Thonet and bentwood – A technical revolution

Michael Thonet experimented for years with the idea of making solid wood flexible under steam. He achieved his breakthrough around 1850: Using steam, heat, and controlled pressure, he was able to shape beechwood into elegant, stable forms—without compromising its stability.

This new technology was efficient, precise, and ideal for mass production. It paved the way for beautifully designed, lightweight, and functional furniture—at affordable prices.

• Light and stable : The curved wooden parts were durable and significantly lighter than conventional solid wood constructions.
• Industrially producible : For the first time, furniture could be mass-produced and shipped worldwide – flat-packed for on-site assembly.
• Form and function combined : The bentwood style allowed for simple, elegant lines and a new aesthetic – puristic, timeless, modern.
• Sustainable design : less waste, less use of materials – and a chair that lasts for decades.
  

No other piece of furniture symbolizes Thonet's bentwood technique as much as Chair No. 14 – the so-called Viennese coffee house chair. Produced since 1859, sold millions of times worldwide, disassembled into six parts, connected by just ten screws. Simple, ingenious, durable.

The bentwood process is rarely used on an industrial scale today—which makes original Thonet pieces all the more desirable. Anyone who chooses this type of furniture is bringing home a piece of design and technical history.