This pair of Thonet style bentwood chairs in steam-bent beech shows a more compact silhouette than the standard bistro chair: low back with flat curved rail and vertical spindles, square seat with softened edges. Central Europe, circa 1920.
Attributed to the Thonet tradition or the Central European bentwood school (including makers such as Jacob & Josef Kohn or Fischel), this piece reflects the formal and structural standards of early 20th-century Viennese production, although no maker’s mark is present to confirm a definitive attribution.
The great Central European bentwood manufacturers — Mundus, Kohn and Thonet — offered a broad catalogue of variants tailored to each use: dining, café, desk or sitting room. This low-back, square-seat version was conceived for medium-height tables and domestic settings.
The frame follows the classic bentwood technique: steam-cooked beech rods curved in moulds, splayed legs and a perimeter lower hoop reinforcing the structure. The slightly concave seat retains its original finish.
The patina shows a warm medium tone with honest wear: the original varnish has aged without altering the silhouette and the contact points show the soft sheen that years bring. No invasive restorations.
These chairs pair well with a small dining table or as accent chairs at a desk or in an entryway. Their compact silhouette makes them especially useful in tight spaces, without giving up the character of Viennese bentwood.
Details
- Materials and techniques: Steam-bent beech wood; solid square wooden seat
- Place of origin: Central Europe
- Period: Vienna Secession
- Date of manufacture: Circa 1920
- Dimensions: Piece #1: Length 43 cm × Depth 45 cm × Height 78 cm (seat 46 cm) · Piece #2: Length 37 cm × Depth 44 cm × Height 76 cm (seat 47 cm)
- Condition: Good. Wear consistent with age and use. Manufacturer labels not preserved.
ONE OF A KIND PIECE
At Amaru Antiques (Barcelona) we select each antique for its history, its craftsmanship and the quiet presence it brings to a contemporary home.
