This set of four Thonet style bentwood chairs in steam-bent beech gathers the classic bistro model of the Vienna Secession: vertical spindle back crowned by a one-piece curved horseshoe rail, solid round wooden seat. 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.
Finding a coherent set of four identical chairs after a century of use is exceptional. The great Central European manufacturers — Mundus, Kohn, Thonet — produced millions of these chairs for cafés, restaurants and bourgeois homes, but they rarely survive in complete, matching sets.
The bentwood technique allows continuous lines by curving steam-cooked beech rods in metal moulds. The frame is composed of a continuous curved leg, a perimeter lower hoop and a curved back rail, all bent from single pieces and fixed with discreet hardware.
The four pieces show slightly different patinas — blonde and dark mahogany tones — the natural consequence of a century of life in different settings before being reassembled. Wear is honest: polished lower hoop from rubbing, seats with light use marks. No invasive restorations.
The set resolves a four-seat dining setup in a single move, but also works as scattered chairs in a sitting room, desks or entryway. Compatibility with solid wood, marble or painted metal tables is wide.
Details
- Materials and techniques: Steam-bent beech wood; solid round wooden seat
- Place of origin: Central Europe
- Period: Vienna Secession
- Date of manufacture: Circa 1920
- Dimensions: Piece #1: Length 51 cm × Depth 41 cm × Height 76 cm (seat 48 cm) · Piece #2: Length 50 cm × Depth 41 cm × Height 73 cm (seat 47 cm) · Piece #3: Length 46 cm × Depth 40 cm × Height 74 cm (seat 47 cm) · Piece #4: Length 52 cm × Depth 41 cm × Height 73 cm (seat 47 cm)
- Condition: Good. Wear consistent with age and use. Mixed patinas across the four chairs. 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.
