Viennese Chair by Josef Neyger Nr.11, 1860-1870
View Similar Items
Viennese Chair by Josef Neyger Nr.11, 1860-1870
About the Item
- Creator:Michael Thonet (Designer),Josef Neyger (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 35.44 in (90 cm)Width: 16.93 in (43 cm)Depth: 22.45 in (57 cm)Seat Height: 18.51 in (47 cm)
- Style:Art Nouveau (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1860
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Praha, CZ
- Reference Number:Seller: Thonetky 1stDibs: LU2456315049012
Michael Thonet
The development of bentwood for use in furniture is one of history’s most significant innovations in design. A range of renowned mid-century modern designers such as Alvar Aalto, Arne Jacobsen, and Charles and Ray Eames drew heavily on this technological advancement, and the success of their enduring works owes to the efforts of pioneering German-Austrian industrialist and designer Michael Thonet — founder of Thonet and widely considered the father of bentwood furniture.
Bentwood furniture dates as far back as the Middle Ages, but it is the 19th-century cabinetmaker and master of parquetry Michael 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. He experimented with bending birch rods into rounded shapes — forming delicately seductive, curving Art Nouveau creations that were a daring departure from the heavy, hand-carved designs attributed to his contemporaries.
The Boppard-born Thonet 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. He received an invitation from Austrian Chancellor Prince Metternich to contribute Neo-Rococo interiors to the Liechtenstein City Palace in Vienna. From there, 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. 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 — or Gebrüder Thonet — with his sons in 1853.
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.
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. Composed of just six parts, the chair, with its simple, lightweight design, belies its durability. 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.)
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.
Thonet’s patented bentwood technology also yielded an improvement to rocking chairs for his company — 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. And bentwood furniture was embraced by a series of design greats — the innovation can be found in the seating that Josef Hoffman designed for Thonet, in the elegant Superleggera chair created by Gio Ponti and Alvar Aalto’s expressive Paimio armchair.
The No. 14 chair earned a gold medal at the 1867 Paris World’s Fair and reportedly sold 50 million copies prior to World War I. Today it’s a staple furnishing in countless movies, television shows, restaurants, bars and homes.
On 1stDibs, find an array of antique Michael Thonet seating, tables and more.
- Viennese Chair Josef Neyger, 1847-1878By Josef NeygerLocated in Praha, CZChair from a Viennese competitor, which copied Gebrüder Thonet products in yeas 1847-1878. Newly restored.Category
Antique Early 19th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Chairs
MaterialsBeech, Bentwood
- Chair Thonet Nr.4, circa 1860By Michael ThonetLocated in Praha, CZA rare early model of famous chair "Nr.14", manufactured in Austria by the Gebrüder Thonet company. New shelack finish. Marked with early paper label, which is used, circa 1860. Comp...Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Chairs
MaterialsBeech, Bentwood
$2,455 Sale Price20% Off - Viennese Chair J&J Kohn Nr.27, since 1877By Michael Thonet, Jacob & Josef KohnLocated in Praha, CZA museum piece with a beautiful patina of old age. Perfectly cleaned and finely polished with shellac. New seat string.Category
Antique 1870s Austrian Art Nouveau Chairs
MaterialsBeech, Bentwood
- Viennese Chair Gebrüder Thonet Nr.14, circa 1860By Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbHLocated in Praha, CZA 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
Antique Late 19th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Chairs
MaterialsBeech, Bentwood
- Chair Thonet Nr.4, circa 1860By Michael ThonetLocated in Praha, CZVery rare chair, the oldest industrially produced version of chair no. 4. Newly restored.Category
Antique Mid-19th Century Austrian Belle Époque Chairs
MaterialsBeech, Bentwood
$1,754 Sale Price / item20% Off - Viennese Footrest Josef Jaworek Nr. 2, circa 1875By Michael Thonet, Josef JaworekLocated in Praha, CZManufactured in Austria by the Josef Jaworek Company, which was one of the first competitor of the Gebrüder Thonet Company. Marked with early paper label, which is used before the ye...Category
Antique Late 19th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Footstools
MaterialsBeech, Bentwood
- Office Armchair by Jakob & Josef Kohn Nr. 704By Jacob & Josef KohnLocated in Puglia, PugliaOffice chair produced by Jakob & Josef Kohn, model no. 704, in bent beech and original Vienna straw seat of the time, perfectly restored and polished with shellac.Category
Early 20th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Armchairs
MaterialsStraw, Beech
- Office Chair by Jacob & Josef KohnBy Jacob & Josef KohnLocated in Banská Štiavnica, SKOffice chair by Jacob & Josef Kohn.Category
Antique Early 1900s Austrian Jugendstil Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
MaterialsBentwood
- Late 19th Century Pair of Bentwood B-9 Armchairs by Jacob and Josef KohnBy Michael ThonetLocated in Vigonza, PaduaAn Austrian (Vienna) pair of bentwood B-9 armchairs by Jacob and Josef Kohn circa 1870. An original iconic chair. This is the favourite chair of architects especially from "Le Corbus...Category
Antique Late 19th Century Austrian Art Nouveau Armchairs
MaterialsBentwood
- Set of Four Biedermeier Viennese Chairs in the Style of Josef DanhauserBy Josef DanhauserLocated in Charleston, SCSet of four scallop-back Viennese Biedermeier side chairs (1815-1830) are in cherry, 19th century. The neoclassical fan back chairs are in the style of Josef Danhauser. The elegant f...Category
Antique Early 19th Century Austrian Biedermeier Side Chairs
MaterialsCherry
- Antique English Mahogany Side Chair, Fine Quality, circa 1860-1870Located in New Orleans, LAThis armchair is of fine quality and will not disappoint!.Category
Antique Late 19th Century English Side Chairs
MaterialsWood, Mahogany
- Viennese Reed Rococo ChairLocated in Budapest, HUViennese rococo, reeded and wooden small chair, from the end of the 18th century. This piece is untouched antique! Use it as a fancy decoration in your residency. You can find...Category
Antique 18th Century Austrian Rococo Chairs
MaterialsReed, Wood