Design & History

Model No. 10 is an early example of the bentwood furniture that transformed both furniture production and the appearance of European interiors during the second half of the nineteenth century.

Designed by Gebrüder Thonet in Vienna around 1858, the chair demonstrates the possibilities of the company's pioneering method of bending solid beech using steam. Curved components could be produced efficiently and assembled into furniture that was strong, lightweight and remarkably economical in its use of material.

This particular example is believed to date from around 1890.

Its construction is characteristically restrained, but a closer look reveals some beautiful details. An oval bentwood element forms the centre of the backrest, while the two front legs terminate in small oval-shaped details immediately beneath the seat.

Most unusual, however, is the fine linear decoration applied to parts of the wooden frame. Rather than disguising the underlying timber, these delicate lines add another graphic layer to the bentwood construction and give this particular chair an individual character.

The woven cane seat provides the final element of lightness - both physically and visually - that made Thonet's bentwood furniture so successful.

More than 130 years after this chair was made, the construction still feels remarkably economical: very little material is required to create a complete, practical and instantly recognisable piece of furniture.

Details

Model: No. 10
Design: c. 1858
Production: c. 1890
Manufacturer: Gebrüder Thonet
Origin: Austria-Hungary
Materials: Bent beech, woven cane
Quantity: One chair

Condition & Restoration

The chair is in good vintage condition and has been carefully restored while preserving the character accumulated during more than a century of use.

The wooden surfaces have been hand-finished using traditional shellac and nitrocellulose varnish, restoring their depth and gentle gloss while retaining areas of age and patina.

The original woven cane seat survives with some minor damage and traces of wear appropriate to its age. The wooden frame also retains small marks and variations acquired over its long life.

One particularly charming irregularity is visible in the rear legs, where one has developed a slightly different curve from the other. We have deliberately retained this rather than attempting to make the chair artificially perfect.

The chair is structurally stable. Please refer to the photographs for a detailed record of its condition.

Dimensions

Width: 41 cm
Depth: 57 cm
Height: 92 cm
Seat height: 46 cm

Why We Like It

With a chair this old, we find ourselves looking as much at the small irregularities as at the design itself.

The two rear legs don't follow precisely the same curve. The cane has aged. The surface carries traces of use. Even the fine painted lines have survived differently from one part of the frame to another.

None of this detracts from the chair for us - quite the opposite. It reminds us that although Thonet helped revolutionise industrial furniture production, this particular object has existed in the real world for more than 130 years.

We also love how little material there actually is. A handful of slender bentwood elements, a circle of woven cane and an oval in the backrest are enough to create a completely resolved chair.

It is industrial design, but one in which the hand of the maker - and the lives that followed - can still be seen.

Delivery & Returns

The chair will be carefully packed and shipped from our studio in Brno, Czech Republic.

EU shipping: €40, confirmed at checkout

We also ship worldwide using trusted international couriers. Please contact us for a tailored shipping quote outside the EU.

EU customers have a 14-day right of withdrawal. Please see our Terms & Conditions for full details.

If you would like to check anything before ordering - from condition and dimensions to delivery - Martin and Amy are always happy to help before and after your purchase.