About the Piece

This armchair represents an interesting meeting point between two generations of Czechoslovak furniture design: the historic bentwood tradition established by Gebrüder Thonet and its later development under TON.

Following the post-war reorganisation of the Czechoslovak furniture industry, the former Thonet factories became part of TON. The company continued working with the bent-beech techniques for which Thonet had become internationally celebrated, while designers began adapting established forms for changing interiors and tastes.

Antonín Šuman (1924–1998) was one of the designers closely involved in this evolution. He joined Thonet in 1949 and continued with the company after it became TON in 1953, eventually becoming an important figure in post-war Czechoslovak furniture design.

For this model, Šuman returned to an earlier Thonet bentwood armchair and reconsidered its form rather than replacing it entirely. The most noticeable intervention can be seen in the armrests, whose modified curves give the chair a subtly more modern character while retaining the elegant bentwood construction of its predecessor.

This example was manufactured by TON in 1988. Its cream-painted beech frame survives together with the original upholstered seat in a muted red-pink fabric - a combination that gives the chair a particularly distinctive late-Czechoslovak character.

Details

Designer: Antonín Šuman (1924–1998)
Manufacturer: TON
Period: 1988
Origin: Czechoslovakia
Style: Czechoslovak Modern / Bentwood
Materials: Painted beech, fabric
Colour: Cream with red-pink upholstery
Quantity: One armchair

Dimensions:
Width: 55 cm
Depth: 55 cm
Height: 76 cm
Seat height: 46 cm

Condition & Restoration

The chair is in very good vintage condition and retains its original cream-painted finish and red-pink upholstered seat.

The painted beech frame shows light traces of age and previous use, including small marks, scratches and areas of wear to the finish. Rather than removing these completely, we have preserved them as part of the chair's history and original character.

The original upholstery has been carefully cleaned and remains in good usable condition, with light wear consistent with its age.

The chair has been thoroughly checked, cleaned and prepared for use in our Brno workshop.

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

Why We Like It

What makes this chair particularly appealing to us is the way it connects different periods of Central European furniture design within a single object.

Its construction belongs unmistakably to the great bentwood tradition established by Thonet, yet Šuman's subtle alteration of the form gives it a different personality. The sweeping back and armrests create an almost continuous line around the sitter, giving the chair a surprisingly sculptural presence.

We also love the original colour combination. The warm cream-painted frame and muted red-pink seat feel unmistakably of their period, but together they have a softness that works remarkably well in contemporary interiors.

As a single chair, its versatility becomes particularly apparent. It has enough presence to stand independently beside a desk, in a bedroom or as an occasional chair, while remaining entirely functional as part of a dining setting.

For us, it is a lovely example of how Czechoslovak designers could reinterpret an established furniture tradition without losing the qualities that made the original forms so enduring.

You can discover more about Antonín Šuman, his career and his work for TON on our Designers page.

Delivery & Returns

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

EU shipping: 40 Euro, 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'd like to check anything before ordering - from condition and dimensions to delivery - Martin and Amy are always happy to help throughout the process, and also after your furniture has arrived.