The Thonet B9 CU Bentwood Chair was designed in 1904 by the German Michael Thonet.  Using 8 peices of steam bent wood and a handful of screws, Michael Thonet transformed the manufacturing of furniture forever.  The B9 CU Bentwood Chair is a perfect example of this art.

The B9CU is one of a handful of chairs created by Thonet during the rapid expansion of his factory in the late 1800s to early 1900s.  Though Thonet's process of steam bending wood was developed in the mid 1800s, it wasn't until the 1890s when things really took off.  His catalogue of chairs became extensive by 1900.  Today millions of these chairs exist.