1970s Thonet Stacking Dining Chairs for the German Military, Blue, Set of Six
View Similar Items
1970s Thonet Stacking Dining Chairs for the German Military, Blue, Set of Six
About the Item
- Creator:Michael Thonet (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 31.11 in (79 cm)Width: 16.15 in (41 cm)Depth: 19.3 in (49 cm)Seat Height: 17.33 in (44 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 6
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1970
- Condition:Refinished. Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Hook, GB
- Reference Number:Seller: 929.61stDibs: LU4494221412052
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.
- 1970's Thonet Dining Chairs For The German Military - Blue - Good Qty AvailableBy Michael ThonetLocated in Hook, Hampshire1970s Thonet stacking dining chairs for the German military, blue, good quantities available. Commissioned by the Bundeswehr and made by Thonet these chairs were made for the German Military. It's not often we see colored chairs so we snapped them up and we have them in green and blue (Blue are listed separately). Unusually they were made by Thonet. Founded in the early 19th century by Michael Thonet, Thonet invented the process of steam bending wood...Category
Vintage 1970s German Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsBentwood
- 1970's Thonet Stacking Dining Chairs For The German Army - Green - Good QtyBy Michael ThonetLocated in Hook, Hampshire1970's Thonet Stacking Dining Chairs For The German Army - Green - Good Quantities Available 1970's Thonet stacking dining chairs for the German military - green - good quantities available. Commissioned by the Bundeswehr and made by Thonet these chairs were made for the German Military. It's not often we see coloured chairs so we snapped them up and we have them in green and blue (Blue are listed separately). Unusually they were made by Thonet. Founded in the early 19th Century by Michael Thonet, Thonet invented the process of steam bending wood...Category
Vintage 1970s German Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsBentwood
- 1970s Bright Blue Mullca Stacking Dining Chair, Beech Seat, Set of SixLocated in Hook, Hampshire1970s Bright Blue Mullca stacking dining chair – beech seat – set of six 1970s Bright Blue Mullca stacking dining chair – beech seat – set of six. One of our most favourite chairs, ...Category
Vintage 1970s French Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- 1970s Bright Blue Mullca Stacking Dining Chair, Beech Seat, Set of FourLocated in Hook, Hampshire1970s Bright blue mullca stacking dining chair – beech seat – set of four 1970s Bright blue mullca stacking dining chair – beech seat – set of four. One of our most favourite chairs...Category
Vintage 1970s French Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- 1970s Dining Chairs with Rare Aluminium Frames - Set Of SixLocated in Hook, Hampshire1970s dining chairs with rare aluminium frames, set of six 1970s vintage stacking dining, set of six. These chairs are made with very unusual and ...Category
Vintage 1970s German Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- 1970s Two Tone Saddle Back Dining Chair, Set of SixLocated in Hook, Hampshire1970s Two tone saddle back dining chair – set of six 1970s Two tone saddle back dining chair – set of six. Sourced in central Germany we loved these chairs for their wide sculptural...Category
Vintage 1970s German Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsOak
- Vintage stackable dining chairs, set of 6 - 1970sLocated in HEVERLEE, BEVintage stackable and very sturdy dining chairs from the 1970s. Newly upholstered in light grey fabric. 1970s - Belgian Made. Very good condition Dimensions: Height: 77cm Width: ...Category
Vintage 1970s Belgian Brutalist Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Wood
- Set of Four Dining Chairs/ Thon 'Thonet', 1970sBy ThonetLocated in Praha, CZ- Made in Czechoslovakia - Made of wood, fabric - New upholstery - Solid - Wooden parts has some signs use - Good, original condition.Category
Vintage 1970s Czech Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Wood
- German Flötotto and Pagholz Set of Six Stacking Chairs of Molded Plywood 1970sBy Pagholz Flötotto, PagholzLocated in Aarhus C, DKA set of six German Flötotto and Pagholz stacking chairs manufactured by Pagholz in Germany. The chairs are made of molded nut brown plywood with lacquer. Legs of chromium plated ...Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- 1970s, Saporiti Dining Chairs Set of SixBy SaporitiLocated in New York, NYStunning set of six, 1970s Giovanni Offredi for Saporiti dining chairs. Made of chrome and steel base with leather seat.Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsSteel, Chrome
$5,400 / set - A set of 4 sof-Tek stacking chairs by David Rowland for Thonet circa 1970sBy ThonetLocated in Houston, TXA set of 4 Sof-Tek stacking chairs by David Rowland for Thonet circa 1970s. In the original bright red vinyl on tubular chrome frames. These can be used indoor or outdoor. Manufactur...Category
Vintage 1970s Unknown Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsChrome
- Set of Six Dining Chairs by Gustav Siegel for ThonetBy Gustav SiegelLocated in Banská Štiavnica, SKSet of six dining chairs by Gustav Siegel for Thonet from circa 1905s. Fully restored and covered with white fabric.Category
Antique Early 1900s Czech Vienna Secession Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Bentwood