For more than 180 years, Thonet — or Gebrüder Thonet — has produced elegant and durable tables and cabinets as well as chairs, stools and other seating that wholly blur the lines between art and design. Widely known as a trailblazer in the use of bentwood in furniture, the European manufacturer has reimagined the places in which we gather.
Noted for his skill in parquetry, German-Austrian company founder Michael Thonet received an invitation from Austrian Chancellor Prince Metternich to contribute Neo-Rococo interiors to the Liechtenstein City Palace in Vienna. The Boppard-born Thonet had 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.
Thonet’s work for the chancellor raised his profile, and 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 of the day. 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, with his sons in 1853.
Bentwood furniture dates as far back as the Middle Ages, but it is the 19th-century cabinetmaker 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. The works of renowned mid-century modern designers such as Alvar Aalto, Arne Jacobsen, and Charles and Ray Eames that put this technological advancement to use would not be as extensive or celebrated were it not for the efforts of the pioneering Thonet.
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. Now known as the 214, it won the German Sustainability Award Design for 2021, a recognition of the company’s commitment to environmentally responsible production.
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.
The bentwood process opened doors — there were investments in machinery and new industrial processes, and 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.
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.)
Thonet’s chair designs also appeared in artwork by Toulouse-Lautrec, John Sloan and Henri Matisse in his Interior with a Violin Case. The noteworthy Thonet rocking chair remains a marvel of construction — 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. It was captured in the paintings of Pablo Picasso, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and James Tissot.
Thonet is currently split into global divisions. Thonet Industries U.S.A. was acquired in 1987 by Shelby Williams and joined the CF Group in 1999, while the Thonet brand in Germany is owned by Thonet GmbH.
Find a collection of antique Thonet furniture on 1stDibs.
$2,882 / set
Four Thonet bent beech and perforated wood
By Thonet
Located in Milano, IT
Four bent beech and perforated wood chairs with cane seats. Thonet manufacture, Austria, circa 1920s.
Bentwood
Thonet Table by Josef Hoffmann
By Josef Hoffmann, Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Thonet table by Josef Hoffmann in very good original condition with signs of use.
Metal
Bentwood chair by Thonet no.54
By Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Bentwood chair by Thonet no.54. Professionally stained and repolished.
Beech, Bentwood
$595Sale Price / item|20% Off
Ton Bentwood Armchair With Gold Velvet, Czechoslovakia 1930s, 40 Available
By Thonet, Josef Hoffmann, TON a.s.
Located in Zohor, SK
Iconic and elegant armchair produced by TON in Czech republic in 1930s. This particular chair is a variation on the classic model '811' Thonet Hoffman chair...
Velvet, Bentwood
4 Dining Chairs, with original labels (Restoration at the client's choice)
By Thonet
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
4 Chairs Made for Argentina by Thonet. It is verified on the label that it has the word Manufacturing in Spanish (Fabricacion Checo-Eslovaca) / Thonet Delivered restored at the custo...
Wood
Restored Art Deco Dining Table, by M. Breuer for Thonet, Walnut, Germany, 1930s
By Thonet, Marcel Breuer
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
This Bauhaus dining table dates back to the 1930s in Germany and is designed by the renowned Marcel Breuer for Thonet. The table features a tubular chrome steel frame complemented by...
Steel, Chrome
$7,160Sale Price / set|20% Off
Set of 6, Mid Century Cow Hide Upholstered Bentwood Chairs by Thonet, 1950s
By Thonet
Located in Basel, BS
These make an incredible opportunity for a complete rare hard to find set of beautiful early American Made, Mid Century Thonet chairs after Eames. Stunning, very cool authentic Bruno Weil...
Bentwood, Cowhide
12 Dining Chairs, Manufactured for export in Argentina, with original labels
By Thonet
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
12 Chairs Made for Argentina by Thonet. It is verified on the label that it has the word Manufacturing in Spanish (Fabricacion Checo-Eslovaca) / Thonet Delivered restored at the cust...
Wood
Michael Thonet Sofa Bench NR22
By Thonet, Michael Thonet
Located in Chicago, IL
Michael Thonet Sofa Bench Kanapee Sittee NR22 First original form, produced 1889-1890 Cane replaced with mohair Seat Height: 20.5"
Mohair, Beech
1980s Chair by Ton, Czechoslovakia
By Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
- Good original condition. - Made in Czechoslovakia. - Wood cleaned and then treated with revitalizing oil. - Shows signs of use (scratches, scuffs, etc.). - Stable and sturdy. - Ma...
Wood, Beech, Bentwood
$1,429 / set
Set of 2 Thonet Bentwood Armchairs No. 17
By Thonet
Located in BERKEL EN RODENRIJS, NL
Beautiful set of two original Thonet Bentwood Armchairs, Model No. 17, a historic design first introduced in the early 20th century and later reissued by Thonet during the 1970s–1980...
Cane, Bentwood
Mid Century Modern Desk Chair by Thonet Circa American 1950’s
By Thonet
Located in Bernville, PA
Beautiful and simple Mid Century Modern desk chair manufactured by Thonet Industries. With very clean lines, this chair blends well with Mid Century modern design as well as the Stre...
Suede, Maple
Pair of Vanilla Creme Sheepskin Lounge Chairs with Bentwood Arms by Thonet
By Thonet
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Get cozy in this luxurious pair of Mid-Century Modern bentwood lounge chairs by Thonet circa 1950 freshly reupholstered in vanilla creme sheepskins. Lounge on clouds of soft vanilla creme sheepskins that beckon you to stay awhile...
Sheepskin, Upholstery, Bentwood
Jugendstil plant stan by Thonet
By Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Jugendstil bentwood plant stan by Thonet. Professionally stained and repolished.
Beech, Bentwood
1980s Beech Dining or Side Chair by Ton, Up to 20 Pieces
By Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
- Made in Czechoslovakia - the chairs are stackable - material used : beech bentwood and plywood - height of seat 45 cm.
Beech, Plywood
Vintage Czech Art Deco Lounge Chairs by Thonet, Circa 1930-1940
By Thonet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sculptural, vintage pair of Czech Art Deco lounge chairs made of hand crafted polished bent Beechwood and Walnut, produced by Thonet in good condition. The detailed low club chairs...
Fabric, Bouclé, Upholstery, Beech, Walnut, Bentwood
FiNE VICTORIAN BENTWOOD THONET STAMPED DRESSING TABLE & HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE STOOL
By Thonet
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this sublime 19th century Victorian Thonet bentwood dressing table and height adjustable stool Please note...
Mirror, Bentwood
20th Century Thonet Art Nouveau Armchairs by Josef Hoffmann, AT ca. 1905
By Thonet, Josef Hoffmann
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Outstanding pair of white lacquered Art Nouveau Thonet armchairs from the period around 1905 in Austria. The timeless design of this iconic Vienesse secession armchairs comes from th...
Fabric, Bentwood
1970s Antonin Suman Chair By TON
By Antonín Šuman, Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
- Carefully refurbished - Newly reupholstered - Height of seat 47 cm
Fabric, Wood
$3,269Sale Price|30% Off
Bentwood Cane Salonfauteuil Easy Chair Thonet No. 1, circa 1890
By Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH, Thonet
Located in Lucenec, SK
Very rare antique Thonet easy chair no 1 produced by Gebruder Thonet from the late 19th century in a very good condition with new cane on seat, cane ...
Cane, Bentwood
Bentwood dining room chair no.14 by Thonet
By Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Bentwood dining room chair no.14 by Thonet. Professionally stained and repolished.
Beech, Bentwood
$651Sale Price|44% Off
Vintage Mid Century Thonet Bentwood Armchairs - a Pair
By Thonet
Located in Waxahachie, TX
Rare vintage set of mid century Thonet bentwood armchairs. Bright, striking orange. Can't find these chairs anywhere. The seat back actually reclines a little. The tag says blended c...
Upholstery, Wood
Set of six Thonet Chairs No. 14, Vienna straw seat, shellac finish
By Thonet
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Stable, beautiful, ergonomic, space-saving They have a "metal reinforcement" option that allows them to last in excellent condition. Seat height: 47 cm - Seat diameter 41 cm - Total...
Beech
Jugendstil side table no.31 by Thonet
By Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Jugendstil side table no.31 by Thonet. Professionally stained and repolished with shellac.
Beech, Bentwood
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe "MR10" by Thonet Set 3 Chair
By Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Thonet
Located in Firenze, FI
MR10 chairs, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and produced by Thonet in Germany in the 1960s. The structure is made of chromed tubular steel, bent with exceptional technical pre...
Steel
$636Sale Price|20% Off
ZPM Radomsko for Thonet Bentwood Cafe Armchair
By ZPM Radomsko, Thonet
Located in Fort Collins, CO
Bentwood furniture came to prominence in the early 1900s, and was a staple in cafes and restaurants in Europe. This is a bentwood armchair, designed by ZPM Radomsko in Poland and pro...
Wood
1970s Set of Four Restored Beech Bentwood Dining Chairs by TON, Czechoslovakia
By Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
- Newly upholstered - Carefully refurbished - heigh of seat 47 cm
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood, Beech
Pair of Stendig Prague Armchairs by Josef Hoffman
By Josef Hoffmann, Stendig Co., Thonet
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Classic and iconic Prague armchairs designed by Josef Hoffmann for Thonet. Imported from Czechoslovakia by Stendig in the 1960s. Wood in good shape. Original cane needs to be redone ...
Cane, Bentwood
$640Sale Price|20% Off
Antique Thonet Bentwood Wall Hall Tree
By Thonet
Located in Pasadena, TX
This is an antique hanging wall hall tree by Thonet. It's made of beechwood and has 3 bentwood hangers for hats and coats.
Ultrasuede, Bentwood
$912 / set
Two Chairs Thonet Nr.70
By Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
Original state with a pleasant patina of age, perfectly cleaned and repolished with shellac.
Beech, Bentwood
Set of Six Dining Chairs by Jozef Gorcia & Andreas Krob for Thonet Model S78
By Thonet
Located in Vienna, AT
Set of six very comfortable armchairs. Made in the 1990s by Thonet in Germany. Classic model, straw back, the backs are slightly damaged on some chairs, see pictures. Designed in t...
Steel
Set of 6 Mies van der Rohe MR10 white cantilever dining chairs for Thonet, 1980s
By Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Thonet
Located in amstelveen, NL
An iconic set of 6 MR10 (256CS/MR533) cantilever dining chairs designed by Mies van der Rohe and manufactured by Thonet. Chrome-plated tubular steel frames with white saddle leather ...
Chrome
Vintage Dining Chairs by Thonet, Beech Saddle Seat
By Thonet
Located in Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Vintage Dining Chairs by Thonet, Beech Saddle Seat Dining Chairs, Bentwood, C. 1940s, Kitchen, Mid Century Modern, MCM Measurements: 15ʺW × 18ʺD × 33.5ʺH Some minor imperfections o...
Beech
1960s Pair of Ton/Thonet Beech Armchairs, Czechoslovakia
By Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
- Newly upholstered - wooden parts have been repolished.
Fabric
Unique Armchair Thonet B 1045, since 1938
By Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
It is unique, the only known piece, made to order for a special customer. This unique armchair has never been shown in a regular sales catalog. Documents about the armchair were kept only in the in-house archive of the Thonet company. Thonet B...
Beech, Bentwood
Set of 4 Thonet bent beech chairs, Austria, early 1900s
By Thonet, Jacob & Josef Kohn
Located in Argelato, BO
Set of 4 Thonet bent beech chairs, Austria, early 1900s It is a classic but very elegant model of chairs, made with the famous technique of bending beech using water vapor. An icon ...
Wood, Bentwood
Art nouveau screen no.11306 by Thonet
By Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Art nouveau screen no.11306 by Thonet in excellent original condition. Oil peacock painting on canvas in bentwood frame.
Beech, Bentwood
$360Sale Price|20% Off
Original Thonet 209 Dining Chair
By Thonet
Located in Medina, OH
The Thonet chair does need reupholstery work and refinishing work but has good bones to be a great addition to a dining room or use as a side chair. Please message us if you'd like ...
Fabric, Wood
1970s Antonin Suman Chair by TON in Zinc Fabric
By Antonín Šuman, Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
- Carefully refurbished - Newly upholstered in Zinc luxury fabric :SOL silver grey
Fabric, Wood
$3,362 / set
4x Chairs Thonet Nr.717, Gustav Siegel
By Gustav Siegel, Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
Perfect original condition, really exceptionally well preserved. Only the upholstery is new, with woven decor inspired by Gustav Klimt paintings. The wooden bases were perfectly clea...
Textile, Bentwood
$1,140 / set
Mid-Century Design Black Armchairs
By Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Black mid-century design armchairs by TON Bystrice pod Hostýnem 1950s. Professionally stained and repolished.
Bentwood
Set of Four Mid Century Stacking Side Tables by Thonet after Aalto
By Thonet, Alvar Aalto
Located in New York, NY
Chic architectural set of four stacking side tables by Thonet, in the manner of Alvar Aalto. The tables feature black disk form tops, on three blonde finish bent plywood legs. All ...
Wood, Plywood
Bentwood Thonet Cradle No.1
By Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
This French bentwood cradle made by Thonet circa late 1900s. The cradle is in very good working order.
Bentwood
Original S1047 Thonet Esstisch ausziehbar 1980 Design Tisch
By Thonet
Located in Berlin, DE
Wir bieten einen sehr seltenen ausziehbaren Design Esstisch von Thonet aus den 1980er Jahren zum Verkauf an. Der Tisch verfügt über eine wunderschöne Maserung der Buchenholzplatte un...
Steel, Chrome
20th Century Thonet Austrian Bentwood Hatrack
By Thonet
Located in Queens, NY
Austrian Bentwood hatrack / coat tree with replaced finial top (original THONET paper label).
Wood, Bentwood
1960s MCM Curved Back Green Thonet Bentwood Dining Chairs, Set of 6
By Thonet
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Mid century bentwood dining chairs by Thonet, the renowned maker of bent beechwood furniture. Featuring Thonet's signature curved frames handcrafte...
Upholstery, Wood
1970's Vintage Retro 6 Gert de Lange for Thornet ''The Flex'' Chairs
By Thonet, Gerd Lange
Located in amstelveen, NL
Set of 8 chairs designed by Gert De Lange and made by Thornet, the chair was call ''The Flex'' chair and was awarded the 'Gute Form' price in 1969, black...
Plastic
Bentwood magazine holder no.33 by Thonet
By Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Bentwood magazine holder no.33 by Thonet in very nice original condition with signs of use.
Beech, Bentwood
$1,719Sale Price|20% Off
Sculptural Chair "B 791" by Thonet, Designed by Thonet Brothers, 1915
By Thonet, Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH
Located in Brescia, Brescia
Introducing the iconic "B 791" sculptural chair, a groundbreaking design by the Thonet Brothers in 1915, produced by Thonet. This extraordinary piece stands as a pure and primordial ...
Leather, Walnut
$4,563 / set
Set of 4 bentwood dining room chairs by Thonet
By Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Set of 4 bentwood dining room chairs by Thonet. Professionally stained and repolished with new handmade rattan seats.
Rattan, Beech, Bentwood
Thonet Chrome Tubular Steel Armchairs, Leather Upholstery, Customisable, c. 1935
By Thonet
Located in Berlin, DE
Thonet S 411 tubular steel cantilever armchairs in leather upholstery, designed and manufactured by Thonet, c. 1935. This original tubular steel cantil...
Steel, Chrome
$385Sale Price|33% Off
Bauhaus Thonet Folding Chair, B 751
By Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
- 1930s, Czechoslovakia - Original (well-) preserved - Marked by maker - Straight and simple design - Publicated in books and catalogues.
Beech, Bentwood
Josef Maria Olbrich, Pair of armchairs for Thonet, Austria, 1910
By Thonet, Joseph Maria Olbrich
Located in Argelato, BO
Josef Maria Olbrich, Pair of armchairs for Thonet, Austria, 1910 Rare and extraordinary set of 2 bent beech chairs by the architect and designer Olbrich for Thonet from an important office in Trieste...
Bentwood
$3,458Sale Price / set|24% Off
Thonet, Set of 6 Rare Design Black Wood Chairs
By Thonet
Located in Marcq-en-Barœul, Hauts-de-France
This set of 6 design black wood chairs is stamped Thonet-Vienna-1993 and has the gold Thonet incrusted label. They have a nice design, are large and...
Wood
Set Of Three Upholstered Maple Bentwood Chairs By Thonet
By Thonet
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This set of three handsome Mid-Century Modern armchairs were produced by the famous Austrian furniture company Thonet in the 1950s. Thonet which was founded in 1850 by Michael Thonet...
Maple, Bentwood, Fabric
Thonet S 39 L Cognac Vegetal Leather Bar Stool Chair Mart Stam Set of 3
By Thonet, Mart Stam
Located in Munich, Bavaria
These rare Cantilever vintage Bar Stools chairs are Bauhaus classics and were designed 1926 by Mart Stam and produced by Thonet with the Model name S39 L. They were produced in the 7...
Steel, Chrome
Secession flower stand Thonet no.37 by Otto Wagner
By Otto Wagner, Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Secession flower stand Thonet no.37 by Otto Wagner. Professionally stained and repolished.
Beech, Bentwood
Thonet armchair with original period leather, label.
By Thonet
Located in Milano, IT
Bentwood, molded plywood and original period leather – labeled Rare and refined armchair produced by Thonet between the 1920s and 1930s, a period marking the full maturity of the Au...
Metal
1960s Cinema 5-Seats Bench by TON, Czechoslovakia
By Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
- Good original condition with minor signs of use - The wooden parts has been re-polished - Height of seat 45 cm.
Wood
$1,700 / item
ST 664 Shell Chairs, Designed by Eddie Harlis
By Eddie Harlis, Thonet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
The ST 664 chair designed by Eddie Harlis in 1954. Thonet manufactured the chairs in Germany. These chairs are no longer produced. The chair has a yellow stained finish and are made ...
Steel, Chrome