Thonet Chairs
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.
1
60
to
5
51
6
60
60
60
20
5
3
2
1
12
179
3
60
78
35
17
8
6
10
7
14
13
17
12
6
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
34
12
3
9
1
4
1
57
40
17
17
13
59
40
11
2
1
60
27
24
22
21
Period: Early 20th Century
Creator: Thonet
Set of 6 Antique Thonet Bent Wood Bistro Chairs w Pattern
By Thonet
Located in New York, NY
Four of these iconic chairs share a classic design, while the two end chairs feature arms. All feature a matching raised pattern. Please see photos. Despite their age, the set remain...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Thonet Chairs
Materials
Bentwood
4x chair J&J Kohn Nr.415, Gustav Siegel, 1906
By Gustav Siegel, Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
"Viennese Art Nouveau, variant of chair no. 415, designed by Gustav Siegl in 1906, manufactured by J&J Kohn.
In beautiful original condition. Solid, ready to be upholstered. Minor ...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Thonet Chairs
Materials
Bentwood
Set of Four Bauhaus Armchair, by Bauhaus, Thonet, Leather, Austria, 1920s
By Bauhaus, Thonet
Located in Horomerice, CZ
According to the original process, our professional refurbishing team in Czechia has restored and reupholstered the item.
The chrome parts have been cleaned and professionally rest...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Bauhaus Thonet Chairs
Materials
Steel, 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 Chairs
Materials
Cane, Beech
Thonet No 19 Chair 1900s
By Thonet
Located in Čelinac, BA
Thonet no19 Chair Austria 1900s
Category
Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Thonet Chairs
Materials
Bentwood
Two Chairs Thonet Nr.19, circa 1900
By Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
Original state with a pleasant patina of age, perfectly cleaned and repolished with shellac. Minor fixes made. The original weaving of the seat has been replaced by plywood seat with...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Belle Époque Thonet Chairs
Materials
Beech, Bentwood
6x Thonet chairs Nr. 157
By Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
In original condition with a beautiful patina of age. Solid and compact. Perfectly cleaned, minor repairs made. Disinsection: Lignofix I-profi. The surface is revived with linseed oi...
Category
Early 20th Century Czech Arts and Crafts Thonet Chairs
Materials
Beech, Bentwood
Early 20th Century Austrian Wooden Curved Chair By Thonet
By Thonet
Located in High Point, NC
Introducing the timeless elegance of the early 20th Century with this exquisite Austrian Curved Chair by Thonet, a masterpiece of craftsmanship and design. Hailing from an era where ...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Thonet Chairs
Materials
Wood, Bentwood
Four Chairs Thonet Nr.19, circa 1900
By Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
Original state with a pleasant patina of age, perfectly cleaned and repolished with shellac. Minor fixes made. The chairs are solid and can be used normally.
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Belle Époque Thonet Chairs
Materials
Beech, Bentwood
Restored Bauhaus Armchair, Marcel Breuer, Thonet, Beech, Chrome, Germany, 1930s
By Marcel Breuer, Thonet
Located in Horomerice, CZ
Restored brown Bauhaus armchair.
Period: 1930-1939
Designer: Marcel Breuer
Maker: Thonet
Source: Germany
Material: Beech, chrome-plated steel, Rattan strings.
Category
Early 20th Century German Bauhaus Thonet Chairs
Materials
Chrome
Rare Chair Thonet Nr.641, since 1911
By Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
Nice condition with a pleasant patine of age, perfectly cleaned and re-polished with shelack finish. New plywood on seat.
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Thonet Chairs
Materials
Brass
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 ...
Category
Early 1900s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Antique Thonet Chairs
Materials
Wood, Bentwood
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...
Category
Early 1900s Austrian Antique Thonet Chairs
Materials
Straw, Wood
Four Chairs Thonet Nr.651, Since 1907
By Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
Original state with a pleasant patina of age, perfectly cleaned and repolished with shellac. One backrest has a crack (fixed with injected glue). Despite the crack, the backrest is f...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Belle Époque Thonet Chairs
Materials
Beech, Bentwood
Thonet chair with arms made of wood and Vienna straw, Austria, early 1900s
By Thonet
Located in MIlano, IT
Thonet chair with wood and straw arms from Vienna, Austria, early 1900s.
Thonet chair with arms and frame made entirely of walnut wood and with a new, handmade Vienna straw seat.
Pro...
Category
Early 1900s Austrian Romantic Antique Thonet Chairs
Materials
Straw, Wood
Pair Of Art Nouveau Thonet Chairs by Josef Hoffmann, 1st edition! - CZ ca. 1906
By Josef Hoffmann, Thonet
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Very rare pair of the first edition(!) of bentwood chairs by Thonet from the early 20th century, produced by Thonet in Bohemia. Designed around 1906 by none other than the world reno...
Category
Early 20th Century Czech Art Nouveau Thonet Chairs
Materials
Leather, Bentwood
Thonet chair 1910s
By Thonet
Located in Čelinac, BA
Thonet chair no.335
Category
1910s Austrian Art Nouveau Vintage Thonet Chairs
Materials
Bentwood
Thonet No. 14 Antique Children's Chair
By Michael Thonet, Thonet
Located in Dronten, NL
Thonet no. 14 children's chair, in original un-restored condition. Very elegant unique piece!
Thonet is a name synonymous with innovative furniture design and craftsmanship. Founded...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Deco Thonet Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Bentwood
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 Chairs
Materials
Bentwood
4x Chairs Thonet Nr.717, Gustav Siegel
By Gustav Siegel, Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
Perfect original condition, really exceptionally well preserved. Only the upholstery is new, with woven decor inspired by Gustav Klimt paintings. The wooden bases were perfectly clea...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Deco Thonet Chairs
Materials
Textile, Bentwood
Antique Child’s Chair by Thonet
By Thonet
Located in Antwerp, BE
Antique child’s chair of Thonet. Elegant bent wood frame with hooped legs. The caning on the seat and
back is in great condition for it’s age. Di...
Category
Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Thonet Chairs
Materials
Cane
Chair Thonet Nr.57
By Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
In very good original condition with a beautiful patina. Perfectly cleaned and polished with shellac.
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Thonet Chairs
Materials
Bentwood
Secession Desk Chair No. 25 by Thonet
By Thonet, August Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Secession desk chair no. 25 by Thonet with new handmade rattan seat professionally stained and repolished.
Category
Early 1900s Czech Vienna Secession Antique Thonet Chairs
Materials
Rattan, Bentwood
Thonet Chair HO. 41, 1905s
By Thonet, Michael Thonet
Located in Čelinac, BA
Thonet chair HO 41, restored in good condition. Designed by Michael Thonet.
Category
Early 20th Century Mid-Century Modern Thonet Chairs
Materials
Plywood
Nobiliary Dining Chair of Thonet from Wiener Werkstaette
By Thonet
Located in Mariano Del Friuli, GO
Rare chair of the Wiener Werkstaette considered the prototype of the successive variants on Design by the architect. Gustav Sigel. The rectangular sections and geometric motifs of th...
Category
Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Thonet Chairs
Materials
Bentwood
Thonet Austrian Curved Wood Armrests Chair, 1920s
By Thonet
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Thonet Austrian arm chair, c. 1900/1920, In curved beech wood, the upholstery has been redone in ivory velvet and the wooden parts have been polished wi...
Category
1920s Austrian Art Nouveau Vintage Thonet Chairs
Materials
Velvet, Beech
Marcel Breuer's S 64 Tubular Steel Chair for Thonet
By Thonet, Marcel Breuer
Located in Neuss, NW
Legendary tubular steel chair, model S 64, designed by Marcel Breuer for Thonet (1928). Solid frame made of chromed tubular steel. The seat and backrest are covered with the original...
Category
1920s Austrian Vintage Thonet Chairs
Materials
Steel, Chrome
Fledermaus Armchairs No.423 by Josef Hoffmann
By Josef Hoffmann, Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Fledermaus armchairs no.423 by Josef Hoffmann in very good original condition with signs of usage.
Category
Early 1900s Austrian Vienna Secession Antique Thonet Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Beech
Folding Chair, Thonet, 1920's
By Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
- made in Czechoslovakia
- made of wood
- good, original condition.
Category
1920s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Chairs
Materials
Wood
Pair of Secession Armchairs No.17 by Thonet
By Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Pair of secession armchairs no.17 by Thonet in very good condition.
Category
1910s Austrian Vienna Secession Vintage Thonet Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Rattan, Bentwood
Secession Dining Chair No.335
By Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Secession dining chair no.335 by Thonet. Professionally stained and repolished.
Category
1920s Slovak Vienna Secession Vintage Thonet Chairs
Materials
Bentwood
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 Chairs
Materials
Bentwood, Braid
Five Original circa 1920 Dinette Josef Hoffmann Thonet 811 Bergere Dining Chairs
By Thonet
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning suite of five original circa 1920’s, hand made in Poland, Dinette chairs, designed by Josef Frank and J...
Category
1920s Polish Art Deco Vintage Thonet Chairs
Materials
Bentwood
Four Armhairs Thonet, circa 1920
By D. G. Fischell, Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
Original state with a pleasant patina of age, perfectly cleaned and repolished with french polish.
Category
Early 20th Century Czech Art Deco Thonet Chairs
Materials
Beech, Bentwood
Secession Dining Chairs by Thonet
By Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Secession bentwood Thonet dining chairs. Professionally stained and repolished with new handmade rattan seats.
Category
1910s Slovak Vienna Secession Vintage Thonet Chairs
Materials
Rattan, Bentwood
August Thonet Chairs, Set of 6, Czech Republic, 50s Signed Thonet
By Thonet
Located in Mombuey, Zamora
this description has been automatically translated and may not be completely accurate.
H77 x W37 x D44
They are in very good condition, very solid.
Category
Early 20th Century Czech Other Thonet Chairs
Materials
Cane, Bentwood
1900s Marcel Kammerer Chair No.6517 for Thonet, Austria
By Thonet, Marcel Kammerer
Located in Praha, CZ
- newly upholstered in Backhausen fabric
- carefully refurbished and finished with ebony shellac
- Height of seat 47 cm.
Category
Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Thonet Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Chair Thonet Nr.223, since 1901
By Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
Original state. Perfectly cleaned and re-polished with shelack finish. New upholstery surface on the original core.
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Belle Époque Thonet Chairs
Materials
Beech, Bentwood
Thonet Bent Beech Rattan Chairs in Pair, ca. 1910 '2 Pieces'
By Thonet
Located in Budapest, HU
Bent and steamed beechwood chairs with rattan seat.
Manufactured by Thonet around 1910 in Vienna, Austria.
Category
1910s Austrian Belle Époque Vintage Thonet Chairs
Materials
Rattan, Beech, Bentwood
Pair of Czech Bauhaus Armchairs, Marcel Breuer and Thonet, Chrome, Fabric, 1930s
By Marcel Breuer, Thonet
Located in Horomerice, CZ
License Thonet according to the design of Marcel Breuer
Fully restored.
Armchairs, 2 pcs
Style: Bauhaus.
Period: 1930-1939.
Material: Fabric and chrome-plated steel
Source: C...
Category
Early 20th Century Czech Bauhaus Thonet Chairs
Materials
Chrome
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 Chairs
Materials
Brass
Thonet Folding Seat
By Thonet
Located in grand Lancy, CH
Thonet folding seat.
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Thonet Chairs
Materials
Brass
Marcel Kammerer Settee Bench Seat, Thonet Austria, Turquoise Green Leather, 1910
By Thonet, Josef Hoffmann, Marcel Kammerer
Located in Hausmannstätten, AT
A fantastic settee designed by Marcel Kammerer and manufactured by Thonet, Austria, circa 1910.
It is made of dark or almost black stained beech wood in mahogany tone and French pol...
Category
Early 1900s Austrian Vienna Secession Antique Thonet Chairs
Materials
Leather, Bentwood, Beech
Chair Thonet Nr.402, Jan Kotěra in 1907
By Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
Designed by Jan Kotera for the National association house in Prostejov. Slightly modified - reduced backrest height, as an adjustment to the salon chair). P...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Deco Thonet Chairs
Materials
Brass
Chair Kohn Nr.321, since 1906, Thonet
By Jacob & Josef Kohn, Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
Original state. Perfectly cleaned and re-polished with shelack finish. New upholstery surface on the original core.
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Empire Thonet Chairs
Materials
Brass
Art Nouveau Thonet Chairs Bentwood Set of Three, Austria, circa 1905
By Thonet
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Lovely set of three Art Nouveau Thonet Chairs from the turn of the 20th century in Austria. These slim, elegant designed bentwood chairs were produced in Vienna by the famous company...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Thonet Chairs
Materials
Bentwood
Thonet Vienna Wooden Childrens Chair, Austria, 1900s
By Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH, Thonet
Located in Vienna, AT
A lovely wooden chair for children by Thonet Vienna, dated around 1900. In good, original condition with nice patina. Labelled and stamped.
Category
Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Thonet Chairs
Materials
Wood
Vienna Secession Thonet Bentwood Armchair
By Thonet
Located in New York, NY
A Vienna secession Thonet bentwood armchair #511.
Stained beechwood with an upholstered seat.
Category
Early 1900s Austrian Vienna Secession Antique Thonet Chairs
Materials
Bentwood
20th Century Austrian Bar Stool in Black Wood by Thonet
By Thonet
Located in Sofia, BG
Bar stool by Thonet in very elegant typical shape and in great condition.
Austria, circa 1910.
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Thonet Chairs
Materials
Wood
Illustrated Thonet Chair
By Thonet
Located in Antwerp, BE
Thonet armchair with a printed illustration.
The seat and backrest are weaved in rattan. The rest of the frame is covered in a print
that could have influenced by the great Fornase...
Category
Early 20th Century Belgian Art Nouveau Thonet Chairs
Materials
Wood
Four Chairs Thonet, circa 1920
By Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
Solid and compact, perfectly clean. Newly upholstered in the recent past.
Category
Early 20th Century Czech Arts and Crafts Thonet Chairs
Materials
Bentwood
Pair of Armchairs Chairs Marcel Kammerer, Thonet, Turquoise Green Leather, 1910
By Marcel Kammerer, Thonet
Located in Hausmannstätten, AT
A pair of fantastic bentwood armchairs designed by Marcel Kammerer and manufactured by Thonet, Austria, circa 1910.
They are made of dark or almost black stained beech wood in mahog...
Category
Early 1900s Austrian Jugendstil Antique Thonet Chairs
Materials
Beech, Leather, Bentwood
Thonet Secessionist Armchair Attributed to Otto Wagner
By Thonet, Otto Wagner
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Unusual bentwood chair with flaring side arms, upholstered in Secessionist-style fabric. Thonet stamp to interior frame.
Category
1910s Austrian Vienna Secession Vintage Thonet Chairs
Materials
Bentwood
Set of Eight Art Nouveau Chairs Model 639 by Thonet, Cotton - Czechoslovakia
By Thonet, Josef Hoffmann
Located in Girona, ES
Set of eight bistro chairs, completely restored, French polish, mottled greige cotton upholstery.
Model 639.
Attributed to Josef Hoffmann.
Thonet Fabrique' en Tchecoslovaquie (lab...
Category
1910s Czech Art Nouveau Vintage Thonet Chairs
Materials
Wood, Cotton
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 Chairs
Materials
Cane, Beech, Bentwood
Walnut bistro chair THONET, Czechoslovakia, 1920´s
By Thonet
Located in Prague 8, CZ
Dining chairs THONET, made in the Czechoslovakia in the 1920´s. It´s made of beechwood. It´s in very good condition.
Height: 82 cm
Seat: 40 x 41 cm
Category
Early 20th Century Czech Bauhaus Thonet Chairs
Materials
Wood, Beech
Art Nouveau Bentwood Chair by Thonet, Newly Upholstered, Austria, circa 1905
By Thonet, Marcel Kammerer
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Exceptional Thonet bentwood chair from the Art Nouveau period around 1905 in Vienna/ Austria. Designed by none other than the famous Austrian architect and painter Marcel Kammerer (1...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Thonet Chairs
Materials
Velvet, Bentwood
French Antique Set of Six Beech and Vienna Straw Thonet Chairs, with Brand 1900s
By Thonet
Located in MIlano, IT
French antique set of six beech and Vienna straw Thonet chairs, with brand 1900s
Set of six Thonet chairs, with original circular seat and back in V...
Category
Early 1900s French Romantic Antique Thonet Chairs
Materials
Straw, Beech
Thonet chairs for sale on 1stDibs.
Thonet chairs 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 chairs, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original chairs 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 chairs by Michael Thonet, Karl Fostel Sen’s Erben, and Anna-Lülja Praun. Prices for Thonet chairs can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $149 and can go as high as $24,318, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,765.
Creators Similar to Thonet
Questions About Thonet Chairs
- What is Thonet furniture?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Thonet 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.
- What is a Thonet chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2024A 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, 2023Perhaps 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, 2022An 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.
- What is a Thonet-style chair?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023A 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, 2022Michael 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.
- Are Thonet chairs marked?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Yes, 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.
- Are Thonet chairs stackable?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Whether 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, 2022To 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.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2024To 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.