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Material: Bentwood
Set of 4 THONET S320 Stacking Chairs designed by Ulrich Boehme & Wulf Schneider
By Thonet, Ulrich Bohme
Located in Schwerin, MV
Set of 4 Thonet S 320 Armchairs in stained reddish-brown plywood and chrome plated Steel, Germany, 1980s
A striking set of four original Thonet S 320 armc...
Category
1980s German Post-Modern Vintage Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Chrome
Curvaceous Bentwood Dining Chairs by Thonet Set of Six Armchairs
By Thonet
Located in Atlanta, GA
Set of Six Curvaceous Bentwood Dining Chairs, designed for Thonet, probably manufactured in Austria and retailed from their NYC store, circa 1950s. They are currently being reupholst...
Category
1950s American Art Deco Vintage Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Metal
Set of 8 Mid Century Dining Chairs by Antonin Šuman, Customizable Upholstery
Located in Wrocław, Poland
This set of eight vintage dining chairs was designed by Czech designer Antonin Šuman in the 1960s. The chairs have been completely restored finished with high-quality oil that gave t...
Category
1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Bentwood
Thonet Chair N. 15, 1960s, 1 of 2
Located in Ljubljana, SI
1 of 2 Thonet No. 15 chairs was manufactured 1960.
The chair was designed by Michael Thonet in 1859.
It features a beech bentwood frame with cane.
Clear wood finish. Wood and ca...
Category
1960s Slovenian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Cane, Hardwood, Bentwood
$487 / item
Chairs Thonet 209, Pair of Cane and Black Bentwood , 1940s or 1950s
By Thonet
Located in Mombuey, Zamora
The chair after Thonet is from the 1950s
This is Le Corbusier's favourite chair and one of the favourite designs of architects and designers.
Unfortunately it has no label but it i...
Category
Mid-20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Cane, Bentwood, Rattan
Cesca Chair, 1980s, 1 of 3
Located in Ljubljana, SI
Cesca chair, 1980s
Designer Marcel Breuer
Country of producer: Italy
Design Period: 1920 to 1949
Production Period: 1980s
Style: Mid-Century, Classic, Modern
Detailed Condition: Th...
Category
1980s Slovenian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Chrome
$472 Sale Price
20% Off
Chair by Thonet, No. 18 "Wide" 1970s, 1 of 3
Located in Ljubljana, SI
Bentwood cane Thonet No. 18 dining chair "Wide" in great vintage condition (well preserved). Chairs are lightly refreshed and the cane on two chairs was replaced with new webbing.
...
Category
1970s Slovenian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Cane, Hardwood, Bentwood
$367 Sale Price / item
20% Off
Set of Four Vintage Josef Hoffmann Prague 811 Chair Made by STOL Kamnik 1960s
Located in Čelinac, BA
Josef Hoffmann Prague 811 Chair made by Stol Kamnik Slovenia 1960s
Category
1960s Slovenian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Bentwood
Thonet Cane and Black Ebonized Bentwood Chair After Thonet 209
By Thonet
Located in Mombuey, Zamora
The chair after Thonet is from the years between 1950s
This is Le Corbusier's favourite chair and one of the favourite designs of architects and designers.
Unfortunately it has no...
Category
Mid-20th Century Spanish Mid-Century Modern Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Cane, Bentwood
Set of 4 Thonet dining chairs model 17
By Thonet
Located in Ceglie Messapica, IT
Set of 4 Thonet dining chairs model 17
This exceptional set of four bentwood beech chairs, produced by the renowned manufacturer Thonet, features the iconic Model 17, more commonly ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Bentwood, Straw, Beech
$2,026 Sale Price / set
23% Off
Pair of Shelton Mindel Arm Chairs for Knoll, 2006 Upholstered Seat
By Knoll
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of Shelton Mindel chairs for Knoll, 2006.
Lacquered wood, mohair.
Knoll plaque and paper label on underside.
Measures: 22”W x 23”D x 32”H.
2
Condition: These chairs a...
Category
Early 2000s Mid-Century Modern Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Mohair, Bentwood
Pair James Mont King Cole Chairs, Circa 1960's
By James Mont
Located in Rochester, NY
A pair of King Cole Chairs. The name of these chairs comes from a James Mont commission for a lavish penthouse design in the King Cole building in Miami, Florida during the 1960's. T...
Category
Mid-20th Century Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Upholstery, Faux Leather, Cane, Bentwood
$1,550 / set
Chair, Bentwood 1960s, 1 of 3
Located in Ljubljana, SI
Chair, Thonet Style, Bentwood, Cane - beautiful patina
Period: 1960s
Materials: Bentwood, Cane (new cane seat)
Condition: solid, signs of use, undamaged
Colour: Wood
Dimensions:...
Category
1960s Slovenian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Cane, Hardwood, Bentwood
$250 Sale Price / item
33% Off
Vintage Bentwood Rocking Chair Att. to Thonet
By Thonet
Located in New York, NY
Unusual bentwood and cane rocking chair, in the Vienna Secessionist style, probably mid 20th C vintage, Thonet - made in USA, unsigned. The chair is slightly smaller in scale, a vari...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Vienna Secession Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Cane, Bentwood
Vintage 3-Seat Cinema Theatre Bench from Ton, 1960s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This three - seat cinema bench was produced by Ton (former Thonet) in Czechoslovakia during the 1960s. The chairs are stabile and can be placed anywhere. It is made of beech wood (pa...
Category
Mid-20th Century Czech Industrial Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Wood, Beech, Bentwood, Plywood
Originals 1905 of the Period Pair of Josef Hoffmann and Jacob &Josef Kohn Chairs
Located in Vienna, AT
Very early and important design by Josef Hoffmann for J&J Kohn; horseshoe-shaped stand, each with two spheres under the corner joints of the seat, beechwood, light stained, polished ...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Jugendstil Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Bentwood
Series 7 Chair by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen, 2001.
Located in Asaa, DK
Series 7 Chair by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen, 2001.
Arne Jacobsen stacking dining chairs Model 3107 with cognac leather removable upholstery.
Model 3107 also know as series 7, B...
Category
Early 2000s Danish Scandinavian Modern Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Leather, Bentwood
Plycraft Norman Cherner "Pretzel" Bentwood Armchairs USA 1960s, a Pair, Signed
Located in Miami, FL
Plycraft Norman Cherner "Pretzel" Bentwood Armchairs USA 1960s, a Pair, Signed
Offered for sale is s an original pair of 1960s Norman Cherner for Plycraft bentwood Pretzel chairs. ...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Bentwood
Dining chair by Thonet, Bentwood cane, No. 18, 1980s
Located in Ljubljana, SI
Bentwood cane Thonet No. 18 dining chair in great vintage condition (well preserved).
Production period: 1980s
Materials: Bentwood, cane
Condition: great, signs of use, undamaged
...
Category
1980s Slovenian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Cane, Hardwood, Beech, Bentwood
$376 Sale Price / item
20% Off
Vintage Two-Seat Cinema Bench from TON, 1960s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This two-seat cinema bench was produced by Ton (former Thonet) in former Czechoslovakia during the 1960s. The chairs are stable and can be placed anywhere. It is made of beech wood, ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Czech Industrial Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Wood, Bentwood, Plywood
Pair of Thonet Romanian Bentwood Cane Bar Stools
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Rare pair of mid-century modern bar stools crafted from bentwood after Thonet. The stools feature a classic heart motif back crafted from gracefully curved beech. The round seat has woven cane inset and is supported by long straight legs conjoined by round and curved stretchers. The lower ring stretcher serves as a footrest with a seat height of 29.5 inches high. Each chair is stamped on bottom "made in Romania" with missing paper labels. Styled after the famous No. 16 sweetheart chairs...
Category
20th Century Romanian Mid-Century Modern Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Cane, Bentwood
$1,800 / set
Set of 6 Bistro Chairs by Jacob & Josef Kohn, 1890 Austro-Hungarian Empire
Located in Santa Gertrudis, Baleares
Exceptional and rare set of 6 Bistro chairs by Jacob & Josef Kohn from the end of the 19th century. Bentwood chairs with seats and backs carved with be...
Category
1890s Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Bentwood
Set of Six Early 20th Century Bentwood Chairs with Cane Seats
Located in Barcelona, ES
Add a touch of vintage elegance to your home with this exquisite set of six early 20th century bentwood chairs. Manufactured in Vale...
Category
1940s Spanish Arts and Crafts Vintage Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Bentwood
Rare wery old Chair Thonet Nr.4, 1860
Located in Praha, CZ
Very rare chair, the oldest industrially produced version of chair no.4. (Without the circle under the seat, which was invented later, as a strengthening of the structure)
Very sens...
Category
Mid-19th Century Austrian Belle Époque Antique Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Beech, Bentwood
$3,933 Sale Price
25% Off
Set of four original chairs #511 from 1904, Gebrüder Thonet
Located in Vienna, AT
Four legged construction, square bentwood, beechwood stained mahogany, renovated cover and decorative nails, height 105cm, width 43cm, depth 60cm. Renovated condition with signs of a...
Category
Early 1900s Austrian Art Deco Antique Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Bentwood
Pair of Stacking Bentwood Chairs by Pagholz Flötotto
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of original stacking bentwood chairs by Pagholz Flöttoto. Stamped under the seats and with original "Made in West Germany" stickers.
Hard to find in the US.
Category
1980s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Chrome
Knoll Frank Gehry Power Play Pair of Bentwood Armchairs and Matching Ottoman
By Knoll, Frank Gehry
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A set of Knoll Frank Gehry "Power Play" armchairs and ottoman. This stunning set of artful furniture designed by Frank Gehry and produced by Knoll feature a bentwood construction with a ribbon-like design. These pieces are inspired by Gehry's childhood, specifically by the apple crates...
Category
1990s Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Bentwood
$10,000 Sale Price / set
37% Off
Set of 16 Paul Frankl Corset Back Dining Chairs in Ivory White Bouclé, c. 1950s
By Paul Frankl
Located in Saint Louis, MO
We are pleased to offer this one of a kind exquisitely large set of 16 Paul Frankl plunging corset dining chairs for Johnson Furniture, circa 1950 professionally reupholstered in ivo...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Bouclé, Upholstery, Mahogany, Bentwood
Dining Chair by Thonet in Original Vintage Silk & Oak, Czechoslovakia, 1940s
By Thonet
Located in Zohor, SK
Elegant dining chair produced by Thonet company in an original condition. The chair is made of strong oak wood with upholstered seat and backrest. The fabric is vintage silk. Some patina is visible on the wooden parts which adds to the vintage look...
Category
1940s Czech Art Deco Vintage Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Silk, Oak, Bentwood
$274 Sale Price / item
50% Off
A 811 Chair By Josef Hoffmann or Josef Frank for Thonet 1920s
Located in Čelinac, BA
Josef Hoffmann or Josef Frank chair A 811 for Thonet 1920s
Category
1920s Austrian Art Deco Vintage Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Bentwood
Set of Four Vintage Prague 811 Chair By Josef Hoffmann 1950s
Located in Čelinac, BA
Josef Hoffmann Prague 811 Chairs for Stol Kamnik 1950s
Category
1950s Slovenian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Cane, Bentwood
Pair MCM Dining Chairs Prague No.811 Designed by Josef Hoffmann, Drevounia 60s
Located in Lucija, SI
These Chairs were designed by Josef Hoffmann, model no. 811 and produced by Drevounia in '60s.
Chairs are in mint condition
They are made of black wooden fr...
Category
1920s Czech Art Nouveau Vintage Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Cane, Bentwood
Chair Thonet 811, Josef Hoffmann
By Josef Hoffmann, Thonet
Located in Praha, CZ
Original state with a pleasant patine of age, perfectly cleaned and re-polished.
Category
Mid-20th Century Czech Mid-Century Modern Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Bentwood
Cherner Side Chair by Norman Cherner for Plycraft
Located in Centreville, VA
Iconic dining chairs designed by Norman Cherner for Plycraft in the United States in 1958.
This dining chairs are early models of Cherner design with original condition.
Originally ...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Bentwood
$720 Sale Price / item
20% Off
Rare Josef Hoffmann Chair for Mundus Vienna Austria 1907-1914
Located in Den Haag, NL
Rare Josef Hoffman Chair for Mundus Vienna Austria 1907-1914
Leopold Pilzer, a junior partner at the bentwood furniture company Rudolf Weill & ...
Category
1910s Austrian Vintage Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Rush, Bentwood
Classic American Bentwood and Iron Folding Chairs 1930s
By Made Solid
Located in Buffalo, NY
1930’s Louis Rastetter & Sons Solid Kumfort Solid Bent Wood Folding Chairs -,Classic design.. Superior quality and construction,, Extremely comfortable ,, more avail,,(INQUIRE) Pri...
Category
1930s American Art Deco Vintage Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Iron
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 Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Leather, Bentwood
Cataract Chair II by Raka Studio
By Raka Studio
Located in Cape Girardeau, MO
Cataract II a side/filler chair made in solid ashwood by bending wood. Three of the legs have been made using the wood-bending technique to adopt an abstract natural wave-like design...
Category
2010s Organic Modern Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Velvet, Ash, Bentwood
$2,600 / item
Original Otto Prutscher&Kohn Jacob/Josef Jugendstil Wiener Werkstätte
Located in Vienna, AT
Originally made by Thonet with the Nr: 567 - for the Café Heinrichshof - oposite the Vienna States Opera House, destroid 1945. Published first in 1908 in a "Sesselalbum" by Thonet (J...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Beech, Bentwood
Bruno Mathsson Eva Reading Chair
Located in Riverdale, NY
Bruno Mathsson reading chair, originally designed in 1934 in laminated beech bent wood with linen webbing. This later version has original webbing and is...
Category
1950s Swedish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Bentwood
Vintage Cinema Theatre Chair from Ton, 1960s
Located in Kojetice, CZ
This cinema ( theatre ) seat was produced by Ton (former Thonet) in Czechoslovakia during the 1960s. The chair is stabile and can be placed anywhere. It is made of beech wood, bentw...
Category
Mid-20th Century Czech Industrial Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Wood, Beech, Bentwood, Plywood
$451 / item
Original Josef Hoffmann & Kohn Jacob Chair from 1914
Located in Vienna, AT
A very rare undocumented chair by Josef Hoffmann and J&J Kohn. An identical chair with leather upholstery is available as well.
Category
1910s Austrian Jugendstil Vintage Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Bentwood
Folding Chair Thonet Nr.1 with Arms and Legrest, since 1883
Located in Praha, CZ
Manufactured in Austria by the Gebrüder Thonet company. Original state with a pleasant patine of age, perfectly cleaned and re-polished with shelack. New cannung.
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Belle Époque Antique Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Bentwood
$2,765 Sale Price
20% Off
Original of Time Otto Wagner Armchair 1901 Jugendstil, Secession Style, 1901
Located in Vienna, AT
As pioneer and master of the Modern, Otto Wagner seized the then rather new technique of bending Wood for his furniture designs.
The design of this armchair dated back in 1901. This ...
Category
Early 1900s Austrian Vienna Secession Antique Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Beech, Bentwood
Viennese Chair Gebrüder Thonet Nr.14, circa 1860
Located in Praha, CZ
A rare early model of famous chair "Nr.14", manufactured in Austria by the Gebrüder Thonet Company. With original luxury finish, imitating rosewood. Marked with early paper label, wh...
Category
Late 19th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Antique Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Beech, Bentwood
Set of 10 Paul Frankl Corset Back Dining Chairs in Ivory White Bouclé, c. 1950s
By Paul Frankl
Located in Saint Louis, MO
We are pleased to offer this one of a kind exquisite set of 10 Paul Frankl plunging corset dining chairs for Johnson Furniture, circa 1950 professionally reupholstered in ivory white...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Bouclé, Upholstery, Mahogany, Bentwood
1980s Bouclé Armchair by TON
By TON a.s.
Located in High Point, NC
An upholstered wooden armchair with a unique Mid-Century Modern silhouette. Made in the 1980s by TON, this piece showcases the innovative yet humane design for which the Czech furnit...
Category
1980s Czech Minimalist Vintage Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Bouclé, Upholstery, Bentwood
$1,195 / item
set of 4 Vintage Bentwood Upholstered Dining Chairs, light and comfortable
Located in London, Fitzrovia
A beautiful and quirky set of 4 comfortable, elegant and unusual bentwood dining or side chairs, probably from the 1960's or 70's.
The fabric is old but there are no tears.
They are ...
Category
20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Bentwood
Vintage Chair 66 by Alvar Aalto for Artek, 1940-50s
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Centreville, VA
Chair 66 is a universal wooden chair in the tradition of classic kitchen and café chairs; its visible, additive construction logic is full of character and pleasing to the eye. The w...
Category
1930s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Bentwood
Revers Chair by Andrea Branzi for Cassina Italian Design 1993
By Cassina, Andrea Branzi
Located in DE MEERN, NL
Timeless piece of design history – the Pre-loved Revers Chair by Andrea Branzi for Cassina. This iconic armchair, dating back...
Category
1990s Italian Modern Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Steel
Late 20th Century MCM Pair DCM Chairs by Eames for Herman Miller Black & Chrome
Located in Topeka, KS
Awesome vintage Mid-Century Modern pair of DCM chairs by Charles & Ray Eames for Herman Miller with chrome frames & black bentwood back & seats. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind ...
Category
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Chrome
1980s Post-Modern Memphis Style Chairs, 3 Pairs Available
Located in Miami, FL
1980s Post-Modern Memphis Style chairs- 3 Pairs available
Offered for sale is a pair of 1980s Post-Modern Memphis Style accent chairs with bent...
Category
1980s Post-Modern Vintage Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Metal
Vintage Chair 65 by Alvar Aalto for Artek, 1940-50s
By Alvar Aalto
Located in Centreville, VA
Clean lines and a simple structure define the design of Chair 65.
A low, rectangular backrest is formed from a single piece of birch plywood and has a slight curve that forms natur...
Category
1930s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Bentwood
Set of Four Art Nouveau Thonet Chairs by Marcel Kammerer, Austria, circa 1910
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Fantastic set of four Thonet chairs from the Art Nouveau period around 1910 in Austria. These unique chairs were designed by none other than ...
Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Bentwood
1980s Stokke Gravity Balans Reclining Chair by Peter
By Peter Opsvik
Located in Stafford, TX
The Gravity Balans chair, designed by Peter Opsvik for Varier, is a unique ergonomic recliner that allows for a range of seating positions, from a...
Category
1980s Norwegian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Upholstery, Bentwood
$1,164 Sale Price
20% Off
Set of 5 Josef Frank Prague Chairs Made in Czechoslovakia, circa 1970s
By Thonet, Josef Frank
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional set of five bentwood armchairs design attributed to Josef Frank, marked Made in Czechoslovakia. The chairs are constructed of steam bent wood, probably beech, and nylon, circa 1970's. A Mid 20th C version of the early 20th C Frank...
Category
Mid-20th Century Czech Vienna Secession Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Beech, Bentwood
Set of 12 Paul Frankl Corset Back Dining Chairs in Ivory White Bouclé, c. 1950s
By Paul Frankl
Located in Saint Louis, MO
We are pleased to offer this one of a kind exquisitely large set of 12 Paul Frankl plunging corset dining chairs for Johnson Furniture, circa 1950 professionally reupholstered in ivo...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Bouclé, Upholstery, Mahogany, Bentwood
Set of 4 Mid Century Dining Chairs by A.Šuman, Reupholstered in KVADRAT
Located in Wrocław, Poland
This set of four vintage dining chairs was designed by Czech designer Antonin Šuman in the 1960s. The chairs have been completely restored finished with high-quality oil that gave th...
Category
1960s Czech Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Bentwood, Walnut
Unusual Set 6 Industrial Modernist Bauhaus Bent Plywood Stacking Chairs
By Thonet
Located in Buffalo, NY
Unusual set 6 industrial modernist bent plywood stacking chairs. Amazing design. Bauhaus influenced. Extremely comfortable.
Category
1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Bentwood, Plywood
Gustav Siegel for J and J Kohn. Three ebonised Bentwood dining or cafe chairs.
Located in London, GB
Gustav Siegel for J&J Kohn. Three ebonized Bentwood dining or cafe chairs. Two with new cane seats, one shown with original cane seat.
Price per chair.
All chairs are the same dime...
Category
Early 1900s Czech Vienna Secession Antique Bentwood Chairs
Materials
Bentwood, Cane
Antique and Vintage Bentwood Chairs for Sale on 1stDibs
Looking for antique or vintage bentwood chairs for your home? A collection of authentic bentwood rocking chairs, bentwood armchairs and other bentwood seating can be found today on 1stDibs.
Antique, new and vintage bentwood furniture has become very popular in interiors over the years. Today bentwood chairs, tables, sofas and pendants are receiving striking modern interpretations from makers like Thonet, which are being carried on by the next generation. And while bentwood furniture dates as far back as the Middle Ages, it is Michael Thonet who is most often associated with this now-classic technique.
The presence of a rocking chair stirs up our penchant for nostalgia and has the power to transform a space, and it would take the great German-Austrian chair maker Michael Thonet to turn the rocking chair into a work of art. Thonet manufactured chairs out of steam-bent wood, and starting in the middle of the 19th century, he produced a series of rocking chairs in which the different curved parts were integrated into fluid, sinuous wholes. Considered the world’s oldest mass-produced chair, Thonet’s ubiquitous Chair No. 14 demonstrated that his patented bentwood technology made it possible to efficiently produce furniture on an industrial scale. 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. From there the bentwood look skyrocketed to furniture fame.
Bentwood was eventually embraced by design greats ranging from Josef Hoffmann to Gio Ponti, and Adolf Loos to Alvar Aalto for its versatility, timelessness and simple elegance. Mid-century modernists Charles and Ray Eames added wooden rockers to their famous plastic shell armchair, while Danish designer Frank Reenskaug opted for teak and polished beech, introducing pops of color with small cushions (a precursor to the bold works that would follow in the 1970s and 1980s).
In the Czech Republic — home to a range of talented but unsung mid-century modern and Art Deco designers — the company TON held a bentwood furniture exhibition in Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s Villa Tugendhat in recent years. TON manufactures their bentwood furniture in the same workshops where Michael Thonet set up his operations in the 1800s.
Sophisticated bentwood seating designs include Alvar Aalto’s cantilever lounge chairs and Italian designer Luigi Crassevig’s 1970s rocking chairs, which feature cane seats.
Find antique and vintage bentwood chairs in a range of styles on 1stDibs.
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