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Thonet Seating

Austrian, German

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.

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Creator: Thonet
A beautiful set of 6 iconic cesca chairs made by GFM, circa 1940s(?)
By Thonet
Located in Houston, TX
A beautiful set of 6 iconic cesca chairs made by GFM, circa 1940s(?). Early production Marcel Breuer B32 chairs made in Poland by Goscicinskie Fabryki Mebli. They are in very good or...
Category

1940s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Chrome

Vintage Bentwood Armchair by Thonet - Circa 1950s - Chartreuse Boucle
By Thonet
Located in Decatur, GA
Vintage midcentury modern bentwood armchair by Thonet. Laminated bent birch wood frame has been fully restored. All new foam, strapping and nubby soft yellow green boucle. Clean and ...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Bouclé, Birch

Set of Armchairs Designed by Thonet and Manufactured by Ligna in the 1950s
By Thonet, Ligna
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Remarkable set of armchairs, designed by Thonet and expertly manufactured by Ligna in the 1950s. Combining Thonet's visionary design aesthetic with Ligna's craftsmanship, these armch...
Category

1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Rattan, Bentwood

PAIR Josef Hoffman Fledermaus Chairs - Cafe Dining Chairs - Forest Green Suede
By Thonet, Josef Hoffmann
Located in Decatur, GA
Pair of Fledermaus dining chairs designed by Joseph Hoffman for the Café Fledermaus in 1907, this pair was made by Thonet. The frames are ebonized beech and have seats upholstered in...
Category

1950s French Bauhaus Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Suede, Bentwood

20th Century Art Nouveau Salon Suite with Round Table by Thonet, AT ca. 1910
By Otto Wagner, Thonet
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Fantastic looking, early 20th century salon suite by Thonet from the Art Nouveau period in Austria around 1910. Attributed to the famous Austrian architect and designer Otto Wagner, ...
Category

Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Thonet Seating

Materials

Leather, Beech

Restored Thonet Piano Stool, Mid 20th Century
By Thonet
Located in Schwerin, MV
Restored bentwood piano stool/swivel stool by Gebrüder Thonet. The piano stool is made of black lacquered (shellac) beechwood and has four steam-bent feet with a bentwood ring for st...
Category

Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Thonet Seating

Materials

Metal

Vintage Bentwood Armchair by Thonet - Circa 1950s - Chartreuse Boucle
By Thonet
Located in Decatur, GA
Vintage midcentury modern bentwood armchair by Thonet. Laminated bent birch wood frame has been fully restored. All new foam, strapping and nubby soft yellow green boucle. Clean and ...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Bouclé, Birch

Set of 4 vintage Dining Cafe Cane Bentwood Chairs by Thonet
By Thonet
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Set of (4) vintage cane seat cafe chairs by Thonet. model No. 18 chairs. They are in original condition with nice patina. The frames have a medium Brown Walnut wood is clean and read...
Category

1950s Polish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Cane, Wood

Pair of Thonet armchairs, model 209, ca 2000
By Thonet
Located in Uppsala, SE
Pair of armchairs, model 209 (also called Wiener Stuhl), made by Thonet, one of which is marked. Legendary Swiss architect Le Corbusier was fascinated with this model and used it in ...
Category

1930s Austrian Bauhaus Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Rattan, Bentwood

Dining Chair Designed by Bruno Weil for Thonet, Bentwood
By Bruno Weil, Thonet
Located in Miami, FL
One Chair Designed by Bruno Weil for Thonet in the 1960s, oak plywood with a walnut lacquer finish. Ready for a new home, in total we have 12 Chairs available.
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Bentwood, Plywood

Set of Four Thonet 1216-S17-B1 Bent Plywood Saddle Seat Dining Chairs, 1940s
By Thonet
Located in Miami, FL
Set of four vintage Thonet 1216-S17-B1 dining or side chairs. Rendered in steam bent oak plywood, with a beech sculpted saddle seat. This set of chairs is in its original distresse...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Thonet Seating

Materials

Metal

Thonet Bistro Cafe Dining Chair Bentwood and Cane
By Thonet
Located in Chula Vista, CA
Thonet Bistro Cafe Dining Chair Bentwood and Cane 35.25 h x 16.25 x 21 d Seat 18.25 Preowned vintage chair unrestored Refer to all images.
Category

Early 20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Thonet Seating

Materials

Bentwood

Pair of Thonet 1216-S17-B1 Bent Plywood Upholstered Seat Dining Chairs, 1940s
By Thonet
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of vintage Thonet 1216-S17-B1 dining or side chairs. Rendered in steam bent oak plywood, with an upholstered seat. This set of chairs is in its original distressed vintage condi...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Thonet Seating

Materials

Metal

Exceptional Rocking Chair by Thonet
By Michael Thonet, Thonet
Located in Vlimmeren, BE
This old authentic rocking chair was designed Michael Thonet and manufactured by Thonet. It was in the catalogue of 1904. It is a design classic. This dark brown rocking chair is in very good vintage condition with normal signs of age and use. The chair is stamped. Take your chance to get this Thonet collector’s item. Michael Thonet (1796-1871) was a German-Austrian cabinet maker, known for the invention of bentwood furniture, which ment the beginning of Modern Design. Le Corbusier used Thonet chairs...
Category

Early 1900s German Arts and Crafts Antique Thonet Seating

Materials

Bentwood

Pair of Thonet S320 by Wulf Schneider & Ulrich Böhme Chairs, 1984
By Thonet, Wulf Schneider, Ulrich Bohme
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Designers Ulrich Böhme and Wulf Schneider created the S320 in 1984 for iconic manufacturer Thonet. The chair has a timeless design, is stackable, very robust, and extremely comfortable thanks to the shaped, ergonomic seat shell. In original condition with some age appropriate wear. See the set of 4 Arco arm chairs...
Category

1980s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Chrome

Thonet armchair model EMT 0030 designed by Rudolf Glatzel 1961
By Thonet
Located in Debrecen, HU
Rudolf B. Glatzel for Thonet, lounge chair, model 'EMT0030' designed in 1961, Germany. The chair features a beech frame, upholstered seat, and backrest, covered in swiss fabric. t...
Category

1960s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Fabric, Beech

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...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Sheepskin, Upholstery, Bentwood

Set Of Three Mid Century Bar Stools By Thonet Circa 1950’s
By Thonet
Located in Bernville, PA
Set of three Thonet bar stools in a light blonde maple with red Naugahyde vinyl with a round chrome foot rest. In beautiful original condition with an original tag on one of the stoo...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Chrome

Set of Three Thonet 1216-S17-B1 Bent Plywood Saddle Seat Dining Chairs, 1940s
By Thonet
Located in Miami, FL
Early set of three vintage Thonet 1216-S17-B1 dining or side chairs. Rendered in steam bent oak plywood, with a beech sculpted saddle seat, and a bent front and rear arched support n...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Thonet Seating

Materials

Metal

Mid Century Modern Walnut & Black Vinyl Executive Swivel Desk Chairs by Thonet
By Thonet
Located in Lafayette, IN
As seen on the Apple TV limited series "Lessons in Chemistry" These actual chairs were featured in several pivotal scenes in the conference room at Hastings L...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Thonet Seating

Materials

Aluminum

Otto Wagner Settee Bench Bentwood, Thonet, Austria, Vienna Secession, circa 1905
By Otto Wagner, Thonet
Located in Hausmannstätten, AT
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...
Category

Early 1900s Austrian Vienna Secession Antique Thonet Seating

Materials

Beech, Bentwood

Art Deco Original Bentwood Stool , Rattan Cane Top, designed by Michael Thonet
By Thonet, Michael Thonet
Located in Vigonza, Padua
A original art deco Bentwood Stool or Table with Rattan Cane Top designed by Michael Thonet, with 4 spherical feet. Wax polished The seat is still with its original rattan cane st...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Thonet Seating

Materials

Beech

Mid Century Thonet Armchairs with Sheepskin Upholstery, a Pair
By Thonet
Located in Raleigh, NC
Experience timeless elegance with this rare high-back pair of Thonet bentwood lounge chairs, circa 1950. These stunning pieces showcase the masterful craftsmanship of bentwood const...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Thonet Seating

Materials

Sheepskin, Birch

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 Thonet Seating

Materials

Cane, Wood

Set of 4 Mid-Century Dining Cafe Bentwood Chairs by Thonet
By Thonet
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Mid century vintage thonet cafe chairs style number '18' - Set of matching 4 in original condition with patina. The wood has been oiled showing hones...
Category

Mid-20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Thonet Seating

Materials

Wood

Pair of Model SS33 Chrome Bauhaus Style Arm Chairs by Anton Lorenz for Thonet
By Thonet, Anton Lorenz
Located in San Diego, CA
Pair of vintage Model SS33 chrome Bauhaus style arm chairs by Anton Lorenz for Thonet, circa 1970s. The pair are in very good vintage condition and measure 23"W x 22"D x 29"H with a ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Thonet Seating

Materials

Chrome

Thonet Bentwood Cane Bistro or Side Chair, 1920's
By Thonet
Located in Doylestown, PA
Thonet bentwood cane cafe or side chair, 1920's This iconic design chair has a sturdy yet lightweight beechwood frame. An original classic great for a varie...
Category

1920s European Bauhaus Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Cane, Beech

Set of 4 Thonet No 4 "Cafe Daum" Benwood Chairs by Salvatore Leone, Circa 1960s
By Thonet, Salvatore Leone
Located in Germantown, MD
Set of 4 Thonet Cafe Daum N°4, 1960. By Salvatore Leone No 4 "Café Daum" designed by Thonet around 1860, and constantly produced until 1930 by the fa...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Thonet Seating

Materials

Bentwood

A beautiful set of 6 iconic cesca chairs made by GFM, circa 1940s(?)
By Thonet
Located in Houston, TX
A beautiful set of 6 iconic cesca chairs made by GFM, circa 1940s(?). Early production Marcel Breuer B32 chairs made in Poland by Goscicinskie Fabryki Mebli. They are in very good or...
Category

1940s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Chrome

Thonet Bentwood Chair Model No. A 476 / A 1085 from the 1930s
By Thonet
Located in Reichenschwand, DE
This Thonet Bentwood Chair Model No. A 476 / A 1085 from the 1930s captures the essence of modernist design, blending simplicity with craftsmanship. Made from solid beech wood, with ...
Category

1930s German Bauhaus Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Wood, Beech, Bentwood, Plywood, Lacquer

A set of 4 sof-Tek stacking chairs by David Rowland for Thonet circa 1970s
By Thonet
Located in Houston, TX
A set of 4 Sof-Tek stacking chairs by David Rowland for Thonet circa 1970s. In the original bright red vinyl on tubular chrome frames. These can be used indoor or outdoor. Manufactur...
Category

1970s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Chrome

Original Thonet Piano Stool, Early 20th Century, Restaured
By Thonet
Located in Schwerin, MV
Restored piano stool from the traditional company Gebrüder Thonet, Vienna from the end of the 19th or beginning of the 20th century. The piano stool is made of solid wood and has a f...
Category

1890s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Thonet Seating

Materials

Wood, Braid

4x Armchair Thonet Nr.28
By Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
Renovated in the recent past, perfectly cleaned. We can offer cost-effective shipping.  
Category

Early 20th Century Austrian Art Deco Thonet Seating

Materials

Beech, Bentwood

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 Thonet Seating

Materials

Cane, Bentwood

Art Nouveau Thonet Armchairs by Josef Hoffmann, White Lacquered, AT ca. 1905
By Thonet, Josef Hoffmann
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Fantastic pair of white Art Nouveau Thonet armchairs from the period around 1905 in Austria. The timeless design of this iconic Art Nouveau armchairs comes from the pen of no other t...
Category

Early 20th Century Austrian Thonet Seating

Materials

Fabric, Bentwood

Marcel Kammerer Seating Set Salon Suite, Thonet, Turquoise Green Leather, 1910
By Thonet, Josef Hoffmann, Marcel Kammerer
Located in Hausmannstätten, AT
A fantastic bentwood set seating group designed by Marcel Kammerer and manufactured by Thonet, Austria, circa 1910. The set contains of two armchairs and ...
Category

Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Thonet Seating

Materials

Brass

Set of Six Labeled Thonet No. 14 Bentwood Bistro Chairs
By Thonet
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Iconic 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

19th Century Polish Vienna Secession Antique Thonet Seating

Materials

Bentwood

Josef Frank Armchair, Model No. 403/F, 1928
By Josef Frank, Thonet
Located in Chicago, IL
Josef Frank Armchair, Model No. 403/F, 1928 This Armchair, designed by Josef Frank in 1928, features a stained bent beech frame and stained beech plywood. It was manufactured by Gebr...
Category

1930s Austrian Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Bouclé, Beech

Art Deco Thonet H269 Armchair by Jindrich Halabala Bouclé Fabric
By Jindřich Halabala, Thonet
Located in Vienna, AT
Beech bentwood walnut stained armchair made by Thonet in the 1930s. Excellent restored with seat springs upholstered with noblis creme boucé fabric. Another fabric and wood finish on...
Category

1930s Czech Art Deco Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Beech, Bentwood

4 Mid Century Rocking Chairs by Thonet
By Thonet
Located in New York, NY
Unusual and rare model Thonet wood, aluminum and vinyl rocking chairs, total of four available, three in green vinyl, one in turquoise vinyl uphol...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Thonet Seating

Materials

Aluminum

Office Chair Thonet Nr.28
By Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
Original state with a pleasant patine of age, perfectly cleaned and re-polished with shelack finish. We can offer cost-effective shipping.  
Category

Early 20th Century Austrian Belle Époque Thonet Seating

Materials

Beech, Bentwood

After Thonet 209 Bentwood Chairs 1050s 3 set of 2
By Thonet
Located in Mombuey, Zamora
The chair after Thonet is from the years between 1950-1960 Hard to find in such quantity, Perfect for a dining room or office table Due to their tone, they harmonize very well with a...
Category

Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Thonet Seating

Materials

Cane, Bentwood

Set of Eight Thonet S33 Leather and Chrome Chairs by Mart Stam, 1970s
By Thonet, Mart Stam
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of 8 Mid-Century leather and chrome 'S33' dining chairs by Matt Stam for Thonet, 1970's. Original sling leather seats and backrests on tubular bent chrome frames. Classic styling...
Category

1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Chrome

1970 Two Seater Cinema Bench by TON, Czechoslovakia
By Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
- Beech plywood - Good original condition with some signs of use - 2- seater - 4 pieces available
Category

1970s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Beech, Plywood

Set of Chairs by Gerd Lange for Thonet
By Thonet, Gerd Lange
Located in Čelinac, BA
Set of four chairs by Gerd Lange for Thonet.
Category

1970s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Metal

4 Black Bentwood & Cane Josef Hoffman Prague 811 Armchairs for Stendig by Thonet
By Josef Hoffmann, Thonet, Stendig Co.
Located in Topeka, KS
Iconic vintage Bauhaus black painted bentwood & cane Josef Hoffman Prague 811 armchairs imported by Stendig for Thonet, a set of 4. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that these are vintage and not new so will have signs of use and wear even if it has been refinished or restored. Specifically, there have been a few small repairs in the caning of all chairs and one chair seat has been replaced completely. It has been replaced with sheet cane and not individually woven. Please see photos, zoom in for details, and see long description as they are part of the condition report. We attempt to portray any imperfections. Circa, Early to Mid-20th Century. Much like a fine wine or the Mona Lisa, some things just get better with age… That’s just a fact! Including these iconic vintage black painted bentwood & cane Josef Hoffman Prague 811 armchairs by Stendig for Thonet! Talk about the ability to withstand the hands of time!! This Josef Hoffman 811 chair was originally designed in 1925 but remains a current and fabulous design that is highly sought after today. This set of 4 is comprised of beautiful black painted bentwood frames bearing slender rounded arms, slightly flared legs, and marvelous natural cane seats AND backs!! SPECTACULAR!!! Can’t you just SEE these beauties surrounding your kitchen table, breakfast nook, game table, or simply used as extra seating in the family room? We certainly can! Just the right touch of Bauhaus magnificence to any room and they’re sure to complement your home with their classic, historical excellence, whatever your style whether its Bauhaus, Art Deco, Mid-Century Modern, or Modern!! Josef Hoffman was one of Austria's most important architects and designers and was central to the development of art and design in Vienna. He grew up with three sisters and was nicknamed Pepo. His father was the town mayor and a successful businessman. He was a founding member of the Vienna Secession, a radical anti-historicist movement, and together with Koloman Moser created the Wiener Werkstatte cooperative workshop. A highly individualistic architect and designer, Hoffmann's work combined the simplicity of craft production with a refined aesthetic ornament. Between 1901 and 1905, he designed four villas in Vienna and a sanatorium in Brussels that was called “Stoclet House”, for which he developed a “cubistic” language of form, with an emphasis on straight, unadorned lines. In 1905, he established the Kunstschau with painter Gustav Klimt and, two years later, founded the Deutscher Werkbund. Hoffmann worked well into his 80s, continuing to use the geometric motifs that influenced the art deco style of the 1920s. In 1928 his work appeared in the Art in Industry exhibition held at Macy’s in New York City, where it exerted a strong influence on American designer Donald Deskey. Hoffmann is one of the seminal figures in the modern decorative arts movement of the first half of the 20th century. Stendig was totally the brainchild and passion of Charles W. Stendig. You cannot write or talk about Stendig without explaining Charles. He was a pioneer of import goods in the mid-century. After serving in WWII as a paratrooper, he studied business with emphasis on international trade at NYU and City College of New York. Afterward first working for Raymor, another pioneering distribution company, for about two years, departing to start his own business: Stendig. He opened his first showroom in 1956 in midtown Manhattan. He is credited for sparking America’s interest in furniture from Finland, Switzerland, Italy, and Czechoslovakia. He imported from the likes of Thonet, Asko, and De Sede; and from iconic designers including Le Corbusier, Josef Hoffmann, Eero Aarnio, Tapio Wirkkala, Marcel Breuer, Jonathan De Pas, Donato D’Urbino, Paolo Lomazzi, Carlo Mollino, Carlo Scarpa, and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni to name just a few. By the late 1960’s, Stendig had showrooms in Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco with a large headquarters in NYC. They were exciting and good times but short lived. The business was a challenge and when an offer was made by Burlington Industries to purchase, Charles agreed. He stayed on till 1976 to oversee and then retired. I have searched the internet to no avail to find out if a Stendig division is still in operation. But I can only find the Stendig Calendar, the only calendar in MoMA’s collection, which was designed for Stendig by Mossimo Vignelli, still offered. But I am having a hard time deciding who is creating and offering it. I do know Burlington Industries was bankrupt by 2001, purchased in 2003, merged with Cone Mills in 2004 and subsequently into ITG or International Textile Group. But the Stendig name reins as an icon of high style mid-century offerings. Thonet was founded by Michael Thonet. Michael was born in 1796 and was apprenticed by his father to a cabinetmaker. Shortly after he married, Michael opened his one-man cabinetmaking shop creating furniture and cabinetry in the traditional manner by carving the needed parts and then joining them together. In 1830 he began experimenting with bending wood into curved shapes and thus began a successful furniture company that has remained continually in operation for nearly 200 years. Thonet’s early work was very Biedermeier in style and not made for the common man. Gradually his designs became more Art Nouveau. In 1951 his chairs for the Crystal Palace at the London World’s Fair won a prize medal and by the late 1950s he began to make his first “consumer” chair. In 1875, a year before Michael’s death, Thonet’s five factories made 620,000 chairs. Then in 1876 after his death the company became Gebruder Thonet. But all was not roses. In 1869 the Thonet patents lapsed and by 1893 there were 52 bentwood companies in Europe. However, Thonet persevered. They branched out. They merged. They added designs by Le Corbusier and Breuer and alternative materials such as tubular chrome in place of bentwood to their offerings. Business boomed and waned through the years and there was even a Thonet revival, so to speak, beginning in the 1940s on into the mid-20th century. Till today, in the 21st century, Thonet is still a furniture company to be reckoned with almost 200 years later. We are in love with this iconic set of 4 Prague 811 chairs...
Category

Early 20th Century Czech Bauhaus Thonet Seating

Materials

Cane, Bentwood, Paint

Restored Thonet Piano Stool, Mid 20th Century
By Thonet
Located in Schwerin, MV
Restored bentwood piano stool/swivel stool by Gebrüder Thonet. The piano stool is made of black lacquered (shellac) beechwood and has four steam-bent feet with a bentwood ring for st...
Category

Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Thonet Seating

Materials

Metal

Pair of Thonet armchairs, model 209, ca 2000
By Thonet
Located in Uppsala, SE
Pair of armchairs, model 209 (also called Wiener Stuhl), made by Thonet, one of which is marked. Legendary Swiss architect Le Corbusier was fascinated with this model and used it in ...
Category

1930s Austrian Bauhaus Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Rattan, Bentwood

Back of the Chairs by Martino Gamper for the Conran Shop/Thonet, 2008
By Thonet
Located in Uppsala, SE
This chair, along with two other models, was commissioned by The Conran Shop in 2008 to the designer Martino Gamper for The London Design Festival and for ...
Category

Early 2000s Croatian Futurist Thonet Seating

Materials

Bentwood

Set of two Art Deco Armchairs by J. Halabala, Model H269, 1930s
By Jindřich Halabala, Thonet
Located in Wrocław, Poland
Set of two Art Deco armchairs designed by famous Jindrich Halabala in 1930s in Czechoslovakia. One of his iconic models, H269. The armchairs have been preserved in near-collector’s...
Category

1930s Czech Art Deco Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Beech, Bentwood

Thonet Set of Eight Armchairs with Red Lacquered Frame and Rush Seats
By Thonet
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Thonet, set of eight armchairs, model 526 F, lacquered beech, rush, Germany, 1960s Conceived by Thonet, the overall design of these dining chairs are simple yet elegant, with smooth...
Category

1960s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Rush, Beech, Lacquer

Art Deco Thonet H269 Armchair by Jindrich Halabala
By Jindřich Halabala, Thonet
Located in Vienna, AT
Beech bentwood walnut stained armchair made by Thonet in the 1930s. Excellent restored with seat springs upholstered with green velvet. Another fabric and wood finish on request poss...
Category

1930s Czech Art Deco Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Beech, Bentwood

1960s Beech Armchair by TON, Czechoslovakia
By Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
- carefully refurbished - Newly reupholstered - high of seat 48 cm
Category

1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Beech, Fabric

Chairs Thonet 209, Pair of Cane and Black Bentwood , 1940s or 1950s
By Thonet
Located in Mombuey, Zamora
The chair after Thonet is from the 1950s This is Le Corbusier's favourite chair and one of the favourite designs of architects and designers. Unfortunately it has no label but it i...
Category

Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Thonet Seating

Materials

Cane, Bentwood

Josef Hoffmann 'Fledermaus Bat' Chair Model No.728
By Thonet, Josef Hoffmann
Located in Basel, BS
Designed by the renowned Viennese architect Josef Hoffmann in 1907 for the Fledermaus Cafe in Vienna, this single "Fledermaus" Model number 728, aka "Bat" Cafe chair features black upholstery covering the seat and backrest. The chair is supported by four cylindrical legs with spherical elements, showcasing a tub back with a horseshoe form base. Crafted from bent beech wood, this rare chair was specifically created for the Cabaret Fledermaus in Vienna as one of Hoffmann's iconic designs. Representing a significant moment in design history, the chair is featured in the J. & J. Kohn catalogues as model no. 728. With its sleek bentwood frame, swooping armrests, and curved backrests, the chair exudes elegance and sophistication. The Fledermaus chairs embody Hoffmann's renowned Viennese Secessionist style, known for its simple geometric shapes and use of high-quality materials. Considered a bold departure from traditional European nightclubs, the design quickly gained popularity for its iconic and innovative aesthetic. This is an authentic Hoffmann chair manufactured by Wittman, the authorized manufacturer of the Fledermaus starting in the 1970s. This chair was sold by "Teo Jacob...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Thonet Seating

Materials

Leather, Faux Leather, Beech

1940s Thonet 1216-S17-B1 Bent Plywood Dining Chairs Set of 7
By Thonet
Located in Esperance, NY
This exceptional set of early Thonet bent plywood dining chairs dates back to the 1940s. One of the chairs retains its original Thonet tag.
Category

1940s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Bentwood

1960s Oswald Haerdtl Chair by TON Czechoslovakia
By Oswald Haerdtl, Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
- Made of stained beech wood and beech plywood - The wooden parts have been repolished
Category

Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Thonet Seating

Materials

Beech, Plywood

Pair of Vintage Thonet '209' Chairs Beech and Cane
By Thonet
Located in London, GB
Pair of classic model '209' beech bentwood arm chairs designed by Thonet. These chairs date from the latter part of the 20th century are in great condition with only minor wear and r...
Category

Late 20th Century European Bauhaus Thonet Seating

Materials

Cane, Beech

Original Vintage Wooden Thonet Design Side Chair Model 13
By Thonet
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This stunning vintage side chair is a true eye-catcher that will enhance almost any interior. This original Thonet design chair features a design from the 1930s and is crafted from b...
Category

20th Century Classical Roman Thonet Seating

Materials

Wood

Postmod 80s Flex 2000 (32 Avail) Stacking Chairs Gerd Lange Thonet Beech -8 pcs
By Gerd Lange, Thonet
Located in Basel, BS
Excellent set of 8 Flex 2000 Stacking Chairs by Gerd Lange for Thonet, with wooden oak frames and black seats. No longer produced, Rare items. FAST SHIPPING: Fast, international, in...
Category

1980s German Post-Modern Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

PVC, Ash, Beech

Michael Thonet Solid Beechwood and Cane no. 210 Armchair
By Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH, Thonet
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Chair nr 210 designed by Gebrüder Thonet in 1900, (as well as nr 209) of renown designer Le Corbusier. This chair is made in Czechoslovakia (pre WW2 factory of Thonet). New cane c...
Category

Mid-20th Century Austrian Mid-Century Modern Thonet Seating

Materials

Wicker, Cane, Bentwood

Set of Chairs by Gerd Lange for Thonet
By Thonet, Gerd Lange
Located in Čelinac, BA
Set of four chairs by Gerd Lange for Thonet.
Category

1970s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Metal

A set of cantilevered chrome barrel back club chairs by Anton Lorenz for Thonet
By Thonet
Located in Houston, TX
A set of 4 cantilevered chrome barrel back club chairs by Anton Lorenz for Thonet. In very good sturdy condition. Red/orange fabric is original and there are no tears or rips, just s...
Category

1960s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Chrome

Bentwood Thonet armchair, early 20th century
By Thonet
Located in Uppsala, SE
Bentwood armchair with velvet seat manufactured by Thonet in the early 20th century. Fabric on the seat is most likely original to the chair. Stamped and with original sticker by the...
Category

Early 20th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Thonet Seating

Materials

Velvet, Birch

1970s Antonin Suman Set of Four Dining Chair by TON
By Antonín Šuman, Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
- Carefully refurbished - Newly upholstered grey boucle fabric - high of seat 46 cm
Category

1970s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Wood, Bouclé

Mart Stam for Thonet Set of 4 "S33" Cantilever Chairs, Germany 1960s
By Thonet, Mart Stam
Located in Naples, IT
Set of 4 dining chairs model S33 designed by Mart Stamm in 1927, produced by Thonet in the 1960s. The chair frame is chrome-plated tubular steel, the seat and back are black leather. They are in good original condition with some traces of use: the frames are excellent, the leather shows some signs of wear as visible in the photo. Mart Stam revolutionised design. The Cantilever chair, also known as the ‘S33 chair...
Category

1960s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Chrome

Thonet Armchairs by Otto Wagner
By Thonet, Otto Wagner
Located in Vienna, AT
Design attributed to Otto Wagner. Wood finish and upholstery according to customer requirements. Price for already restored ones. Up to eight pieces available, more on request. Deli...
Category

Early 1900s Austrian Vienna Secession Antique Thonet Seating

Materials

Leather, Beech, Bentwood

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...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Sheepskin, Upholstery, Bentwood

Walter Gropius, Armchairs, Birch, Austria, 1950s
By Thonet, Walter Gropius
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of birch armchairs designed by Walter Gropius and produced by Thonet, Austria, c. 1950s. Seat Height: 17.5"
Category

1950s Austrian Bauhaus Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Birch

80's Mid-Century Modern Bentwood Armchair Dining Side Chairs Le Corbusier Thonet
By Le Corbusier, Thonet
Located in Wayne, NJ
2 Thonet Bentwood Side Accent Lounge Dining chairs blue upholstery. Arm height is approx 27.50" high
Category

1980s American Modern Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Wood

Early B35 Chair by Marcel Breuer for Thonet, 1930s
By Thonet, Marcel Breuer
Located in Uppsala, SE
Very early example from the 1930s of the classical B35 model designed by Marcel Breuer for Thonet in the very last years of the 1920s. The leather has great patina and is definitely ...
Category

1930s German Bauhaus Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Steel

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 Thonet Seating

Materials

Bentwood, Plywood

Rare Gerd Lange Stacking Armchairs, by Thonet 1970s
By Thonet, Gerd Lange
Located in Antwerp, BE
Set of six dining chairs, designed by Gerd Lange for Thonet, 1970s. Very rare arm chairs with grey leather seats, plywood frames, steel rubber armrests...
Category

1980s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Wood, Plywood

Thonet seating for sale on 1stDibs.

Thonet seating 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 Thonet seating, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original seating by Thonet were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider seating by Karl Fostel Sen’s Erben, Wiesner-Hager, and Anna-Lülja Praun. Prices for Thonet seating can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $145 and can go as high as $27,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $2,015.
Questions About Thonet Seating
  • 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 23, 2024
    To identify a Thonet, first locate the maker's marking. On Thonet chairs, you'll usually find it carved into the wood frame on the underside of the seat. Markings may say “Thonet,” “Thonet Wien,” “GT,” “GBThonet” or “GBThonetWien,” depending on the age of your piece. Cross-reference the mark with information published on trusted online resources to get a rough idea of when your furniture was produced. Then, you can review Thonet catalogues available online to identify your piece's model number. Alternatively, you can enlist the help of a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer to perform the identification process for you. Shop a wide range of Thonet furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Thonet is a well known furniture company that was started by Michael Thonet in 1830 as he experimented with bentwood furniture. The brand is known for producing high-quality products with exquisite craftsmanship. Shop a collection of Thonet furniture from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2024
    A Thonet chair can be any chair developed by the furniture maker Thonet, which has been manufacturing furniture for more than 180 years. However, most people are referring to one designed by founder Gebrüder Thonet. It features a bentwood frame produced with a patent steam method that Thonet patented and a curved seat. Find a range of Thonet chairs on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 3, 2023
    Perhaps the most significant thing about the Thonet chair was that it was the first chair to ever be shipped in parts with instructions that allowed the purchaser to assemble it themselves. As a result, the beech wood and rattan chairs could be mass produced and sold all over the world more easily. Shop a range of Thonet chairs on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    An authentic Thonet chair will have the company’s name with a solid line underneath carved somewhere on the chair. The brand can also confirm the authenticity and age of a Thonet chair via its website. Shop a variety of authentic Thonet furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023
    A Thonet-style chair is a wooden chair that has a curvy, bent backrest, a round seat and subtly flared legs. The chairs get their name from the original manufacturer, Thonet, which produced chairs in the mid-century modern style in Europe during the 20th century. Shop a range of Thonet furniture on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Michael Thonet is a German-Austrian furniture maker who designed the famed bentwood chair in 1830. His last name, Thonet, is pronounced “TOE-net,” but it’s commonly mispronounced “tho-NAY.” Shop a collection of vintage and modern Michael Thonet pieces on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Yes, Thonet chairs are marked. You will usually find the brand's label on a tag or burned into the wood under the seat. On 1stDibs, you can shop a variety of expertly vetted Thonet furniture from top sellers around the world.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Whether or not Thonet chairs are stackable depends on their design. The bentwood chairs produced by the company do easily stack, but others like cantilever chairs do not. Find a range of Thonet chairs forms some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertSeptember 27, 2024
    To identify a Thonet chair, look under the seat. Most Thonet chairs will feature a maker's marking. Often, you'll find the Thonet name carved into the wooden seat frame or printed on a paper label mounted on the seat's underside. Because Thonet changed its markings over the years, you can get a rough idea of the age of your chair by comparing the ones on your piece to images on trusted online reference guides. If you need help with the identification process, a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer can be of assistance. Find a range of Thonet chairs on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2024
    To tell if a Thonet chair is real, you can use Thonet's authenticity verification service. To take advantage of it, you will need to take many photographs of the chair from different angles and close-up images of markings and paper labels. You can learn more about the authentication process on the Thonet website. Shop a diverse assortment of Thonet chairs on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    To identify a Thonet rocking chair, look for the company name. You will normally find it stamped directly onto the underside of the seat, arms or legs. You can find a collection of expertly vetted Thonet rocking chairs on 1stDibs.

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