane chair from the aesthetic movement, produced by Thonet, c.1860. In fair condition, with minor scuffs to the frame and a small area...
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1860s Swiss Aesthetic Movement Antique Michael Thonet Sofas

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Cane, Bentwood

Armchair by Josef Hoffmann for Jacob and Josef Kohn, Vienna
By Jacob & Josef Kohn, Josef Hoffmann
Located in Vienna, AT
Kohn catalog no 423 on the 1st picture chair which is already sold. The chair is still in original condition (pic.2,3) so you have the possibility to choose the color of the wood and fabric or leather. The price incl. shellack polish and traditionally upholstery with "Backhausen" fabric or leather. Delivery time about 4-6 weeks Lit. Giovanni Renzi, Il mobile moderno, Gebrüder Thonet Vienna, Jacob & Josef Kohn, Milano 2008, S. 226; Julio Vives Chillida, Jacob & Josef Kohn, Catalogo (estratto) dei mobili in legno curvato, ca. 1912, o. O. 2008, S. 2, Nr. 423 F u. C.; Ausst. Kat. Josef Hoffmann und sein Kreis, Galerie Alt Wien...
Category

Early 20th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Michael Thonet Sofas

Materials

Beech, Bentwood

Thonet No 18 Cane & Bentwood Dining Chairs
By Thonet
Located in Denton, TX
Thonet No 18 Cane & Bentwood Dining Chairs- Set of 6
Category

Mid-20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Michael Thonet Sofas

Materials

Cane, Wood

Thonet No 18 Cane & Bentwood Dining Chairs
Thonet No 18 Cane & Bentwood Dining Chairs
H 32.5 in W 17.5 in D 21.5 in
Italian beech and Vienna straw Thonet N.18 chairs, Thonet for Herbatschek, 1960s
By Michael Thonet
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian beech and Vienna straw Thonet No.18 chairs, Thonet for Herbatschek, 1960s. Set of six chairs known as model N.18, with a bent beech structure with black varnish and handmade ...
Category

1960s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Michael Thonet Sofas

Materials

Straw, Beech

Thonet Model No. 511 Bentwood Armchair, Vienna Secession, circa 1904
By Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH, Thonet
Located in Austin, TX
An iconic armchair of the Vienna Secession movement, the Thonet model no. 511 bent beechwood armchair, featuring stunning lines and beautiful proportions. A design tour de force, it ...
Category

Early 1900s Austrian Vienna Secession Antique Michael Thonet Sofas

Materials

Cane, Beech, Bentwood

Pair of Beech Art Nouveau High Back Chairs Model 17 by Michael Thonet, 1890s
By Michael Thonet, Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Magnificent and ultra rare pair of Art Nouveau Model 17 side chairs. Design by Michael Thonet for Gebrüder Thonet Vienna. Striking Austrian design from the 1890s. Original beech and ...
Category

1890s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Michael Thonet Sofas

Materials

Beech, Bentwood

Original Gustav Siegel Bentwood Rocking Chair / Lounge, Jacob & Josef Kohn
By Jacob & Josef Kohn, Gustav Siegel
Located in New York City, NY
A fabulous and important original Vienna workshop, bentwood rocker, model# 824, Schaukel Fauteuils by designer Gustav Siegel, manufactured by Jacob & Josef Kohn, Austria 1905 Illust...
Category

Early 20th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Michael Thonet Sofas

Materials

Bentwood

1930s Vintage Thonet Cafe Chair Bentwood Stamped Austria
By Thonet
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Vintage Thonet Project Cafe Dining Chair Stamped AUSTRIA. Bentwood Plywood 33.5 tall x 18 w x 20.25 d Seat 17.5 Original fair vintage condition unrestored. Plywood seat replaced the original cane...
Category

1930s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Michael Thonet Sofas

Materials

Bentwood, Plywood

Thonet, a Bentwood Chaise Lounge with Wonderful Scroll Work Details & Cane Work
By Thonet
Located in London, GB
Thonet. A bentwood chaise lounge with an adjustable back with a flowing scrollwork frame with a cane work bed. Stamped to the base with serial number and ??? - Paris retailer. Dimen...
Category

Early 1900s French Vienna Secession Antique Michael Thonet Sofas

Materials

Cane, Bentwood

Original Josef Hoffmann & J. & J. Kohn Bench Vienna Secession, 1901
By Jacob & Josef Kohn, Josef Hoffmann, Woka Lamps
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.
Category

Early 20th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Michael Thonet Sofas

Materials

Bentwood, Plywood

Previously Available Items
Beech Nr. 126 Sofa by Michael Thonet for Thonet
By Michael Thonet
Located in Budapest, HU
Thonet Bank Nr 126 is a true masterpiece of furniture design, originally conceived before 1900 by the renowned Thonet company. This exquisite piece showcas...
Category

Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Michael Thonet Sofas

Materials

Leather, Beech

Beech Nr. 126 Sofa by Michael Thonet for Thonet
Beech Nr. 126 Sofa by Michael Thonet for Thonet
H 44.49 in W 36.62 in D 18.51 in
Beech Nr. 6293 Sofa by Michael Thonet for Thonet
By Michael Thonet
Located in Budapest, HU
This exquisite Thonet Sofa No. 6293 is a stunning example of early 20th-century design, masterfully restored to its original splendor. Crafted from bent beech wood, the sofa features...
Category

Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Michael Thonet Sofas

Materials

Upholstery, Beech

Thonet Kanapee No.3, 1860
By Michael Thonet, Thonet
Located in Schwerin, MV
Rare collector's item: A well-preserved, stable Thonet sofa with a Viennese wicker seat that was restored a few years ago. Designation in the Thonet catalog from 1904: Sofa No. 3. Th...
Category

1860s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Michael Thonet Sofas

Materials

Bentwood, Braid

Thonet Kanapee No.3, 1860
Thonet Kanapee No.3, 1860
H 38.59 in W 43.31 in D 24.41 in
Antique Thonet No. 2 Bentwood Sofa , late 19th century
By Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH, Michael Thonet
Located in Turku, Varsinais-Suomi
The Thonet No. 2 Bentwood Sofa, crafted in the late 19th century, is a beautiful vintage piece that exudes elegance and sophistication. This sofa is constructed entirely of bentwood ...
Category

Late 19th Century Austrian Belle Époque Antique Michael Thonet Sofas

Materials

Cane, Beech, Bentwood

Thonet Kanapee No.4, Early 20th Century
By Michael Thonet, Thonet
Located in Schwerin, MV
Rare collector's item: A well-preserved Thonet sofa with a Viennese wicker seat. Designation in the Thonet catalog from 1904: Sofa No. 4. The special f...
Category

Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Michael Thonet Sofas

Materials

Bentwood, Braid

Thonet Kanapee No.4, Early 20th Century
Thonet Kanapee No.4, Early 20th Century
H 37.41 in W 55.12 in D 25.6 in
Sofa Thonet Nr.1, circa 1860
By Thonet, Michael Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
Newly restored. Perfectly cleaned and re-polished with shelack finish. New seat string. This is a genuine Thonet product. It is a very rare model number. It is a large and subtle mo...
Category

Late 19th Century Austrian Belle Époque Antique Michael Thonet Sofas

Materials

Beech, Bentwood

Sofa Thonet Nr.1, circa 1860
Sofa Thonet Nr.1, circa 1860
H 37.41 in W 46.46 in D 25.2 in
Sofa Thonet Nr.4, circa 1881-1887
By Thonet, Michael Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
Newly restored. Re-polished with shellack.
Category

Late 19th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Michael Thonet Sofas

Materials

Beech, Bentwood

Sofa Thonet Nr.4, circa 1881-1887
Sofa Thonet Nr.4, circa 1881-1887
H 40.95 in W 56.7 in D 24.41 in

Michael Thonet sofas for sale on 1stDibs.

Michael Thonet sofas are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Michael Thonet sofas, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Prices for Michael Thonet sofas can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $3,274 and can go as high as $5,175, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $4,940.

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