Thonet: the timeless elegance of bentwood chairs

How can we continue to embody the elegance and modernity of the chair? This is the question that must be asked every day by the directors of German chair and designer furniture manufacturer Thonet GmbH, the historical heirs to the famous Thonet brand (Gebrüder Thonet), created in Vienna in 1853 by German-Austrian cabinetmaker and industrialist Michael Thonet (1796-1871). The name Thonet is inextricably linked with the history of design, since the German manufacturer embodies 2 major revolutions in the history of furniture: the manufacture of chairs in curved wood and the manufacture of tubular steel seats without legs at the back during the Bauhaus period. This article looks back at an industrial history that began 170 years ago and continues to this day... How can we continue to embody the elegance and modernity of the chair? This is the question that the directors of German chair and designer furniture manufacturer Thonet GmbH, heirs to the famous Thonet brand (Gebrüder Thonet), created in Vienna in 1853 by German-Austrian cabinetmaker and industrialist Michael Thonet (1796-1871), must ask themselves every day. The name Thonet is inextricably linked with the history of design, since the German manufacturer embodies 2 major revolutions in the history of furniture: the manufacture of chairs in curved wood and the manufacture of tubular steel seats without legs at the back during the Bauhaus period. This article looks back at an industrial history that began 170 years ago and continues to this day... Portrait of Michael Thonet. He first set up his own furniture company before moving to Vienna in the 1840s and founding Gebrüder Thonet (Thonet Brothers). thonet.de Portrait of Michael Thonet. He first set up his own furniture company before moving to Vienna in the 1840s and founding Gebrüder Thonet (Thonet Brothers). Michael Thonet was born on 2 July 1796 in Boppard in the electorate of Trier, an ecclesiastical principality of the Holy Roman Empire. A cabinetmaker, he set up a small furniture business in 1819 before moving to Vienna in the 1940s, at the request of Prince Clemens Metternich, Chancellor of Austria. In 1853, Michael Thonet transferred the "Thonet" company to his sons under the new name of "Gebrüder Thonet". In fact, he had already been thinking about the mass industrialisation of furniture for several years and developing techniques for bending wood. Michael Thonet was born on 2 July 1796 in Boppard in the electorate of Trier, an ecclesiastical principality of the Holy Roman Empire. A cabinetmaker, he set up a small furniture business in 1819 before moving to Vienna in the 1940s, at the request of Prince Clemens Metternich, Chancellor of Austria. In 1853, Michael Thonet transferred the "Thonet" company to his sons under the new name of "Gebrüder Thonet", although he had already been thinking about the mass industrialisation of furniture and developing techniques for bending wood for several years. In 1851, Michael Thonet developed and mass-produced the famous chair no. 14, known as the "bistro chair", in response to demand from Café Daum for "practical, elegant and space-saving chairs".Michael Thonet pulled off a stroke of genius for 3 reasons. 1) Chair n°14 was the 1st chair in the history of design to be mass-produced. Its relatively simple design meant that the work could be divided up: 6 pieces of wood, 10 screws and 2 nuts, 18 elements in all, and there you have it! It's easy to assemble, dismantle and transport. 2) Michael Thonet invented kit furniture almost a century before IKEA: the manufacturer sent out his chairs in a 1 m3 box that could hold up to 36 chairs! 3) Finally, he perfected the technique of bending solid wood, which enabled him to curve the wood to obtain a piece with a sleek shape. In 1851, Michael Thonet developed and mass-produced the famous chair no. 14, known as the "bistro chair", in response to demand from Café Daum for "practical, elegant and space-saving chairs".Michael Thonet pulled off a stroke of genius for 3 reasons. 1) Chair n°14 was the 1st chair in the history of design to be mass-produced. Its relatively simple design meant that the work could be divided up: 6 pieces of wood, 10 screws and 2 nuts, 18 elements in all, and there you have it! It's easy to assemble, dismantle and transport. 2) Michael Thonet invented kit furniture almost a century before IKEA: the manufacturer sent out his chairs in a 1 m3 box that could hold up to 36 chairs! 3) Finally, he perfected the technique of bending solid wood, which enabled him to curve the wood to produce a piece with a sleek shape. Set of 10 beechwood café chairs, model no. 14, Thonet. The seats are in woven rattan. Bruun Rasmussen. Set of 10 beech coffee chairs, model no. 14, Thonet. The seats are in woven rattan. Bruun Rasmussen. Chair no. 14, Michael Thonet design. Curved beech, wicker seat. The world's best-known bistro chair. Gebrüder Thonet began production of chair no. 14 in 1859. Chair n°14, Michael Thonet design. Curved beech, wicker seat. The most famous bistro chair in the world. Gebrüder Thonet began production of chair no. 14 in 1859. A 1 m3 box could hold up to 36 No. 14 chairs when dismantled. artdesigntendance.com A 1 m3 pedestal could hold up to 36 No. 14 chairs dismantled. artdesigntendance.com Rocking Chair, 1908 model, Thonet. bellelurette.eu Rocking Chair, 1908 model, Thonet. bellelurette.eu Rocking Chair, 1908 model, Thonet. Detail of the curves. bellelurette.eu Rocking Chair, 1908 model, Thonet. Detail of the curves. © bellelurette.eu Armchair n°209, design: 1900. Here a piece manufactured in the 1980s in Germany by Thonet. Armchair no. 209, design: 1900. Here a piece made in the 1980s in Germany by Thonet. pamono.fr Armchair n°209, design: 1900. This piece was made in Germany by Thonet in the 1980s. The beauty and elegance of curved wood. pamono.co.uk Armchair no. 209, design: 1900. Here a piece manufactured in the 1980s in Germany by Thonet. The beauty and elegance of bentwood. Armchair no. 209, design: 1900. Another point of view. Armchair no. 209, design: 1900. Another point of view. Michael Thonet invented a revolutionary process for bending wood. He exposes the wood to steam under pressure, which makes the cellulose more elastic and the lignin softer. This elasticity makes it possible to bend the wood along its fibres. After drying, it acquires a new, stable and resilient shape. Michael Thonet invented a revolutionary process for bending wood. He exposes the wood to steam under pressure, which makes the cellulose more elastic and the lignin softer. This elasticity makes it possible to bend the wood along its fibres. After drying, it acquires a new, stable and resilient shape. These repeated operations enabled large-scale production, guaranteeing Thonet chairs excellent value for money. In 1912, the manufacturer's production reached a peak: almost 2 million different products were assembled every day in the group's factories (in Moravia, the German Empire and Eastern Europe). These repeated operations enabled large-scale production, guaranteeing Thonet chairs excellent value for money. In 1912, the manufacturer's production reached a peak: almost 2 million different products were assembled every day in the group's factories (Moravia, German Empire and Eastern Europe). Wood bending in a Thonet factory workshop, circa 1900 © barnebys.fr Wood bending in a Thonet factory workshop, circa 1900 © barnebys.fr As an industrial empire, Thonet experienced its share of ups and downs, but never disappeared. Since 1876, the company has been divided into 2 companies: a German company (Gebrüder Thonet), which became Thonet GmbH in 2006, and an Austrian company (Thonet Vienna). Michael Thonet's descendants remain involved in the German company as shareholders and business partners. Like other historic publishers, Thonet has managed to preserve its technical know-how by associating it with the elite of modern and contemporary designers. These include Verner Panton, who created the iconic 275 model (S-shaped chair, 1965), and James Irvine, who revisited the No. 14 chair 150 years later. As an industrial empire, Thonet experienced its share of upheavals, but never disappeared. Since 1876, the company has been divided into 2 companies: a German company (Gebrüder Thonet), which became Thonet GmbH in 2006, and an Austrian company (Thonet Vienna). Michael Thonet's descendants remain involved in the German company as shareholders and business partners. Like other historic publishers, Thonet has managed to preserve its technical know-how by associating it with the elite of modern and contemporary designers. These include Verner Panton, who created the iconic model 275 (S-shaped chair, 1965), and James Irvine, who revisited chair n°14 150 years later. Chair Model n°275 (S-Chair), designed by Verner Panton, 1956. Produced from 1965 by Thonet. artsy.net Chair Model n°275 (S-Chair), design by Verner Panton, 1956. Produced from 1965 by Thonet. artsy.net To celebrate the 150th anniversary of its Chair n°14, Thonet called on designer James Irvine to revisit the model for Japanese distributor Muji. The "Muji manufactured by Thonet" collection also includes a range of wooden tables, as well as tubular steel models by Konstantin Grcic. Thonet To celebrate the 150th anniversary of its Chair 14, Thonet called on designer James Irvine to revisit the model for Japanese distributor Muji. The "Muji manufactured by Thonet" collection also includes a range of wooden tables, as well as tubular steel models by Konstantin Grcic. Thonet Thonet also made design history in the 1920s and early 1930s. It was a time when a new generation of architects and artists was boldly and radically challenging the theoretical and aesthetic canons inherited from Art Nouveau and Art Deco. The development of new materials such as steel and new assembly techniques revolutionised design at the time. Thonet also left its mark on the history of design in the 1920s and early 1930s. This was a time when a new generation of architects and artists was boldly and radically challenging the theoretical and aesthetic canons inherited from Art Nouveau and Art Deco. The development of new materials such as steel and new assembly techniques revolutionised design at the time. In 1928, Thonet bought Standard-Möbel, a company originally founded by Marcel Breuer to manufacture tubular steel furniture. This new process gave rise to the invention of the cantilever chair, a cantilevered chair without back legs. Thonet then became, and has remained ever since, the publisher of legendary models such as Mart Stam's S 33 cantilever chair and Marcel Breuer's S 35 L armchair. In 1928, Thonet bought Standard-Möbel, a company originally founded by Marcel Breuer to manufacture tubular steel furniture. This new process gave rise to the invention of the cantilever chair, a cantilevered chair without back legs. Thonet then became, and has remained ever since, the publisher of legendary models such as Mart Stam's S 33 cantilever chair and Marcel Breuer's S 35 L armchair. Cantilever chair Model S 33, Mart Stam design, 1926. A design classic still produced by Thonet. thonet.de Cantilever chair Model S 33, Mart Stam design, 1926. A design classic still produced by Thonet. thonet.de Cantilever chair Model S 35 L, design Marcel Breuer, 1929. An icon still produced by the German manufacturer. thonet.de Cantilever armchair Model S 35 L, Marcel Breuer design, 1929. An icon still produced by the German manufacturer. thonet.de François Boutard François Boutard

Thonet: the timeless elegance of bentwood chairs

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