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.
Charles W. Stendig Bentwood Rocking Chair
By Thonet, Charles Stendig
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Classic rocking chair by Thonet for Stending Co. Beautiful bentwood lines throughout this rocking chair, completed with caning seat and back. Please confirm location NY or NJ
Cane, Bentwood
Set Of Eight Thonet Chairs, Model No. 4, Known As "daum Café", 1880
By Thonet
Located in Charmes, FR
Set of eight chairs, model no. 4, by Thonet, in Paris in 1880/1890. This model was made for the Café Daum in Vienna in 1849. The frame is made of blackened bent beechwood. The chair ...
Wood
$2,600 / item
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...
Leather, 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
$1,100Sale Price|50% Off
Bent Plywood Chair, Model 18 by Bruno Weir for Thonet, c. 1950
By Thonet
Located in New York City, NY
Bent Plywood Chair, Model 18, by Bruno Weir, Thonet, Austria, c. 1950 Cool, simple bent plywood chairs by Bruno Weir for Thonet.
Plywood
Set of 6 Chairs S 33 by Thonet , Italy - Original Leather
By Thonet
Located in Brussels, BE
Set of 6 Chairs S 33 by Thonet , Italy - Original Leather
Metal
Bentwood dining room chair no.14 by Thonet
By Thonet
Located in Hronská Breznica, Banskobystrický kraj
Bentwood dining room chair no.14 by Thonet. Professionally stained and repolished.
Beech, Bentwood
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
1940s Thonet Style Cinema Chair, Beech Wood Folding Seat
By Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
Vintage cinema chair from the 1940s, attributed to Thonet style production. This striking piece is crafted from solid beech wood and bent plywood, featuring a sculptural curved backr...
Wood, Beech, Plywood
$262Sale Price / item|20% Off
Vintage HajduThonet barstools 1970s Hungary
By Thonet
Located in Debrecen, HU
Discover this elegant and sturdy bar stool from the early 1970s, crafted by Hajdúthonet in Debrecen, Hungary, specifically for the American market. This unique piece is made of bent ...
Wood
Eberhard Krauss, Rare Armchair Model A 821 F for Thonet, 1930
By Thonet
Located in Uppsala, SE
Rare armchair / lounge chair designed by Eberhard Krauss for Thonet in 1930 for the exhibition "Thonet Werkbund" in Vienna. This model is sometimes also wrongly attributed to Adolf S...
Rattan, Birch
Set of Six Dining Chairs by Walter Gropius and Ben Thompson for Thonet
By Walter Gropius, Ben Thompson, Thonet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of six W199 dining armchairs by Walter Gropius and Ben Thompson for Thonet, c.1950's, Austria. The chairs showcase a bent birch wood frame and legs. The seats have been newly uph...
Upholstery, Birch
Austrian modern black wooden chairs by Ernst W. Beranek for Thonet, 1990s
By Thonet
Located in MIlano, IT
Austrian modern black wooden chairs by Ernst W. Beranek for Thonet, 1990s Set of five chairs with armrests in black lacquered wood with a matt finish. The seat is padded and covered ...
Metal
Pair of Pierre Paulin CM 194 Armchairs for Thonet, France, circa 1958
By Thonet, Pierre Paulin
Located in Miami, FL
Distinctive pair of mid 20th century design armchairs, model CM 194. This pair of chairs are early works designed by the visionary designer Pierre Paulin for Th...
Steel
A vintage bentwood Thonet “sweetheart” chair, circa 1950s. Made in Romania
By Thonet
Located in Houston, TX
A vintage bentwood Thonet “sweetheart” chair, circa 1950s. Made in Romania, the classic Thonet style cafe chair has a caned seat. Refurbished and in ...
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...
Sheepskin, Upholstery, Bentwood
$4,745 / item
Targa Petit Light blue velvet Armchair
By Thonet
Located in Milan, IT
Targa Petit blue velvet armchair designed by GamFratesi offers a compact yet elegant seating option inspired by the iconic Targa Lounge. Its refined proportions and the distinctive V...
Wood
Set of Four Mid Century Dining Chairs by Thonet
By Thonet
Located in New York, NY
Chic set of four dining chairs, made in the USA, circa 1950's , manufactured by Thonet. The chairs are constructed of bent plywood, vinyl and aluminum, they are currently in a lat...
Upholstery, Wood
Thonet Model 81 Three-Legged Armchair
By Thonet
Located in Highland, IN
This elegant three-legged chair by Thonet is made of stained beech with a seat upholstered in suede leather. 31.5"h X 25"w X 23"d
Beech
$1,675Sale Price|20% Off
Sculptural Chair "B 791" by Thonet, Designed by Thonet Brothers, 1915
By Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH, Thonet
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
Set of 6 Original Thonet S34 Cantilever Chairs in Cognac Leather & Chrome, 1970s
By Thonet, Mart Stam
Located in The Hague, NL
Set of 6 Original Thonet Cantilever Chairs in Cognac Leather and Chrome A beautiful set of six original Thonet cantilever chairs, executed in chromed tubular steel with cognac saddl...
Chrome
Francesco Zaccone for Thonet Golf Chairs in New Bouclé Upholstery, Germany 1970
By Francesco Zaccone, Thonet
Located in Almelo, NL
Presenting this stunning set of ‘Golf’ chairs by Francesco Zaccone for Thonet. Beautifully shaped chrome bases creating an incredibly sturdy and stately pre...
Aluminum, Chrome
Thonet Model K411 cantilever armchair first series Bauhaus tubular steel, 1930
By Thonet
Located in Berlin, DE
This rare Thonet Model K411 cantilever armchair, produced around 1930, is an important example of early Bauhaus Modernism and one of the first tubular steel armchairs manufactured in...
Chrome
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
Thonet 209 Japan Red Le Corbusier Dining Chair - 2 of 2
By Thonet, Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH
Located in Saint Paul, MN
The iconic Thonet 209 chairs by Gebrüder Thonet, consists of only six parts and was a favorite of the Swiss architect Le Corbusier.
Beech, Birch
$1,170 / set
Thonet Stools No.144
By Thonet
Located in Hronská Breznica, Banskobystrický kraj
Thonet stools no.144 professionally stained and repolished.
Rattan, Bentwood
Art Nouveau Style Sofa By Thonet, 20th Century
By Thonet
Located in PARIS, FR
Art Nouveau Style Sofa By Thonet, 20th Century Art Nouveau Style Sofa by Thonet Magnificent Art Nouveau period sofa, designed by the famous house of Thonet. This unique piece is dis...
Textile, Wood
Model No. 3 Desk or Writing Chair by Thonet, 1900's
By Thonet
Located in Oud Beijerland, NL
A very nice desk or writing chair by Thonet. It is fabricated in the Czech Republic around 1900. This chair was originally designed at the second half of the 19th century and can be...
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 ...
Chrome
Heinrich Kulka for Gebrüder Thonet Arts and Crafts Chair in Oak and Leather
By Thonet
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Heinrich Kulka for Gebrüder Thonet chair, brown patinated leather, brass, oak, Austria, c. 1931 A striking armchair by Heinrich Kulka, Adolf Loos’s closest collaborator, produced by...
Brass
$1,685Sale Price|20% Off
Thonet - Michael Thonet - No. 511 - Armchair - Beech
By Michael Thonet, Thonet
Located in Budapest, HU
Thonet Armchair, Model No. 511 — Black Lacquered Wood and Red Upholstery This elegant armchair, Model No. 511, was manufactured by the iconic Viennese firm Thonet, a name synonymous...
Upholstery, Beech
Michael Thonet No. 24 Bentwood Armchair By Ton, Czechoslovakia 1950s
By Thonet, TON a.s.
Located in Zohor, SK
Beautifully restored vintage bentwood armchair No. 24 designed by Michael Thonet and produced by TON in Czechoslovakia during the 1950s. This elegant piece features Thonet’s iconic c...
Velvet, Bentwood
1940s Thonet Beech Chair no. 57, Czechoslovakia
By Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
- partly refurbished - some signs of use - sturdy and stable - Height of seat 47
Wood, Beech
$393Sale Price|20% Off
1960s Beech Armchair by TON, Czechoslovakia
By Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
- carefully refurbished - Newly reupholstered - high of seat 48 cm
Beech, Fabric
$3,370Sale 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
Pair of Thonet Art Nouveau Bentwood Chairs, Czechoslovakia, 1920s
By Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
Exceptional pair of Art Nouveau chairs by Thonet, produced in Czechoslovakia in the 1920s. Executed in solid beech wood and molded beech plywood, showcasing classic bentwood construc...
Wood, Beech, Plywood
$580Sale 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
Thonet S 33 Vintage Cognac Vegetal Leather Chair Mart Stam Cantilever 1 of 2
By Thonet, Mart Stam
Located in Munich, Bavaria
These Cantilever vintage chairs are Bauhaus classics and were designed 1926 by Mart Stam and produced by Thonet with the Model name S33. Original Thonet Chairs. The chairs usually h...
Steel, Chrome
Thonet chairs no.567 by Otto Prutscher for Café Heinrichshof
By Thonet, Otto Prutscher
Located in Hronská Breznica, Banskobystrický kraj
Thonet chairs no.567 by Otto Prutscher for Café Heinrichshof in very nice original condition with signs of use.
Rattan, Beech, Bentwood
$1,535Sale Price / set|20% Off
Josef Hoffmann Armchair – Model No. A 811/F for Thonet
By Thonet, Josef Hoffmann
Located in Budapest, HU
Josef Hoffmann Armchair – Model No. A 811/F for Thonet (1900s) This exquisite armchair, Model No. A 811/F, designed by the renowned architect and designer Josef Hoffmann for Thonet ...
Reed, Beech
Rare Set of Two Bauhaus Armchairs B 246 by Josef Frank for Thonet, 1930s
By Josef Frank, Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
Rare Bauhaus armchairs B 246 designed by Josef Frank and manufactured by Thonet in 1930s. Historically, this model was among those installed in the iconic Villa Rezek in Vienna, buil...
Bentwood
Set of Four Elegant Bentwood Chairs by Bruno Weil for Thonet
By Thonet, Bruno Weil
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Set of four elegant bentwood chairs by Bruno Weil for Thonet, showcasing the timeless craftsmanship and graceful curves that made Thonet a design icon. These chairs feature classic s...
Wood
Early 1900's Thonet Bent Rattan & Wicker Stool
By Thonet
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Early 1900's Thonet rattan and wicker stool, Completely original and in exceptional condition. 15-1/2" square.
Wicker, Rattan
Art Deco Thonet H269 Armchair by Jindřich Halabala
By Thonet
Located in Vienna, AT
Beech bentwood walnut stained armchair made by Thonet in the 1930s. Excellent restored with new seat springs upholstered with Lelievre wool fabric. Another fabric and wood finish o...
Beech, Bentwood
Vienna Secessionist Bentwood Arm Chair by Thonet att. to Josef Hoffman c. 1920's
By Thonet, Josef Hoffmann
Located in New York, NY
Early Vienna Secessionist Movement bentwood arm chair, marked Thonet, design attributed to Jose Hofmann, circa 1920's. Exceptional period piece in very good, ready to use condition, ...
Beech
$1,119Sale Price|20% Off
1950's Mid-Century Modern Walnut Armchair by Thonet
By Thonet
Located in Burbank, CA
Vintage original Midcentury Modern armchair for sale. Manufactured in the 1950's by Thonet, and still has the original tag nicely intact. It has the original naugahyde vinyl upholste...
Naugahyde, Walnut
Mid-Century Modern Set of 4 Thonet Bent Chairs made by ZPM Radomsko
By ZPM Radomsko, Thonet
Located in Prato, IT
This no.18 chair was designed by Gebrüder Thonet around 1875 and was one of the most popular chairs of Thonet. This set of 4 chairs was manufactured by ZPM Radomsko in the 1960s. The...
Rattan, Oak
20th Century Art Nouveau Dining/ Salon Suite with Round Table by Thonet, AT 1910
By Thonet, Otto Wagner
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Absolute exceptional, early 20th century dining suite/ salon suite by Thonet from the Art Nouveau period in Austria around 1910. Attributed to the famous Austrian architect and desig...
Leather, Beech
$1,123Sale Price / set|20% Off
1960s Oswald Haerdtl, Set of 4 Dining Chairs by TON, Czechoslovakia
By Oswald Haerdtl, Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
- Good original condition with minor signs of use - original upholstery with minor sings of use
Fabric, Wood
Anton Lorenz for Thonet Mid Century Chrome Tub Chairs - Pair
By Anton Lorenz, Thonet
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Anton Lorenz for Thonet Mid Century Chrome Tub Chairs - Pair Each chair measures: 28.5 wide x 27 deep x 29.25 inches high, with a seat height of 17 ...
Chrome
$5,850
Art Nouveau Thonet Chair
By Thonet
Located in Hronská Breznica, Banskobystrický kraj
Art nouveau Thonet chair.
Beech, Bentwood
Thonet, rare pair of chairs, early 1900s
By Thonet
Located in Uppsala, SE
Rare pair of bentwood chairs manufactured by Thonet in the early 20th century. Both chairs have a nice faux painted wood finish that is early but most likely not original to the chai...
Bentwood
Early Thonet S533 RF Cane Weißenhof Armchair Chair Mies van der Rohe Set of 2
By Thonet, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Located in Munich, Bavaria
These Cantilever vintage armchairs are Bauhaus classics and were designed by Mies van der Rohe and knowned by the name Weißenhof Chair.This pair were produced by Thonet with the Model name S533 RF. 3 license holders are producing this chair today. As well as Knoll International MR10. Tecta B42 and this 2 Thonet S533...
Steel, Chrome
Large Secession Armchair no.6549 by Josef Hoffmann for Thonet
By Josef Hoffmann, Thonet
Located in Hronská Breznica, Banskobystrický kraj
Large secession armchair no.6549 by Josef Hoffmann for Thonet professionally stained and repolished. Marked on the bottom.
Bentwood
$1,872Sale Price / set|20% Off
Anton Lorenz for Thonet "Ss33" Set of 4 chrome Armchairs in blue fabric , 1970s
By Thonet, Anton Lorenz
Located in Praha, CZ
Seat Height 48 chrome polished solid construction good condition
Chrome
Jil Sander for Thonet S 64 P Nordic 02 in White Oak and Burnt Walnut Leather
By Thonet
Located in Tilburg, NL
Jil Sander for Thonet S 64 P Nordic in oak and Leather. New, current production. With the JS . THONET signature collection, she has taken the most famous t...
Steel
$1,123 / set
Bentwood dining chairs by Thonet
By Thonet
Located in Hronská Breznica, Banskobystrický kraj
Bentwood dining chairs by Thonet in very nice original condition with signs of use.
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
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...
Bentwood
$674Sale Price|20% Off
1970s Antonin Suman Chair by TON in Kirkby Fabric
By Thonet, Antonín Šuman
Located in Praha, CZ
- Carefully refurbished - Newly upholstered in Zinc luxury fabric :SOL silver grey
Fabric, Wood