Design & History

By the 1970s, TON had developed a remarkably broad range of furniture while continuing the woodworking tradition inherited from the former Thonet factories in Czechoslovakia.

This children's chair belongs to the quieter, more restrained side of that production.

Rather than relying on the dramatic bentwood curves historically associated with Thonet and TON, the chair is constructed from relatively simple wooden elements arranged into a clean, rational structure.

Its lightness, natural beech and tapered legs give it an undeniable affinity with Scandinavian furniture of the post-war period. But the chair is firmly rooted in Czechoslovak production - a practical piece of everyday furniture made by one of the country's most important manufacturers.

The individual designer remains unknown, and we prefer to leave the authorship open until documentary evidence can be found.

Design Details

The chair is made entirely from beech, with a compact wooden seat supported within a slender frame.

The construction is particularly attractive when viewed from the side.

Rather than simply stopping beneath the seat, the rear legs continue upwards to support the gently shaped backrest, while the front and rear sections are visually connected around the seat to create a strong rectangular composition.

The legs taper subtly towards the floor, reducing the visual weight of the chair and giving it an elegant stance.

Above, the small curved backrest introduces a softer element into the otherwise geometric construction.

The warm honey-coloured finish allows the natural grain of the beech to remain visible and gives the chair much of its character.

At only 56 cm high, everything has been carefully reduced to a child's scale without making the chair feel like a decorative miniature.

Why We Like It

There is something particularly appealing about good furniture design made for children.

This chair doesn't rely on bright colours, decoration or novelty to announce that it was designed for a child. Instead, it uses exactly the same principles we appreciate in full-size furniture - good proportions, honest materials and carefully considered construction.

We especially like the way the frame seems to wrap around the seat. From different angles, the simple wooden elements create an almost architectural composition.

And then there is the scale.

Placed beside adult furniture, its tiny proportions immediately give the chair personality. Yet it remains a proper, functional piece of furniture rather than simply a charming object.

For us, that combination of playfulness and serious design is precisely what makes it special.

Condition & Restoration

The chair has undergone a careful professional restoration.

The beech frame was strengthened where necessary and the wooden surfaces were carefully restored while preserving the natural grain and warm honey tone of the original material.

The chair was subsequently hand-finished with shellac and nitrocellulose varnish to recreate a finish sympathetic to the period.

It remains in very good vintage condition with only minimal signs of age and 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

Designer: Unknown
Manufacturer: TON
Period: 1970s
Origin: Czechoslovakia
Materials: Beech
Condition: Professionally restored
Quantity: 1

Dimensions

Width: 35 cm
Depth: 33 cm
Height: 56 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.