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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
Targa Petit Light blue velvet Armchair
Targa Petit Light blue velvet Armchair

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...

Category

2010s Italian Thonet Seating

Materials

Wood

Set of 4 Thonet No 4  "Cafe Daum" Benwood Chairs by Salvatore Leone, Circa 1960s
Set of 4 Thonet No 4  "Cafe Daum" Benwood Chairs by Salvatore Leone, Circa 1960s

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

Set of Six Dining Chairs by Thonet Industries, Inc., American, circa 1970
Set of Six Dining Chairs by Thonet Industries, Inc., American, circa 1970

Set of Six Dining Chairs by Thonet Industries, Inc., American, circa 1970

By Thonet

Located in Palm Desert, CA

A striking set of six armchairs by Thonet Industries, the American arm of the legendary Thonet firm, executed in polished tubular chrome steel with newly upholstered seats and curved...

Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Chrome

Set of Four Elegant Bentwood Chairs by Bruno Weil for Thonet
Set of Four Elegant Bentwood Chairs by Bruno Weil for Thonet

Set of Four Elegant Bentwood Chairs by Bruno Weil for Thonet

By Bruno Weil, Thonet

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...

Category

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

Materials

Wood

2er Set KS 46 Midcentury Sessel Thonet Anton Lorenz Leder schwarz
2er Set KS 46 Midcentury Sessel Thonet Anton Lorenz Leder schwarz

2er Set KS 46 Midcentury Sessel Thonet Anton Lorenz Leder schwarz

By Thonet, Anton Lorenz

Located in Berlin, DE

Wir bieten zwei wunderschöne Vintage Freischwinger von Thonet zum Verkauf an. Der Entwurf stammt von Anton Lorenz aus dem Jahr 1932 und gilt dank seiner zeitlosen Formgebung als wahr...

Category

1990s German Mid-Century Modern Thonet Seating

Materials

Chrome, Steel

Thonet Black Bentwood Stool, Cane & Wood, Art Deco Style, Europe, 1920
Thonet Black Bentwood Stool, Cane & Wood, Art Deco Style, Europe, 1920

Thonet Black Bentwood Stool, Cane & Wood, Art Deco Style, Europe, 1920

By Thonet

Located in Linkebeek, BE

Thonet black bentwood stool - 20th Thonet - Side Stool - Mid-Century Measures : Ø 42cm H:47cm Materials : Wood - Cane Manufacturer’s mark stamped under th...

Category

20th Century European Art Deco Thonet Seating

Materials

Cane, Bentwood

Thonet armchair with original period leather, label.
Thonet armchair with original period leather, label.

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...

Category

1920s German Art Nouveau Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Metal

1970s Antonin Suman Chair by TON in Zinc Fabric
1970s Antonin Suman Chair by TON in Zinc Fabric

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

Category

1970s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Thonet S 33 Vintage brown saddle leather chair Mart Stam Cantilever, Set of 4
Thonet S 33 Vintage brown saddle leather chair Mart Stam Cantilever, Set of 4

Thonet S 33 Vintage brown saddle leather chair Mart Stam Cantilever, Set of 4

By Mart Stam, Thonet

Located in Munich, Bavaria

Thonet Mart Stam S33 chair made by Thonet. The Classic Bauhaus chair. Frame chrome-plated tubular steel, thick saddle maroon brown leather. Beautiful Vintage Condition. The saddle l...

Category

Mid-20th Century German Bauhaus Thonet Seating

Materials

Steel, Chrome

Set of Ten Dining Chairs by Anton Lorenz for Thonet
Set of Ten Dining Chairs by Anton Lorenz for Thonet

Set of Ten Dining Chairs by Anton Lorenz for Thonet

By Thonet, Anton Lorenz

Located in Dallas, TX

Set of ten armchairs designed by Anton Lorenz for Thonet. Each chair has tan upholstered backrest and seat with polished chrome tubular frames. Mid-Century Modern S-37 chairs were originally designed by Anton Lorenz in 1929 and later manufactured by Gebruder Thonet in the 1970s. In 1929 Anton Lorenz founded the firm Desta (Deutsche Stahlmobel) in Berlin making Anton Lorenz the first to manufacture tubular-steel furniture on a commercial scale.

Category

1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Chrome

Rare Vienna Secession Bent Oak & Caine Children's High Chair by Thonet
Rare Vienna Secession Bent Oak & Caine Children's High Chair by Thonet

Rare Vienna Secession Bent Oak & Caine Children's High Chair by Thonet

By Thonet

Located in Van Nuys, CA

A rare Vienna Secession children's or doll's high chair by Thonet, crafted from beautifully bent oak with a hand-woven cane seat. Featuring elegant flowing lines, a curved ladder-bac...

Category

Early 1900s German Vienna Secession Antique Thonet Seating

Materials

Oak

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe "MR10" by Thonet Set 3 Chair
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe "MR10" by Thonet Set 3 Chair

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...

Category

1960s German Bauhaus Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Steel

Thonet Model No. 511 Bentwood Armchair, Vienna Secession, circa 1904
Thonet Model No. 511 Bentwood Armchair, Vienna Secession, circa 1904

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 Thonet Seating

Materials

Bentwood, Cane, Beech

Original 4er Set Thonet S320 Stapelstuhl Böhme Schneider blau
Original 4er Set Thonet S320 Stapelstuhl Böhme Schneider blau

Original 4er Set Thonet S320 Stapelstuhl Böhme Schneider blau

By Thonet, Wulf Schneider, Ulrich Bohme

Located in Berlin, DE

Wir bieten eins von insgesamt drei wunderschönen 4er Set Thonet Freischwingern zum Verkauf an. Bei den Stühlen handelt es sich um das Modell S320, das stapelbar ist und von Ulrich Bö...

Category

1980s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Thonet Chrome Lounge Chairs designed by Anton Lorenz
Thonet Chrome Lounge Chairs designed by Anton Lorenz

Thonet Chrome Lounge Chairs designed by Anton Lorenz

By Anton Lorenz, Thonet

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Pair of Anton Lorenz for Thonet Furniture Chrome Barrel Chairs. Newly reupholstered and ready to go! Nice size and scale!

Category

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

Materials

Chrome

Twelve Sleek Chrome Dining Chairs by Anton Lorenz for Thonet
Twelve Sleek Chrome Dining Chairs by Anton Lorenz for Thonet

Twelve Sleek Chrome Dining Chairs by Anton Lorenz for Thonet

By Anton Lorenz, Thonet

Located in Dallas, TX

This attractive set of twelve, designed by the legendary Anton Lorenz. The man who brought tubular steel furniture to the masses. The classic bauhaus design features a sleek, sculptu...

Category

1970s North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Chrome

Austrian modern black wooden chairs by Ernst W. Beranek for Thonet, 1990s
Austrian modern black wooden chairs by Ernst W. Beranek for Thonet, 1990s

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 ...

Category

1990s Austrian Modern Thonet Seating

Materials

Metal

'1' Thonet Anton Lorenz Cantilevered Chrome Armchair
'1' Thonet Anton Lorenz Cantilevered Chrome Armchair

'1' Thonet Anton Lorenz Cantilevered Chrome Armchair

By Anton Lorenz, Thonet

Located in Pasadena, TX

(1 ) Thonet Lorenz arm chair The Lorenz arm chair was designed by Anton Lorenz in 1929 and manufactured by Thonet. In 1929 Anton Lorenz founded the firm Desta (Deutsche Stahlmöbel) in Berlin making Anton Lorenz the first to manufacture tubular-steel furniture on a commercial scale...

Category

1920s European Bauhaus Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Chrome

1984 Thonet S320 Armchairs by Schneider & Böhme, Gray Upholstery, Pair
1984 Thonet S320 Armchairs by Schneider & Böhme, Gray Upholstery, Pair

1984 Thonet S320 Armchairs by Schneider & Böhme, Gray Upholstery, Pair

By Wulf Schneider, Thonet, Ulrich Bohme

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Wulf Schneider and Ulrich Böhme designed the S320 for Thonet in 1984, creating a chair that balances form with function through its distinctive cantilever construction. The tubular s...

Category

1980s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Chrome

Thonet Armchairs by Otto Wagner
Thonet Armchairs by Otto Wagner

Thonet Armchairs by Otto Wagner

By Otto Wagner, Thonet

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

Bauhaus Style S3002 Tub Sofa by Christoph Zschoke for Thonet, 2000s
Bauhaus Style S3002 Tub Sofa by Christoph Zschoke for Thonet, 2000s

Bauhaus Style S3002 Tub Sofa by Christoph Zschoke for Thonet, 2000s

By Thonet

Located in Amsterdam, NL

Stunning and elegant Bauhaus style S3002 sofa. Design by Christoph Zschoke for Thonet. Striking German design from the 2000s. Original plywood and tubular steel frame, reupholstered ...

Category

Early 2000s German Bauhaus Thonet Seating

Materials

Chrome

1960s Cinema 5-Seats Bench by TON, Czechoslovakia
1960s Cinema 5-Seats Bench by TON, Czechoslovakia

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.

Category

1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Wood

1960s Beech Armchair by TON, Czechoslovakia
1960s Beech Armchair by TON, Czechoslovakia

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

Thonet chair
Thonet chair

Thonet chair

By Thonet

Located in Hronská Breznica, Banskobystrický kraj

Professionally stained and repolished Thonet chair with new handmade rattan seat.

Category

1910s Vienna Secession Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Fabric, Rattan, Beech, Bentwood

Early 20th Century Bentwood Thonet Dining Chairs, Set of 8, Upholstered in Dedar
Early 20th Century Bentwood Thonet Dining Chairs, Set of 8, Upholstered in Dedar

Early 20th Century Bentwood Thonet Dining Chairs, Set of 8, Upholstered in Dedar

By Thonet

Located in Portland, ME

New York, circa 1940s A set of eight bentwood original Thonet Industries dining chairs and made in the style of Jacob and Joseph Kohn. The chairs feature curved bentwood frames with...

Category

1940s American Art Deco Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Cotton, Linen, Bentwood

Bentwood "Angel Back" armchair nr.19 by Thonet
Bentwood "Angel Back" armchair nr.19 by Thonet

Bentwood "Angel Back" armchair nr.19 by Thonet

By Thonet

Located in Hronská Breznica, Banskobystrický kraj

Up for sale is a beautiful and highly collectible antique bentwood armchair, manufactured by the legendary company Thonet (circa 1900–1920). This model is famously known as the "Ange...

Category

Early 1900s Slovak Vienna Secession Antique Thonet Seating

Materials

Rattan, Beech, Bentwood

Vintage Wicker and Chrome THONET MR20 Ludwig Mies van der Rohe MR20 armchairs
Vintage Wicker and Chrome THONET MR20 Ludwig Mies van der Rohe MR20 armchairs

Vintage Wicker and Chrome THONET MR20 Ludwig Mies van der Rohe MR20 armchairs

By Thonet, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

Located in Highclere, Newbury

A pair of vintage natural cane, Wicker and chrome MR20 Ludwig Mies van der Rohe MR20 armchairs for Thonet. The MR20 (the armchair version of the MR10) is a hallmark of Bauhaus and M...

Category

Mid-20th Century German Bauhaus Thonet Seating

Materials

Chrome

Thonet Nr. 1 Black Lacquered Bentwood Piano Stools with Cane Seats
Thonet Nr. 1 Black Lacquered Bentwood Piano Stools with Cane Seats

Thonet Nr. 1 Black Lacquered Bentwood Piano Stools with Cane Seats

By Thonet

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Nr.1 Piano stools by Thonet feature black-lacquered bent wood frames with height-adjustable cane seats. Each stool showcases the distinctive steam-bent construction Thonet pioneered,...

Category

1920s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Metal

Jil Sander for Thonet S 64 P Serious 01 in Lacquered Wood an Black Leather
Jil Sander for Thonet S 64 P Serious 01 in Lacquered Wood an Black Leather

Jil Sander for Thonet S 64 P Serious 01 in Lacquered Wood an Black Leather

By Thonet

Located in Tilburg, NL

Jil Sander for Thonet S 64 P Serious 01 in Lacquered Wood an Black Leather. New, current production. With the JS . THONET signature collection, she has tak...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary German Bauhaus Thonet Seating

Materials

Steel

Adolf Schneck, rare A 64 F Bentwood armhair for Thonet, 1929
Adolf Schneck, rare A 64 F Bentwood armhair for Thonet, 1929

Adolf Schneck, rare A 64 F Bentwood armhair for Thonet, 1929

By Gustav Adolf Schneck, Thonet

Located in Uppsala, Uppsala

Rare armchair by Adolf Schneck (sometimes wrongly attributed to Josef Hoffmann) designed in 1929 and made by Thonet. This model was exhibited at the Viennese Art and Industry show du...

Category

1930s Austrian Bauhaus Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Beech, Bentwood

Austrian post-modern red leather and black wood chair by Thonet, 1990s
Austrian post-modern red leather and black wood chair by Thonet, 1990s

Austrian post-modern red leather and black wood chair by Thonet, 1990s

By Thonet

Located in MIlano, IT

Austrian post-modern red leather and black wood chair by Thonet, 1990s Chair with square seat covered in bright red leather with black lacquered wooden structure, with matt finish. T...

Category

1990s Austrian Post-Modern Thonet Seating

Materials

Leather, Wood

Set Of 8 Mid-Century Modern Dining Chairs By Thonet
Set Of 8 Mid-Century Modern Dining Chairs By Thonet

Set Of 8 Mid-Century Modern Dining Chairs By Thonet

By Thonet

Located in Brooklyn, NY

This set of eight mid-century modern, customized maple and leather dining chairs by Thonet feature a classic profile that epitomizes a timeless aesthetic. The design is characterized...

Category

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

Materials

Leather, Maple

Thonet Bentwood Bistro Chair, Czechoslovakia 1940s
Thonet Bentwood Bistro Chair, Czechoslovakia 1940s

Thonet Bentwood Bistro Chair, Czechoslovakia 1940s

By Thonet

Located in Zohor, SK

Beautiful vintage chair designed by Thonet. Bentwood details and construction makes this piece a timeless item. Plywood seat and backrest. Strong oak wood. The chair was partially re...

Category

1940s Czech Bauhaus Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Oak, Bentwood, Plywood

Great Set of 14 Armchairs by Thonet, Austria Josef Hoffmann Design
Great Set of 14 Armchairs by Thonet, Austria Josef Hoffmann Design

Great Set of 14 Armchairs by Thonet, Austria Josef Hoffmann Design

By Josef Hoffmann, Thonet

Located in Rome, IT

Set of 14 armchairs by Thonet, Austria The chairs were a part of a set made on order for a Villa in Götzens, Tirol, Austria Designer: Josef Hoffmann Materials : Steamed bent beechwo...

Category

20th Century Austrian Art Deco Thonet Seating

Materials

Beech, Ebony

Thonet Bauhaus White Vinyl & Chrome Model SS33 Cantilever Barstool Anton Lorenz
Thonet Bauhaus White Vinyl & Chrome Model SS33 Cantilever Barstool Anton Lorenz

Thonet Bauhaus White Vinyl & Chrome Model SS33 Cantilever Barstool Anton Lorenz

By Thonet, Anton Lorenz

Located in Topeka, KS

Fabulous vintage white vinyl & chrome tube barstool by Thonet Model SS33 Bauhaus cantilever chair by Anton Lorenz. This piece is tagged Thonet but has been attributed to Anton Lorenz based upon archived research including online sources, vintage documentation and catalogs, designer literature, and other materials. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that this is vintage and not new so will have signs of use and wear even if it has been refinished or restored. Specifically, there is a stain on the seat vinyl that we have tried many things to remove to no avail. 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, 1980’s but designed circa 1930’s. Did someone say Thonet?? Yes, we sure did!! This is a fabulous labeled Thonet cantilever barstool circa 1980’s. It is in the style of the model SS33 Bauhaus cantilever chair designed in the 1930’s for Thonet by famed designer Anton Lorenz. The chair design was later adapted to create this wonderful barstool! It is comprised of a chrome tube cantilever frame, black block stabilizers on the base, and white vinyl seats and back rests. A simple, stunning, and oh-so-comfortable design! It is the perfect stool for your kitchen, bar, or rec room whether you live in a Bauhaus or mid-century modern home, an industrial loft, or Art Deco style home. It’s a classic, sleek style that has stood the test of time!! If you’ve been searching for a barstool or just the right extra seating, this stool is exactly what you’ve been looking for! 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. Anton Lorenz was known as the man behind the Bauhaus’ “machined aesthetic.” He was born in Budapest in 1891, became a teacher, and later married an opera singer, and entered a lock manufacturing business. They relocated to Berlin in the early 1920’s. in Berlin he met architects Marcel Breuer and Kalman Lengyel who were both associated with Bauhaus in Dessau. Breuer became the first designer to construct furniture out of tubular steel, joined forces with Lengyel and found a manufacturing company and Anton Lorenz became manager. He was business savvy and obtained patents to establish a network of rights for new tubular steel furniture and would go on to do the same for Desta and Thonet who dominated the industry. In 1939 Lorenz emigrated to the United States where he established the design technology for the well-known recliner. He developed his own design in 1940 called the BarcaLounger and later partnered with Morris Futorian...

Category

20th Century American Bauhaus Thonet Seating

Materials

Chrome

Set of 4 dining room chairs by Thonet Mundus
Set of 4 dining room chairs by Thonet Mundus

Set of 4 dining room chairs by Thonet Mundus

By Thonet

Located in Hronská Breznica, Banskobystrický kraj

Set of 4 dining room chairs by Thonet Mundus. Professionally stained and repolished.

Category

1930s Austrian Vienna Secession Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Beech, Bentwood

Four Thonet White and Chrome Cantilever Dining Chairs
Four Thonet White and Chrome Cantilever Dining Chairs

Four Thonet White and Chrome Cantilever Dining Chairs

By Thonet

Located in Chicago, IL

An early design of tubular chromed steel cantilevered frames, updated in this 1970s version. Single piece of tubular chromed bent steel, wood framed seat and back covered in white le...

Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Steel, Chrome

1960s Desk or Side Bentwood Chair by Ton, Czechoslovakia
1960s Desk or Side Bentwood Chair by Ton, Czechoslovakia

1960s Desk or Side Bentwood Chair by Ton, Czechoslovakia

By Thonet

Located in Praha, CZ

- Carefully refurbished - Newly upholstered - beech wood - armrests Dimension: 44 cm

Category

1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Wood, Beech, Bentwood

Thonet Design Bentwood Bar Stool No. 73 By Ton, 1950s
Thonet Design Bentwood Bar Stool No. 73 By Ton, 1950s

Thonet Design Bentwood Bar Stool No. 73 By Ton, 1950s

By TON a.s., Thonet

Located in Zohor, SK

Elegant mid-century bar stools, model No. 73, produced by TON in the tradition of classic Thonet design. Beautifully crafted from bentwood, showcasing graceful curves, lightness, and...

Category

1950s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Fabric, Bentwood

Arts and Craft Art Nouveau Set of 8 Bentwood Chairs Signed Thonet, 1900
Arts and Craft Art Nouveau Set of 8 Bentwood Chairs Signed Thonet, 1900

Arts and Craft Art Nouveau Set of 8 Bentwood Chairs Signed Thonet, 1900

By Thonet

Located in Saarbruecken, DE

Set of 8 Thonet chairs, bentwood with viennese braid. all signed. As found condition. All chairs a solid and stable. 4 of the braids are perf...

Category

Early 1900s Spanish Art Nouveau Antique Thonet Seating

Materials

Bentwood, Braid

Set of 4 Thonet Chairs designed by Jacob & Josef Kohn, Model No. 380, 1930s
Set of 4 Thonet Chairs designed by Jacob & Josef Kohn, Model No. 380, 1930s

Set of 4 Thonet Chairs designed by Jacob & Josef Kohn, Model No. 380, 1930s

By Thonet

Located in Wrocław, Poland

Exceptional original set of four chairs, model no. 380, originally designed by Jacob & Josef Kohn in 1906. The presented set was produced in Vienna after 1922, following the acqu...

Category

1930s Austrian Vienna Secession Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Bentwood

1960s Pair of Ton/Thonet Beech Armchairs, Czechoslovakia
1960s Pair of Ton/Thonet Beech Armchairs, Czechoslovakia

1960s Pair of Ton/Thonet Beech Armchairs, Czechoslovakia

By Thonet

Located in Praha, CZ

- Newly upholstered - wooden parts have been repolished.

Category

1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Fabric

Jil Sander for Thonet S 64 P Nordic 02 in White Oak and Burnt Walnut Leather
Jil Sander for Thonet S 64 P Nordic 02 in White Oak and Burnt Walnut Leather

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...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary German Bauhaus Thonet Seating

Materials

Steel

Émile Guillot - Thonet - Model B257 chrome bauhaus chair
Émile Guillot - Thonet - Model B257 chrome bauhaus chair

Émile Guillot - Thonet - Model B257 chrome bauhaus chair

By Emile Guillot, Thonet

Located in Praha, CZ

- 1930s - marked by manufacturer - chrome in very good condition with patina - original screws - rare and early piece, collectible - original black colour - small hole on the seat jr

Category

1920s French Bauhaus Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Steel, Chrome

Jil Sander for Thonet S 64 P Nordic 03 in White Oak and White Alabaster Leather
Jil Sander for Thonet S 64 P Nordic 03 in White Oak and White Alabaster Leather

Jil Sander for Thonet S 64 P Nordic 03 in White Oak and White Alabaster 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...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary German Bauhaus Thonet Seating

Materials

Steel

Extremely rare armchairs no.6521 by Otto Wagner for Thonet
Extremely rare armchairs no.6521 by Otto Wagner for Thonet

Extremely rare armchairs no.6521 by Otto Wagner for Thonet

By Thonet, Otto Wagner

Located in Hronská Breznica, Banskobystrický kraj

Magnificent and highly sought-after piece of design history: an original Otto Wagner Armchair, Model No. 6521, manufactured by the world-renowned Thonet around 1900-1905. This icon...

Category

Early 1900s Slovak Vienna Secession Antique Thonet Seating

Materials

Beech, Bentwood

Rare Set of Two Bauhaus Armchairs B 246 by Josef Frank for Thonet, 1930s
Rare Set of Two Bauhaus Armchairs B 246 by Josef Frank for Thonet, 1930s

Rare Set of Two Bauhaus Armchairs B 246 by Josef Frank for Thonet, 1930s

By Thonet, Josef Frank

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...

Category

1930s European Bauhaus Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Bentwood

Thonet S 33 Vintage Cognac Vegetal Leather Chair Mart Stam Cantilever 1 of 2
Thonet S 33 Vintage Cognac Vegetal Leather Chair Mart Stam Cantilever 1 of 2

Thonet S 33 Vintage Cognac Vegetal Leather Chair Mart Stam Cantilever 1 of 2

By Mart Stam, Thonet

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. It is a thick saddle vegetal tanned leather t...

Category

Mid-20th Century European Bauhaus Thonet Seating

Materials

Steel, Chrome

Vintage Mid Century Thonet Bentwood Armchairs - a Pair
Vintage Mid Century Thonet Bentwood Armchairs - a Pair

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...

Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe Weißenhof Mr 10 / Mr 533 Chairs Manufactured by Thonet
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe Weißenhof Mr 10 / Mr 533 Chairs Manufactured by Thonet

Ludwig Mies van der Rohe Weißenhof Mr 10 / Mr 533 Chairs Manufactured by Thonet

By Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Thonet

Located in Berlin, DE

A pair of original Weißenhof MR 10 / MR 533 tubular steel chairs, designed in 1927 by Mies van der Rohe and manufactured by Thonet in the 1930s. Chrome-plated tubular steel and black...

Category

1930s German Bauhaus Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Steel

Pair of Thonet Bar Stools with Red Wooden Base and Black Seats, circa 1930s
Pair of Thonet Bar Stools with Red Wooden Base and Black Seats, circa 1930s

Pair of Thonet Bar Stools with Red Wooden Base and Black Seats, circa 1930s

By Thonet, Thonet

Located in Aramits, Nouvelle-Aquitaine

An authentic pair of Thonet stools from the 1930s, marked on the underside with Thonet Logo and certificate. Red painted wooden base with chrome foot support and black faux leather ...

Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Chrome

Art Nouveau Side Chair Designed by Thonet, Austria, 1910
Art Nouveau Side Chair Designed by Thonet, Austria, 1910

Art Nouveau Side Chair Designed by Thonet, Austria, 1910

By Thonet

Located in Antwerp, BE

Classic collectible chair by famous German-Austrian cabinetmaker Michael Thonet. Bentwood frame with hooped legs. The seat is embossed with a decorative floral motif.  

Category

1910s Austrian Art Nouveau Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Bentwood

Bauhaus Style S3002 Tub Sofa by Christoph Zschoke for Thonet, 2000s
Bauhaus Style S3002 Tub Sofa by Christoph Zschoke for Thonet, 2000s

Bauhaus Style S3002 Tub Sofa by Christoph Zschoke for Thonet, 2000s

By Thonet

Located in Amsterdam, NL

Stunning and elegant Bauhaus style S3002 sofa. Design by Christoph Zschoke for Thonet. Striking German design from the 2000s. Original plywood and tubular steel frame, reupholstered ...

Category

Early 2000s German Bauhaus Thonet Seating

Materials

Chrome

Set of four dining chairs produced by Thonet in Czechoslovakia during the 1940s.
Set of four dining chairs produced by Thonet in Czechoslovakia during the 1940s.

Set of four dining chairs produced by Thonet in Czechoslovakia during the 1940s.

By Thonet

Located in Praha, CZ

Set of four dining chairs produced by Thonet in Czechoslovakia during the 1940s. These chairs are crafted from solid beech wood and feature elegant curved backrests with refined prop...

Category

1940s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Seating

Materials

Fabric, Wood, Beech

Dining Chair/Thonet, 1880s
Dining Chair/Thonet, 1880s

Dining Chair/Thonet, 1880s

$1,192Sale Price|20% Off

Dining Chair/Thonet, 1880s

By Thonet

Located in Praha, CZ

- Made in Wien - Made of bentwood, beechwood - Restored - Labeled - Good condition.

Category

1880s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Antique Thonet Seating

Materials

Beech, Bentwood

4 Thonet Chairs, Model Prague No. 811, First Half of the 20th Century
4 Thonet Chairs, Model Prague No. 811, First Half of the 20th Century

4 Thonet Chairs, Model Prague No. 811, First Half of the 20th Century

By Thonet, Josef Hoffmann

Located in Herentals, BE

The chairs were designed by Josef Hoffmann for Thonet around 1920 and executed by FMG - Fabryka Mebli Gietych - in Poland in the first half of the 20th century. They have been reupho...

Category

Early 20th Century Polish Art Deco Thonet Seating

Materials

Fabric, Bentwood

Thonet Sofa No.56
Thonet Sofa No.56

Thonet Sofa No.56

By Thonet, August Thonet

Located in Hronská Breznica, Banskobystrický kraj

Thonet sofa no.56 professionally stained and repolished.

Category

Early 1900s Austrian Vienna Secession Antique Thonet Seating

Materials

Fabric, Bentwood

Postmod 80s Flex 2000  (32 Avail) Stacking Chairs Gerd Lange Thonet Beech -8 pcs
Postmod 80s Flex 2000  (32 Avail) Stacking Chairs Gerd Lange Thonet Beech -8 pcs

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

Marcel Breuer for Thonet B35 Mid Century Chrome and Rattan Lounge Chairs - Pair
Marcel Breuer for Thonet B35 Mid Century Chrome and Rattan Lounge Chairs - Pair

Marcel Breuer for Thonet B35 Mid Century Chrome and Rattan Lounge Chairs - Pair

By Marcel Breuer, Thonet

Located in Franklin Park, IL

Marcel Breuer for Thonet B35 Mid Century Chrome and Rattan Lounge Chairs - Pair Each chair measures: 25.5 wide x 31.5 deep x 32.75 high, with a seat height of 14.5 and arm height/ch...

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Bauhaus Thonet Seating

Materials

Chrome

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 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 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 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 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 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.