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 "tradtional" 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.

Chair No. 18, one of the most recognizable chairs from the Thonet Brothers line, was produced after the death of Michael Thonet. Designed in 1876, it became, for many, the Vienna Cafe Chair. Similar to the No. 14, but with an extra back insert, it eventually became the largest selling model in the Thonet catalog.

Bauhaus2YourHouse presents licensed designs of 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 historically 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 16" x D 20 1/2" x H 42 1/2"; SH 28 3/4"

Materials: Stool with bentwood frame; hand woven cane seat.