In 1830, German cabinet maker Michael Thonet began experimenting with furniture made by bending wood that had been steamed into a soft and pliable state. Over the 20 years, Thonet and his sons developed the processes and machines that would allow them to build bentwood furniture in unprecedented quantities. It was in this time period that he developed what has become thought of as the "traditional" Thonet bentwood chair: one featuring a back rest and back legs made from a single piece, a rounded cane or laminated seat, and front legs. The output of the Thonet factories was vast, due in part to his idea of designing separate pieces which would be combined to make a large number of models. Michael Thonet stands out as a designer and pioneer both in mass production and in design, as he artistically explored the new forms and unique qualities of his newly invented technique.
Thonet's first independent commision and large order for bentwood side chairs was in 1849, for the Cafe Daum in Viena. The chairs were of bent mahogany and later appeared in a slightly different form as Chair No. 4 in the Thonet catalogs. Thonet's new cafe chairs were lightweight, elegant, and strong, and were characterized by a grace and fluidity of line which made them unique in European furniture of the period.
Bauhaus2YourHouse presents licensed designs of Michael Thonet, as manufactured by original European Thonet factories in Radomsko Poland, and Brno, Czech Republic, using historic molds and techniques. Remarkably few changes have been necessary over the last 150 years. The factories still follow the 18th century production methods developed by Michael Thonet to produce stylistically accurate, handsome, and sturdy bentwood chairs, stools, tables, and accessories. Cane seats are hand-tied, and wood laths steamed and bent into curved jigs then dried, sanded, and finally stained and varnished before being assembled.
A licensed reproduction.
Dimensions: W 15 3/4" x D 20 1/2" x H 34 1/2"; SH 18"
Materials: Chair with bentwood frame and woven cane.
