Skip to main content

Thonet Stools

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.

35
to
2
23
11
35
35
35
13
6
5
1
2
33
11
14
5
2
2
3
3
2
2
2
3
1
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
23
8
4
1
29
12
12
10
10
23
11
10
9
9
371
297
270
128
127
Creator: Thonet
Black Art Deco Round Piano Stool Made by Thonet, Original Condition, 1920s
By Thonet
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Small round Art Deco piano chair. Material: Beech Maker: Thonet Source: Czechia Period: 1920-1929 Adjustable height: 45 - 70 cm (18 in - 27.5 in) ...
Category

Early 20th Century Czech Art Deco Thonet Stools

Materials

Beech, Lacquer

1980s Anton Lorenz for Thonet Black and Chrome Cantilever Bar Stools, Set of 3
By Thonet, Anton Lorenz
Located in Doylestown, PA
Later edition cantilever chrome bar height stools designed by Anton Lorenz for Thonet in 1929. Stools feature black faux leather upholstered seat and backrest with chrome-plated tub...
Category

Late 20th Century North American Bauhaus Thonet Stools

Materials

Chrome

Stool Thonet
By Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
Original state with a pleasant patine of age, perfectly cleaned and re-polished with shelack finish. Stool has an interesting finish - imitation oak wood (which was created by drill...
Category

Early 20th Century Czech Bauhaus Thonet Stools

Materials

Beech, Bentwood

Legendary tubular steel stool, model B 56, Marcel Breuer for Thonet
By Thonet, Marcel Breuer
Located in Neuss, NW
Legendary tubular steel stool, model B 56, designed 1928 by Marcel Breuer for Thonet. Solid frame made of chromed tubular steel. The seat is covered with the original "Viennese Wicke...
Category

1920s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Stools

Materials

Stainless Steel

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 Stools

Materials

Chrome

Original Thonet Piano Stool, upholstered, late 19th Century
By Thonet
Located in Schwerin, MV
Very more comfortable original piano stool / swivel stool by Gebrüder Thonet. The piano stool is made of beech wood and has four steam-bent feet with a bentwood ring for stability. T...
Category

Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Thonet Stools

Materials

Metal

Set of '3' Thonet Model 214 PH Cafe Stools in Beech & Textured Velvet, c. 1950's
By Thonet
Located in Norwalk, CT
Embrace the legacy of design with this stunning set of (3) Thonet model 214 PH stools. Designed by the Thonet brothers in 1880, the 214 PH stool embodies the elegance and innovation ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Thonet Stools

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Black Leatherette & Steel CM127 Stool by Thonet - 1960s
By Thonet
Located in New York, NY
Iconic CM127 bar stool by Thonet. Black lacquered steel feet and black faux leather original upholstery. Second stool available. This stool will ship from France and can be returned ...
Category

1960s Austrian Vintage Thonet Stools

Materials

Steel

Set of Three Antique Bentwood Thonet Bar Stools
By Thonet
Located in London, GB
A superb set of three antique bentwood Thonet bar stools. They were made in the Thonet factory in Poland, they date from around the 1950’s. Th...
Category

1950s Polish Vintage Thonet Stools

Materials

Fabric, Bentwood

Thonet piano chair no.1
By Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Thonet piano chair no.1 professionally stained and repolished.
Category

1920s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Thonet Stools

Materials

Beech, Bentwood

Piano Stool Thonet Nr.1, 1920s
By Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
Height-adjustable swivel stool. The seat height is adjustable from 44 to 60 cm. Solidly constructed base, decorative lower legs. Good original condition with signs of use, patina.
Category

1920s Czech Art Nouveau Vintage Thonet Stools

Materials

Metal

Vintage Beech Bentwood Stool by Thonet Industries with Label
By Thonet
Located in San Diego, CA
A vintage beech bentwood stool by Thonet Industries with original label, circa 1940s. The stool is in good vaintage condition showing appropriate wear and patina. It measures 14.5"D ...
Category

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

Materials

Bentwood, Beech

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

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

Materials

Beech

Antique Bentwood Piano Stool by Thonet, Austria in 1900s
By Thonet
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find an antique piano stool manufactured by Thonet. The stool is done in beech bentwood, with the plywood seat. It was recently refinished. The swivel mechan...
Category

Early 1900s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Thonet Stools

Materials

Beech

Low Bar Stool, designed by Thonet, 1970s
By Thonet
Located in Antwerp, BE
Midcentury modern design low bar stool by Thonet is based on the original design by Gebrüder Thonet from the 1880s. The legs of the stool are made from bentwoo...
Category

1970s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Stools

Materials

Leather, Bentwood

Mid Century Thonet Walnut and Boucle Swivel Barstools, set of 6
By Thonet
Located in Mckinney, TX
Introducing a stunning set of six Thonet swivel barstools, wonderfully maintained and boasting sleek walnut construction and brass foot rail accents. Revitalized with creamy off-whit...
Category

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

Materials

Fabric, Wood, Walnut

Vintage Pair of Anton Lorenz Thonet Chrome Barstools Bar Stools
By Anton Lorenz, Thonet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Vintage pair of Anton Lorenz Thonet chrome barstools bar stools. The chrome has been polished. The upholstery was as found. However, I do not see any damage to upholstery. Dimensions...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Stools

Materials

Chrome

Thonet walking stick chair, Vienna. Ca. 1880
By Thonet
Located in Oostende, BE
Victorian bentwood folding walking stick stool by the Austrian makers Thonet. With its swans neck handle and circular caned seat, this elegant example of t...
Category

Late 19th Century Austrian Victorian Antique Thonet Stools

Materials

Rattan, Bentwood

Thonet Wicker stools model 4601 1960s Tjechie
By Thonet
Located in Den Haag, NL
2 Thonet bentwood stools , model 4601. 1960s Wicker seat . good condition .
Category

1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Stools

Materials

Wicker

Thonet Causeuse No.22
By Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Thonet causeuse no.22 in original vintage condition with signs of usage.
Category

1910s Slovak Vienna Secession Vintage Thonet Stools

Materials

Fabric, Bentwood

Rare Thonet Swivel Piano Stool, Circa 1940's.
By Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
Made in Czechoslovakia Made of Wood Labeled Maximum height 68cm Good original condition
Category

1940s Czech Art Deco Vintage Thonet Stools

Materials

Ceramic, Fabric, Wood

Vintage 1980s Chrome Bar Stools by Anton Lorenz for Thonet
By Anton Lorenz, Thonet
Located in San Antonio, TX
Designed by Anton Lorenz for Thonet, this beautiful pair of chrome bar stools feature Chiseled in Travertine upholstery by Knoll textiles, creating a unique and timeless design. Both...
Category

1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Stools

Materials

Chrome

Lovely Pair of Bentwood Thonet Bar Stools + Cast Iron Cocktail Bar Top Table
By Thonet
Located in GB
We are delighted to offer for sale this lovely pair of Thonet Bentwood bar stools with tall cast iron bar table with gallery rail. A good lookin...
Category

20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Thonet Stools

Materials

Iron

Sample Stool by Thonet Brothers - Statesville N.C., United States 1940s
By Thonet
Located in Milan, IT
Sample stool manufactured by Thonet Brothers - Statesville N.C. Plywood frame with maple finish, this rare piece comes with original paper label dated 1948.
Category

1940s American Vintage Thonet Stools

Materials

Maple

Thonet Style Switchboard Operator Bentwood Stool
By Thonet
Located in Denton, TX
Nice combination of bentwood and cast iron that make this stool unusual style very pleasing to the eye.  
Category

20th Century Romanian Thonet Stools

Materials

Iron

Alvar Aalto Style Side Table or Stool by Thonet
By Alvar Andersson, Joe Atkinson, Thonet
Located in Ferndale, MI
This laminated wood stool or side table by Thonet, New York and attributed to Joe Atkinson as designer. A circular top and three bentwood legs made of plywood. Perfect mid-century mo...
Category

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

Materials

Bentwood, Plywood

1950s Rare Thonet Swivel Piano Stool No.6, Czechoslovakia
By Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
- Made of Beech Bentwood - Stamped by Producer - Maximum height is 60 cm - Original condition with minor signs of use
Category

1950s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Stools

Materials

Beech

Thonet Stools No.144
By Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Thonet stools no.144 professionally stained and repolished.
Category

1910s Czech Vienna Secession Vintage Thonet Stools

Materials

Rattan, Bentwood

7 Thonet Bar Stools / Sold Singly/3 Remaining
By Thonet
Located in Sheffield, MA
An authentic collection of 3 of 7 still remaining iconic Thonet stools from the 1930s, marked on the underside with Thonet Logo and certificate. ...
Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Thonet Stools

Materials

Chrome

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 Stools

Materials

Chrome

Midcentury Footstool / Thonet, 1970s
By Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
- Made in Czechoslovakia - Made of wood, fabric - Original upholstery - Good, original condition.
Category

1970s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Thonet Stools

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Pair of Thonet White and Black Bakelite Stacking Stools, 1930s
By Alvar Aalto, Thonet
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Early pair of Thonet Nesting Tables, Stacking Stools. Featuring circular White Bakelite 14D seats atop Black, ebonized, bentwood legs. Attributed to Alvar Aalto. Stackable. Perfect...
Category

1930s American Art Deco Vintage Thonet Stools

Materials

Bakelite, Wood

Jugendstil Thonet Brown Beech Shoe Stool by Josef Hoffmann attr. c 1907, Vienna
By Thonet
Located in Vienna, AT
Jugendstil Thonet brown beech shoe stool was designed circa 1907 and executed by Gebr. Thonet Vienna attributed to Josef Hoffmann. A gorgeous Jugendstil sho...
Category

Early 1900s Austrian Jugendstil Antique Thonet Stools

Materials

Beech

Original Thonet Piano Stool, Early 20th Century, Restaured
By Thonet
Located in Schwerin, MV
Antique Thonet bentwood piano stool, swivel stool Black piano stool from the traditional company Gebrüder Thonet, Vienna from the beginning of the 2...
Category

1890s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Thonet Stools

Materials

Wood, Braid

Thonet Bentwood Stool, 1920s, Czechoslovakia
By Thonet
Located in Prague 8, CZ
A classic bentwood stool from the 1920s. The circular stool is made from beech, with a plywood seat top. Manufacturer’s mark stamped under the seat. In very good condition, after ren...
Category

Early 20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Thonet Stools

Materials

Wood, Beech, Plywood

Thonet stools for sale on 1stDibs.

Thonet stools 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 stools, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original stools 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 stools by Herman Miller, Arne Jacobsen, and Pierre Jeanneret. Prices for Thonet stools can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $145 and can go as high as $3,692, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $872.
Questions About Thonet Stools
  • 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.

Recently Viewed

View All