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.
4 Dining Chairs, with original labels (Restoration at the client's choice)
By Thonet
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
4 Chairs Made for Argentina by Thonet. It is verified on the label that it has the word Manufacturing in Spanish (Fabricacion Checo-Eslovaca) / Thonet Delivered restored at the custo...
Wood
Set of Six Dining Chairs by Walter Gropius and Ben Thompson for Thonet
By Ben Thompson, Thonet, Walter Gropius
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
12 Dining Chairs, Manufactured for export in Argentina, with original labels
By Thonet
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, C
12 Chairs Made for Argentina by Thonet. It is verified on the label that it has the word Manufacturing in Spanish (Fabricacion Checo-Eslovaca) / Thonet Delivered restored at the cust...
Wood
$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
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
Set of Two '2' Bentwood Slipper Chairs in Original Fabric by Thonet, USA, 1940s
By Thonet
Located in Deland, FL
Comfort. Vintage fabric. Captivating bentwood legs. These two slipper chairs are the perfect addition to any space needing a pop of color and/or a minimal footprint. The original yel...
Fabric
$800Sale Price / item|20% Off
S 32 Cantilever Thonet Side Chair
By Thonet, Mart Stam
Located in Pasadena, TX
S 32 Cantilever Thonet side chair S 32 Cantilever chair combines the tubular steel frame with leather upholstered seat and backrest for comfort. Price for 1...
Chrome
$3,445Sale 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
1930s Thonet Restored Armchair, Czechoslovakia
By Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
- carefully refurbished and finished in shellac - Newly upholstered - Labeled - Heigh of seat 49 cm
Fabric, Wood
Modernist Thonet A 745/F Armchair manufactured by Tatra, Stained Wood, c. 1930
By Thonet, Tatra
Located in Berlin, DE
Modernist armchair modell A 745/F in stained bentwood designed by Thonet and manufactured under Thonet licence by Tatra, Slovakia, c. 1930.
Bentwood
Thonet Model No. 511 Bentwood Armchair, Vienna Secession, circa 1904
By Thonet, Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH
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 ...
Bentwood, Cane, Beech
Thonet Bentwood and Rattan Rocking Chaise Model 7500
By Thonet
Located in Madrid, ES
Rare Thonet bentwood rocking chaise lounge chair with cane seat. The design of the rocking chaise model no. 7500 is attributed to August Thonet. Initially it was made without armrest...
Rattan, Bentwood, Cane
Secession desk chair no.6095 by Otto Wagner for Thonet
By Otto Wagner, Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Secession desk chair no.6095 by Otto Wagner for Thonet. Professionally stained and repolished.
Brass
$1,378Sale Price / set|41% Off
Thonet 210R & 214RF beech bentwood webbing chairs, set of 2
By Michael Thonet, Thonet
Located in Zevenaar, NL
This set of 2 Thonet classics contains two classics: The Thonet 210R and the Thonet 214RF. The Thonet 210R was the favorite chair of le Corbusier and many other architects and desig...
Beech, Rattan
Michael Thonet Sofa Bench NR22
By Thonet, Michael Thonet
Located in Chicago, IL
Michael Thonet Sofa Bench Kanapee Sittee NR22 First original form, produced 1889-1890 Cane replaced with mohair Seat Height: 20.5"
Mohair, Beech
1960s Beech Armchair by TON, Czechoslovakia
By Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
- carefully refurbished - Newly reupholstered - high of seat 48 cm
Beech, Fabric
1970s Antonin Suman Chair By TON
By Thonet, Antonín Šuman
Located in Praha, CZ
- Carefully refurbished - Newly reupholstered - Height of seat 47 cm
Fabric, Wood
Rare Pair Plywood Arm Chairs by Joe Atkinson for Thonet NY / Modernist
By Joe Atkinson, Thonet
Located in Buffalo, NY
This pair of vintage mid century modern bent plywood (Lounge) armchairs were designed by Joe Atkinson and manufactured by Thonet Industries in the United States circa 1950. This uniq...
Beech, Bentwood, Plywood
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe "MR10" by Thonet Set 3 Chair
By Thonet, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Located in Firenze, FI
MR10 chairs, designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and produced by Thonet in Germany in the 1960s. The structure is made of chromed tubular steel, bent with exceptional technical pre...
Steel
Pair of Stacking Chairs by Karl Schwanzer, Thonet, Austria, 1950s
By Thonet, Karl Schwanzer
Located in Hausmannstätten, AT
A rare set of two Viennese stacking chairs made of brown stained wood designed by Austrian architect Prof. Karl Schwanzer and manufactured by Thonet in the 1950s. This chair was des...
Beech
$1,148 / set
Bentwood dining chairs by Thonet
By Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Bentwood dining chairs by Thonet in very nice original condition with signs of use.
Beech, Bentwood
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
Otto Wagner For Thonet Bentwood Armchair No. 6048, Austria, C. 1900
By Thonet, Otto Wagner
Located in Zohor, SK
Fully restored bentwood armchair produced by Thonet and designed by Otto Wagner circa 1900, catalogued as model No. 6048. A refined example of early modern Viennese design, combining...
Bentwood, Plywood
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
Pair Thonet Side Chairs Scalloped and Ribbed Open Back and Bronze Nail Heads
By Thonet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A stunning pair of Thonet Chairs. A departure from the traditional bentwood framework, this frame features a bentwood leg, however the draw is an open scallop back with ribbed Chann...
Wrought Iron
$2,153 / set
Set of 4 dining chairs by Thonet Debrecen
By Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Set of 4 dining chairs by Thonet Debrecen in very nice original condition.
Beech, Bentwood
Bentwood dining chair no.19 by Thonet
By Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Bentwood dining chair no.19 by Thonet. Professionally stained and repolished.
Rattan, Beech, Bentwood
Vintage Czech Art Deco Lounge Chairs by Thonet, Circa 1930-1940
By Thonet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A sculptural, vintage pair of Czech Art Deco lounge chairs made of hand crafted polished bent Beechwood and Walnut, produced by Thonet in good condition. The detailed low club chairs...
Fabric, Bouclé, Upholstery, Beech, Walnut, Bentwood
$7,160Sale Price / set|20% Off
Set of 6, Mid Century Cow Hide Upholstered Bentwood Chairs by Thonet, 1950s
By Thonet
Located in Basel, BS
These make an incredible opportunity for a complete rare hard to find set of beautiful early American Made, Mid Century Thonet chairs after Eames. Stunning, very cool authentic Bruno Weil...
Bentwood, Cowhide
Set of 4 Thonet bent beech chairs, Austria, early 1900s
By Jacob & Josef Kohn, Thonet
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
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
Bauhaus chair no.811 by Josef Hoffmann
By Thonet, Josef Hoffmann
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Bauhaus chair no.811 by Josef Hoffmann for Thonet in very nice original condition with signs of use.
Rattan, Beech, Bentwood
$1,914 / set
Set of 3 Thonet Style Bar Stools, Italy 60s
By Thonet
Located in Lucija, SI
Set of three mid century bar stools in Thonet style. Handmade seats Made in Italy in the 60s
Cane, Bentwood
R.C. Coquery French Art Deco Tubular Chrome Arm Chair
By R. C. Coquery, Thonet
Located in Queens, NY
French Art Deco tubular chrome arm chair with black leather upholstered seat and back cushion (designed by R.C. COQUERY for THONET, Model #B 256 lounge chair, 1929).
Chrome
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
Beautiful Set of 3 Thonet Wood Garden Chair 'Gartensessel No. 4', circa 1900
By Thonet
Located in Steinheim am Albuch, BW
Timeless and rare set of three solid wooden Thonet garden chairs made in Austria. The garden chair no. 4 has a knotted structure which was first designed by Gebrüder Thonet in the l...
Wood
$5,742 / set
Rare bentwood armchairs by Thonet
By Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Rare bentwood armchairs by Thonet. Professionally stained and repolished.
Beech, 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
1951 W199 Dining Armchair by Walter Gropius and Ben Thompson for Thonet in Birch
By Walter Gropius, Thonet, Ben Thompson
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a W199 Dining Armchair, originally designed by Walter Gropius and Ben Thompson for Thonet in 1951. The chair was produced in Austria in the early 1950s. The design features b...
Birch, Nutwood
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 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...
Bentwood
Thonet Bauhaus Brno Style Chairs Chrome & Cognac Leather Cantilever Set of 12
By Lilly Reich, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Thonet
Located in Topeka, KS
Phenomenal Bauhaus style Thonet chrome tube cantilever frame & cognac leather armchairs in the style of Brno chair by Mies van der Rohe, & Lilly Reich, set of 12. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that these are vintage and not new so will have signs of use and wear. There is a bit of “stretch” in the leather of some of the seats from wear, but we think it gives the leather a good comfy look and feel. Please see photos and zoom in for details. We attempt to portray any imperfections. Circa, Late 20th to Early 21st Century, designed 1928-1930. We have A DOZEN reasons for you to check out this listing!!! This is a GORGEOUS set of TWELVE Modern Thonet Bauhaus or Art Deco style armchairs comprised of chrome tube cantilever frames and cognac leather seats & backs, and they are in the style of the Brno chair by Mies van der Rohe, & Lilly Reich. What a history this chair design holds!! The actual construction & design for the Brno chair by Thonet...
Chrome
Italian mid-century big beech wood and Vienna straw Thonet chairs, 1950s
By Thonet
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian mid-century big beech wood and Vienna straw Thonet chairs, 1950s. Large chairs or armchairs with armrests in Thonet style, with Vienna straw seat and curved armrests and with...
Straw, Beech
Thonet chairs no.567 by Otto Prutscher for Café Heinrichshof
By Thonet, Otto Prutscher
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Thonet chairs no.567 by Otto Prutscher for Café Heinrichshof in very nice original condition with signs of use.
Rattan, Beech, Bentwood
Thonet S 411 Tubular Steel Cantilever Armchair, Germany, circa 1935
By Thonet
Located in Berlin, DE
Thonet S 411 tubular steel cantilever armchair with fabric upholstery, designed by the Thonet Company in 1932. This original tubular steel cantilever armch...
Steel, Chrome
Thonet rocking chair model no. 4, 1920'S
By Thonet
Located in LYON, FR
Thonet rocking chair model no. 4. Circa 1920. Curved beech wood rocking chair from the 1920s by Thonet. Model number 4. Beautiful Art Nouveau lines. Recent cane work, well stretche...
Wood
$3,110 / set
Set of 4 Thonet dining chairs no.164
By Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Set of 4 Thonet dining chairs no.164. Professionally stained and repolished.
Beech, 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
$3,110 / set
Set of 4 dining room chairs by Thonet Mundus
By Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Set of 4 dining room chairs by Thonet Mundus. Professionally stained and repolished.
Beech, Bentwood
1950s Le Corbusier Jeanneret Perriand LC1 Basculant Lounge Chair Stendig Label
By Thonet, Pierre Jeanneret, Charlotte Perriand, Le Corbusier
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an original 1950s LC1 Basculant Sling Lounge Chair, initially designed by Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret and Charlotte Perriand in 1929. This example is marked with a Stendig...
Steel
Thonet Chrome Tubular Steel Armchairs, Leather Upholstery, Customisable, c. 1935
By Thonet
Located in Berlin, DE
Thonet S 411 tubular steel cantilever armchairs in leather upholstery, designed and manufactured by Thonet, c. 1935. This original tubular steel cantil...
Steel, Chrome
Austrian antique wooden Thonet armchair with Vienna straw, early 1900s
By Thonet
Located in MIlano, IT
Austrian antique wooden Thonet armchair with Vienna straw, early 1900s Chair with rounded seat in Vienna straw. The structure is entirely made of wood with a round section. The backr...
Straw, Wood
Thonet Piano Stool 1900s
By Thonet
Located in Čelinac, BA
Thonet Piano Stool 1900s
Wood
Pair of Stendig Prague Armchairs by Josef Hoffman
By Thonet, Stendig Co., Josef Hoffmann
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Classic and iconic Prague armchairs designed by Josef Hoffmann for Thonet. Imported from Czechoslovakia by Stendig in the 1960s. Wood in good shape. Original cane needs to be redone ...
Cane, Bentwood
Set of six Thonet Chairs No. 14, Vienna straw seat, shellac finish
By Thonet
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Stable, beautiful, ergonomic, space-saving They have a "metal reinforcement" option that allows them to last in excellent condition. Seat height: 47 cm - Seat diameter 41 cm - Total...
Beech
Pair of 1930's Thonet Bentwood Armchairs in the style of Alvar Aalto
By Thonet
Located in Chicago, IL
This lovely pair of 1930's Thonet bentwood lounge chairs was recently reupholstered in an amazing performance fabric from HBF textiles (Merci Boucle in their Du Jour colorway). The ...
Upholstery, Bentwood
$1,569Sale Price / set|20% Off
Josef Hoffmann Armchair – Model No. A 811/F for Thonet
By Josef Hoffmann, Thonet
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
G80 Deck Chair - Thonet, 1930s by Hans Luckhardt
By Hans & Wassili Luckhardt, Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
- Good condition. - wooden parts refreshed - new textile - marked by manufacturer
Wood, Textile
Jil Sander for Thonet S 64 P Nordic 04 in White Oak and Webbing
By Thonet
Located in Tilburg, NL
Jil Sander for Thonet S 64 P Nordic in oak and webbing. New, current production. With the JS . THONET signature collection, she has taken the most famous t...
Steel
$3,257Sale Price|30% Off
Bentwood Cane Salonfauteuil Easy Chair Thonet No. 1, circa 1890
By Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH, Thonet
Located in Lucenec, SK
Very rare antique Thonet easy chair no 1 produced by Gebruder Thonet from the late 19th century in a very good condition with new cane on seat, cane ...
Cane, Bentwood