Design & History

Children's furniture has a surprisingly long history within Thonet production. The company began producing furniture specifically for children in the nineteenth century, and by 1885 its catalogues already included an extensive collection of child-sized furniture.

Model No. 1 belongs to this tradition, adapting the principles that made Thonet furniture internationally successful to the smaller proportions required for a child.

The design is closely related in spirit to Thonet's celebrated bentwood café chairs, particularly the famous Model No. 14. Rather than treating children's furniture as something entirely separate, Thonet applied the same ideas of economical construction, elegant curves and serial production that defined its adult furniture.

Although the Model No. 1 design appeared considerably earlier, this particular example is believed to date from the late 1920s.

Design Details

The chair is made entirely from bentwood, beautifully demonstrating the technique that became synonymous with the Thonet name.

Its most distinctive feature is the backrest. Two continuous curved side supports rise from the rear legs and sweep around the upper back, creating an expressive organic silhouette without the need for applied decoration.

The circular wooden seat complements these curves and gives the small chair a particularly harmonious appearance. Below, the four slender legs are connected by a simple circular stretcher, adding stability while continuing the visual rhythm of the design.

There is virtually no ornamentation. Instead, the character of the chair comes entirely from the bentwood construction, proportion and flowing lines - a simplicity that still feels remarkably modern today.

Why We Like It

There is something particularly appealing about seeing the language of classic Thonet furniture reduced to the scale of a child.

We love that it was never designed simply as a decorative miniature. It is a proper piece of furniture, made with the same bentwood technique and attention to proportion as Thonet's full-size chairs.

The beautifully curved back gives it an almost sculptural quality, while the traces of age preserved in the wood remind us that generations of children may have actually used it. More than a century after the model first appeared, it remains both wonderfully charming and surprisingly modern.

Condition & Restoration

The chair is in good vintage condition and retains some light wear and patina acquired through age and previous use.

During a recent restoration, the frame was carefully strengthened and the wooden surface hand-finished with shellac and nitro varnish to revive and protect the original character of the bentwood.

The restoration was carried out with respect for the chair's age, retaining the character and signs of use that form part of its history.

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

Details

Manufacturer: Gebrüder Thonet
Model: No. 1
Period: 1920s
Origin: Austria
Materials: Bentwood
Condition: Professionally restored
Quantity: 1

Dimensions

Width: 36 cm
Depth: 39 cm
Height: 64 cm
Seat height: 31 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.