The characteristics of the classic thonet chairs that fascinate and excite the fans of this design, are some distinctive and identifiable elements typical of these particular furnishing elements.
The history of the Thonet brand, a symbol of typical Viennese design characterised by steam-curved wood, is very suggestive and passionate. Michael Thonet was a well-known Austrian cabinetmaker, who as early as 1830, experimented with new possibilities to produce furniture by hot-curving multilayer wood.
Michael Thonet, in 1860, perfected the technique of bending solid beech, using steam and positioning the wood in special cast iron shapes. These were placed in kilns to dry, so that the wood could fix its new shape forever.
The bent wood was finally assembled with the help of large screws; the use of simple screws, which replaced the classic hand-fastening, allowed Thonet to considerably simplify the processing, which resulted in an important reduction in production costs.
It was around 1860 that the first model of the Thonet chair, chair no. 14, was born. The first model of Thonet chair, was certainly revolutionary for its great lightness, disassembly and ability to be stacked: the innovative features of the chair model n. 14, allowed it to sell in 40 years, more than 45 million pieces.
We could define the Thonet company as the first real large-scale furniture industry. In this respect it is worth mentioning Michael Thonet's training period, the Biedermeier period: this is a historical period in which the concept of comfort was coined for the first time, and in which wood as a design material was enhanced.
Thonet was a creative entrepreneur who managed to masterfully capture the tastes of a huge market segment: we are talking about the small and middle class and in particular the public establishments where he found himself. Starting in 1925, the Thonet company became a leader in the sector and began collaborating with the important architects of the time, such as Le Corbusier and Mies Van der Rohe.
During this period the Thonet company, in addition to pursuing the marketing of classic models, designed and conceived new ones, thanks to the contribution of the important architects with whom the company collaborated. Around the year 1927, the company began to produce and market new models, made with the help of tubular steel.
The most classic models in the Thonet catalogue are still produced today with the original moulds; the original production process guarantees the company the timeless commercial success of a line of fascinating and extremely functional furniture, able to preserve an eternal modernity and charm. The Thonet brand was later acquired by the prestigious Italian brand Frau.
In order to recognise an original Thonet chair, it is necessary to identify the brand that the company affixes to its products, underneath the Vienna straw-cannulated seat. The patent for bending wood by steam was kept by the company until the year 1869; once the patent expired, the global competition from many companies that perfected the technique of bending wood began.
Many companies specialised in the creation of chairs and furniture made with the help of bent beech wood.
The companies Thonet, Fischel, Società Antonio Volpe, Jacop & Joseph Kohn, Mundus and other well-known companies specialising in the production of chairs and furniture made of curved wood, brand their products and stick a label with the logo and name of the manufacturer.
The need to brand and label all products that leave the factory is obviously due to the desire to stand out from the competition; for this reason the Thonet brothers have been branding their products since the very first production. The labels were affixed on the chairs, at a later time: the company began to apply the labels in 1861, when the technique of bending solid wood, so to speak, reached perfection and the wood began to be bent in a single solution.
From 1869, the year of the liberalisation of patents for wood bending, the need to label its products in order to differentiate itself from the competition became an important necessity for the Thonet brand. In those years more than 50 companies and 60 factories were established within the territory of the then Austro-Hungarian Empire.
As often happens in markets where there is a great leader in the sector, competitors decided to operate imitating the great Thonet brand, replicating the brand's models in every way. Only the company Antonio Volpe of Udine, distinguished itself from the competition, for the peculiarities of its products. Today, as in the first years following the liberalization of patents, it is very important to know how to characterize its products with strong distinctive elements, able to clearly identify its production.
The proposal Tavolisedie.com of chairs type Thonet, is articulated in a wide range of high quality furniture and made with the help of first choice materials, able to express a classic design, revisited in a modern key.
Consulting our catalogue section "Viennese Thonet type chairs, elegant and economical practices", you can see the models that constitute our commercial proposal. Elegant and quality chairs such as the model Sedia Linz, 100 per 100 made in Italy and suitable to be used to complete the furnishing of a catering environment such as a bar, restaurant, cold or hot table, canteen or cafeteria. Sedia Linz is also perfect for home furnishing. The frame of this model is made with the help of 25 mm diameter steel tube, painted with black thermosetting powders.
And you can also decide to buy the Sedia Vienna Nero model: also in this case it is a 100 per 100 made in Italy product, ideal for the furnishing of catering environments, but also for the domestic environment. Continuing the examination of this section of the catalogue, you can take a look at the other products that constitute our commercial proposal of chairs type Thonet.
