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.
Midcentury Thonet Bent Plywood Armchairs by Joe Atkinson, Set of 5
By Joe Atkinson, Thonet
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Set of five bent plywood armchair dining chairs Designed by Joe Atkinson for the Thonet furniture company. Each chair features a bent wood construction wi...
Bentwood
1990s Marcel Breuer for Thonet Laccio Side Table in Black 11x Available
By Marcel Breuer, Thonet
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Laccio Side Table, originally designed by Marcel Breuer in 1925. These particular examples were produced by Thonet in the United States and date to the 1990s. The tables fe...
Steel
Vintage Mid Century Modern Round Travertine Chrome Steel Pedestal Dining Table
By Thonet
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Please message us with your zip code to request a more reasonable domestic U.S. shipping quote. Vintage Mid Century Modern Round Cream Travertine Stone Top Chrome Steel Pedestal Bas...
Travertine, Steel
$3,456
Thonet card table
By Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Jugendstil floding card table by Thonet in very nice original condition, repolished.
Beech, Bentwood
Secession Coffee Table No.412 by Otto Wagner for Thonet
By Otto Wagner, Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Secession site table no.412 by Otto Wagner for Thonet. Professionally stained and repolished.
Wood
Restored Art Deco Dining Table, by Thonet, Chrome, Steel, Germany, 1930s
By Thonet
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
This elegant table, designed in the Bauhaus style, comes from Germany from the early 20th century. Manufactured by Thonet, it impresses with its combination of tubular chromed steel ...
Steel, Chrome
Bentwood coffee table by Thonet
By Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Bentwood coffee table by Thonet in very nice original condition.
Beech, Bentwood
Bentwood nesting tables with ceramic top by Thonet
By Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Bentwood nesting tables with ceramic top by Thonet. Professionally stained and repolished. The ceramic plat on the largest table has cracks. Dimensions of each table: 1.40x57x70cm 2....
Ceramic, Beech, Bentwood
Vintage Massive Coffee Table, Thonet, 1940's
By Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
- made in Czechoslovakia - made of massive wood - good, original conditon.
Wood
Bentwood Plant Stands by Thonet
By Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Bentwood plant stands by Thonet professionally stained and repolished.
Bentwood
Bentwood nesting tables by Thonet
By Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Bentwood nesting tables by Thonet in original vintage condition with signs of use.
Beech, Bentwood
$5,028 / set
Early Thonet B 9 Nesting Tables by Marcel Breuer
By Thonet, Marcel Breuer
Located in PRAHA 5, CZ
Early set of nesting tables, model B9 - 9C. Chrome-plated tubular steel and lacquered wood. Manufactured probably by Gebrüder Thonet AG, Frankenberg, These pieces, while originally d...
Steel, Chrome
Two-Tier Bauhaus Coffee Table by Marcel Breuer for Thonet
By Thonet, Marcel Breuer
Located in Torino, IT
Iconic two-tiered coffee table attributable to Marcel Breuer, central figure of the Bauhaus movement and pioneer of 20th-century modernist design. Breuer redefined the relationship b...
Metal
Thonet B 18 Table by Marcel Breuer, 1930s
By Thonet, Marcel Breuer
Located in PRAHA 5, CZ
Designed by Marcel Breuer in the late 1920s and produced by Thonet in the 1930s, the B 18 table is a masterclass in radical reduction — where each line exists with purpose, and nothi...
Steel, Chrome
Restored Bauhaus Writing Desk, by Marcel Breuer for Thonet, Chrome, Czech, 1930s
By Thonet, Marcel Breuer
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
This iconic writing desk from the 1930s is a remarkable example of Bauhaus design. Designed by Marcel Breuer and manufactured by Thonet, it perfectly combines functionality with aest...
Steel, Chrome
1950s Thonet Bent Birch Wood and Wood Grain Square Laminate Side / End Table
By Thonet
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a 1950s Thonet bentwood side table with legs designed in a similar manner to that of Alvar Aalto. These tables are iconic...
Wood
First Edition Side Tables by Marcel Breuer for Thonet, Germany, 1930s
By Thonet, Marcel Breuer
Located in Antwerp, BE
Nesting tables B9 by Marcel Breuer, a hallmark of Bauhaus design produced by Thonet. Crafted from chrome-plated tubular steel and sleek wooden panels, these tables exemplify Breuer's...
Aluminum
1970s Pair of Beech Armchairs and Coffee Table by TON, Czechoslovakia
By Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
- Good original condition with minor signs of use
Upholstery, Wood
Set of Iconic Gerd Lange 'Flex 2000' Chairs and Table for Thonet 1973
By Thonet, Gerd Lange
Located in Tilburg, NL
Set Iconic Gerd Lange 'Flex 2000' Chairs and table in Beech and Plastic for Thonet 1973. This is a set of highly sculptural and avant garde quality by designer Gerd Lange for Thonet...
Plastic, Beech
Original 19th Century Thonet Associates Vienna Secession Side Table
By Thonet, Michael Thonet
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Original Antique Thonet Associates Hand-Crafted 19th Century Vienna Secession Side Table With An Attractive Turned Tripod Base With An Irregular Table ...
Elm
Gerd Lange Iconic 'Flex 2000' Table for Thonet 1973
By Gerd Lange, Thonet
Located in Tilburg, NL
Gerd Lange 'Flex 2000' Table for Thonet, 1973. This is a truly wonderful and very timeless designed table by Gerd Lange for high-end manufacturer Thonet. Avant garde and very modern...
Plastic, Beech
1900s Original Side Table Bella Epoque by Fischel & Söhne Thonet style Vienna
By Thonet
Located in Vigonza, Padua
A little hard to find jewel of Belle Époque period by Fischel & Söhne Measures cm: H 70 x W 58 x D 37. Belle Epoque refined side table by Fischel & Söhne, bearing the incised maker...
Beech
1930 Pair of Armchairs + Spider Table, by Halabala for Thonet, Czechoslovakia
By Thonet, Jindřich Halabala
Located in Praha, CZ
- Good original condition - Table: 65 x 65 x 65 cm.
Fabric, Wood
$1,608
Thonet Music Stand No.3
By Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Thonet music stand no.3. Professionally stained and repolished.
Bentwood
Set of Iconic Gerd Lange Table and 4 Lacquered Thonet Style Stools
By Thonet, Gerd Lange
Located in Tilburg, NL
Set of Iconic Gerd Lange Table and 4 Lacquered Thonet Stools. Gerd Lange 'Flex 2000' Table for Thonet, 1973 & a wonderful set of Thonet style stools in lacquered wood and webbing. ...
Plastic, Beech, Bentwood
Restored Nesting Tables, by M. Breuer for Thonet, Oak, Chrome, Czech, 1920s
By Thonet, Marcel Breuer
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
This set of four nesting tables is a masterpiece of modernist furniture and an icon of the Bauhaus school from the early 20th century. The visionary Marcel Breuer, one of the first t...
Steel, Chrome
$2,967 / set
1900 Thonet Set of Nesting Tables
By Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
- 4 pieces of wooden tables that slide into each other. - Dimensions from the largest 1st height 75cm, width 57cm, depth 39cm. 2nd height 73cm, width 51cm, depth 37cm. 3. height 70...
Wood
Mid-Century Modern Birch Bentwood Side Or Coffee Table By Thonet
By Thonet
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This Mid-Century Modern side or coffee table by Thonet was manufactured by the Austrian bentwood furniture company during the 1950s. It features a 1.25" thick ebonized maple top with...
Birch, Bentwood, Maple
$2,979 / set
Flower Stands by Thonet No.908
By Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Flower stands by Thonet no.908 professionally stained and repolished.
Bentwood
1930s Pair of Restored Thonet Side Tables No. 206, Austria
By Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
- carefully refurbished and finished in shellac - Label is on one table and on other is missing
Wood
Mid Century "B12" Side Console Table by Marcel Breuer Produced by Thonet, 1930s
By Marcel Breuer, Thonet
Located in Stockholm, SE
Very rare and early example of the "B12" mid century side console table in black stained wood with chromed tubular steel base by Marcel Breuer produced by Thonet, 1930s. In good orig...
Chrome
Secession Nesting Tables by Thonet
By Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Secession nesting tables by Thonet professionally stained and repolished. Measures: 1. table 31 x 45 x 69cm 2. table 34,5 x 53 x 70cm 3. table 39 x 60,5 x 72cm.
Wood
Bentwood plant stand no.9521 by Josef Hoffmann for Thonet
By Thonet, Josef Hoffmann
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Bentwood plant stand no.9521 by Josef Hoffmann for Thonet. Professionally stained and repolished.
Beech, Bentwood
1970s Pair of Beech Armchairs and Coffee Table by TON, Czechoslovakia
By Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
- Good original condition with minor signs of use - table 50 x 60 X 60 cm
Upholstery, Wood
Secession Plant Stand No.9537 by Otto Wagner for Thonet
By Otto Wagner, Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Secession plant stand no.9537 by Otto Wagner for Thonet professionally stained and repolished.
Beech
Rare triangle card table by Thonet
By Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Rare triangle card table by Thonet in very good original condition.
Beech, Bentwood
Bentwood Thonet side table
By Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Bentwood Thonet side table in very nice original condition.
Beech, Bentwood
A Rare Triangular Thonet Bentwood Card Table, Circa 1900
By Thonet
Located in London, GB
A Rare Triangular Thonet Bentwood Card Table, Circa 1900 A beautiful bentwood design featuring a triangular playing surface covered in green woollen baize. The table stands on elega...
Beech
1970s Mobile Conference Table, Manufacturer, TON, Czechoslovakia
By Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
- Made in Czechoslovakia - Made from wood - Original state - Manufacturer TON - The top plate shows signs of use.
Wood
Bauhaus Side Table, John Hagemann, Thonet, Chrome-Plated Steel, Germany, 1930s
By Thonet, Hermann John Hagemann
Located in Brandys nad Labem, Středočeský kraj
Bauhaus side table by John Hagemann and made by Thonet. Source: Germany Period: 1930-1939 Architect: John Hagemann Maker: Thonet Material: Chrome-Plated Steel, Lacquered Wood Original paint. Professionally cleaned chrome. Made by influential Austrian furniture...
Metal, Steel, Chrome