In 1830, German cabinet maker Michael Thonet began experimenting with furniture made by bending wood that had been steamed into a soft and pliable state. Over the 20 years, Thonet and his sons developed the processes and machines that would allow them to build bentwood furniture in unprecedented quantities. It was in this time period that he developed what has become thought of as the "traditional" Thonet bentwood chair: one featuring a back rest and back legs made from a single piece, a rounded cane or laminated seat, and front legs. The output of the Thonet factories was vast, due in part to his idea of designing separate pieces which would be combined to make a large number of models. Michael Thonet stands out as a designer and pioneer both in mass production and in design, as he artistically explored the new forms and unique qualities of his newly invented technique.

The Bistro Chair, also know as the Thonet No. 14 chair is one the most recognizable chairs made by the Thonet chair company, and considered "the first consumer chair." At 70-some years old, the chair enjoyed a revival when it was included in the Pavillon de l'Esprit Nouveau, a model dwelling at the 1925 Paris International Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts. The exhibit, designed by French architect Le Corbusier, was a stark and undecorated home interior: metal file cabinets, laboratory flasks as vases, industrial equipment, and commercial furniture. What seems thoroughly modern today, was scandalous at the time. Corbusier's rejection of decorative art, as illustrated by his machine a habiter (home as a machine for living) greatly influenced the direction of the modern movement.

Bauhaus2YourHouse presents licensed designs of Michael Thonet, as manufactured by original European Thonet factories in Radomsko Poland, and Brno, Czech Republic, using historic molds and techniques. Remarkably few changes have been necessary over the last 150 years. The factories still follow the 18th century production methods developed by Michael Thonet to produce historically accurate, handsome, and sturdy bentwood chairs, stools, tables, and accessories. Cane seats are hand-tied, and wood laths steamed and bent into curved jigs then dried, sanded, and finally stained and varnished before being assembled.

Dimensions: W 16" x D 19 1/2" x H 33 1/2"; SH 18"

Materials: Chair with bentwood frame; relief wooden seat. Walnut finish.