The designer who gave the legendary chair his name: Who is Michael Thonet?

Michael Thonet was born in 1796 in Boppard, Germany. He started working in the carpentry business at a young age and gained mastery. His invention, which made him a famous inventor, was the invention that softened the wood in steam boilers and allowed it to bend easily.

Michael Thonet is a visionary who first used the technique of bending wood in his designs. This method has revolutionized the design arena and brought a whole new perspective to furniture. Thonet's most famous chair, which achieves a simple and aesthetic appearance by softening and bending the beech wood with water vapor, without using nails or screws, is called No.14, or Bistro Chair. This chair has taken its place among the legendary products of design history by selling 50 million between 1859-1930.

It goes down in history as the first example where 36 chairs could fit into a cubic meter of space, thanks to its boxing and modular stackability. In this way, its worldwide sales and shipment have been among the first examples of global trade since the early 1900s. Later, new models produced with the same technique are added to this model. Rocking chair No. 1 in 1860 chairs No. 18 and 56, and model No. 209, which Le Corbusier admired, were added in the 1900s. By 1912, two million different models were produced and sold worldwide under the Thonet brand.

These chairs quickly entered the lives of thinkers, writers, and musicians who made history. Leo Tolstoy used these models of Thonet all over his house. Johann Strauss' entire orchestra was sitting in these chairs while Pablo Picasso was spending his time at home in the rocking model of this series. Charlie Chaplin featured this model in his movie frames. Archaeologist Howard Carter was also examining Tutankhamun's body on this model in his tomb in the Valley of the Kings.

Today, Peter Thonet, a direct grandson of Michael Thonet, runs the family business in Frankenberg/Eder, where it has management and manufacturing facilities. Famous twisted wood furniture and tubular steel furniture classics from the Bauhaus era are accompanied by the modern designs of well-known architects and designers, including Stefan Diez, Naoto Fukasawa, Norman Foster, James Irvine, Lepper Schmidt Sommerlade, Glen Oliver Löw.

Thonet also has a global distribution network in this context. The Thonet museum, which was opened in Frankenberg in 1989, is still considered one of the museums that the design world attracts the most attention.

Furniture designer/manufacturer Michael Thonet, who broke new ground in the history of design, is also the founder of the German brand Thonet. Also 'No. 14', also known as 'konsumstuhl' meaning cafe chair, is the person who produces the best-selling chair in the world.

Chairs designed by Thonet

Thonet, who started to manufacture furniture by gluing wooden slats with glue in the early 1830s, makes his debut with the 'Boppard' chair dated 1836.

in 1849 Gebrüder establishes Thonet; then 'No. It produces the first Thonet brand chair, which it calls 1'. But his real success was the 'No. He catches with 14'.

Seen as the most important industrial product of the 19th century, 'No. Until the 14', 1930, 50 million units were sold. This chair, produced by Michael Thonet and inspired by the Viennese cafe culture, has been used everywhere since the moment it was produced with its functionality, comfort, and reasonable price.

'No. What makes the 14 so popular is its design and lightness. Don't forget the durability factor.

Another achievement that made Michael Thonet the pioneer of his era; adding modular production techniques to the furniture industry. After that day, furniture production has not been the same!

Modularly produced furniture added a new dimension to exports as it can be easily transported. For example, 36 'No. The 14' chair takes up just one cubic meter of space!

Important designers such as Martin Stam, Anton Lorenz, and Stefan Diez made designs inspired by this cult form. 'No. The 14' chair continues to be produced, taking the name '214'.

225 YEARS OF MICHAEL THONET

https://www.thonet.de/en/magazine/history-brand/detail/225-years-of-michael-thonet