1910s Children's Bentwood Chair by Gebrüder Thonet

1910s children's bentwood chair by Gebrüder Thonet with curved armrests and circular wooden seat
Front view of antique Thonet children's chair showing flowing bentwood arms and shaped wooden backrest
Three-quarter view of 1910s Gebrüder Thonet child's chair with sculptural bentwood construction
Side view of early 20th-century Thonet children's chair showing curved armrest and compact proportions
Rear view of antique Thonet child's chair highlighting the continuous bentwood back and arm construction
Elevated view of 1910s Thonet children's chair showing circular wooden seat and curved bentwood frame
Detail of shaped wooden backrest and sweeping bentwood arms on antique Gebrüder Thonet children's chair
Close-up of restored bentwood frame and natural wood grain on 1910s Thonet child's chair
Detail of curved bentwood armrest and joint construction on early Thonet children's furniture
Lower frame detail of antique Thonet children's chair showing curved legs and bentwood supports
Restored 1910s Gebrüder Thonet children's chair originally designed as part of a child's writing desk
1910s children's bentwood chair by Gebrüder Thonet with curved armrests and circular wooden seat
Front view of antique Thonet children's chair showing flowing bentwood arms and shaped wooden backrest
Three-quarter view of 1910s Gebrüder Thonet child's chair with sculptural bentwood construction
Side view of early 20th-century Thonet children's chair showing curved armrest and compact proportions
Rear view of antique Thonet child's chair highlighting the continuous bentwood back and arm construction
Elevated view of 1910s Thonet children's chair showing circular wooden seat and curved bentwood frame
Detail of shaped wooden backrest and sweeping bentwood arms on antique Gebrüder Thonet children's chair
Close-up of restored bentwood frame and natural wood grain on 1910s Thonet child's chair
Detail of curved bentwood armrest and joint construction on early Thonet children's furniture
Lower frame detail of antique Thonet children's chair showing curved legs and bentwood supports
Restored 1910s Gebrüder Thonet children's chair originally designed as part of a child's writing desk

1910s Children's Bentwood Chair by Gebrüder Thonet

€160.00

A charming early 20th-century children's chair by Gebrüder Thonet, made around the 1910s and originally designed as part of a combined child's chair and writing desk.

Constructed entirely from bentwood, the chair has an unusually expressive form. The curved backrest flows naturally into the armrests, while the circular seat and sweeping supports create a beautifully balanced composition on a remarkably small scale.

Carefully restored while preserving its historic character, it is a wonderful example of the attention Thonet gave not only to adult furniture, but also to furniture designed specifically for children.

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Design & History

Children's furniture formed an established part of Thonet's production from the second half of the nineteenth century. Rather than simply reducing adult chairs in size, the company developed a surprisingly varied range of furniture specifically for younger users, including chairs, rocking chairs, high chairs, desks and combined seating-and-writing furniture.

This particular design appears in historic Thonet catalogues from the late nineteenth century. The chair originally formed part of a larger unit in which the seat was connected to a small writing desk - an ingenious piece of children's furniture designed to create a compact place for reading, drawing or schoolwork.

This surviving chair dates from around the 1910s.

Its construction demonstrates why bentwood was so perfectly suited to children's furniture. The technique allowed Thonet to create something strong and practical while keeping the chair visually light, with rounded forms and very few unnecessary elements.

Separated from its original desk, the chair now stands beautifully as an individual piece of early Thonet design.

Explore another example of historic Thonet children's furniture in our collection - the 1920s Model No. 1 Children's Chair by Gebrüder Thonet.

Design Details

The most distinctive feature is the continuous relationship between the backrest and armrests.

Two sweeping bentwood elements rise from beneath the seat, curve around the sides of the chair and meet the gently shaped backrest. Rather than appearing as separate structural components, they create one flowing composition around the child sitting within it.

The circular wooden seat provides a simple centre to the design, while the curved legs and supports continue the rhythm below.

There is almost no applied decoration. Instead, the character comes entirely from the bentwood itself - from the changing direction of the curves, the warm natural grain and the surprisingly sculptural silhouette.

Its small proportions make these details particularly appealing. It feels unmistakably like a Thonet chair, but one designed around the scale and needs of a child.

Why We Like It

There is something wonderful about seeing serious furniture design at such a small scale.

We particularly love the way the arms wrap around the seat. They give the chair an almost embracing quality while also demonstrating just how expressive Thonet's bentwood technique could be.

The original connection with a child's writing desk makes it even more appealing. This wasn't created as a decorative miniature - it was proper everyday furniture intended to be used by a child.

More than a century later, the desk may be gone, but the chair still feels beautifully resolved on its own. It is functional, sculptural and full of character - and a lovely reminder that good design was not reserved only for adults.

Condition & Restoration

The chair has undergone a careful professional restoration.

Our experienced craftsman strengthened the construction and carefully restored the wooden surfaces using traditional techniques, reviving the natural character and pattern of the bentwood while respecting the age of the piece.

The chair remains in very good vintage condition, with only minor wear and patina consistent with more than a century of previous use.

The construction is stable and the chair is ready for use.

Please refer to the photographs for a detailed record of its condition.

Details

Manufacturer: Gebrüder Thonet
Period: Circa 1910s
Origin: Austria
Materials: Bentwood
Condition: Professionally restored
Quantity: 1

Dimensions

Width: 41 cm
Depth: 42 cm
Height: 57 cm
Seat height: 24 cm

Delivery & Returns

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

EU shipping: €20, 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.