Thonet coffeehouse chairs
The coffeehouse chair changed furniture production in the late 19th century. Michael Thonet significantly advanced the work with bentwood and consequently developed the bentwood chair.
Thonet developed a process to make wood bendable with steam and glue water. Thanks to many technical revolutions in the middle of the 19th century, the new chairs could be produced in large numbers. In 1852, Michael Thonet patented the process.
What made the coffeehouse chairs so ingenious
The processes developed led to the creation of the Thonet coffee house chair 214 with Viennese weave. The new-fangled chair quickly became a best-seller and design icon. Today, it is a symbol of timeless elegance. Many designs today are still inspired by the Viennese coffee house chair.
The coffeehouse chairs were mass-produced items and could only become known throughout Europe in this way. The Thonet chair 214 was the first mass-produced and mass-produced chair. The chair was particularly practical because it could be disassembled into its space-saving individual parts and thus transported. Particularly with the proliferation of ship travel in the 19th century, the Thonet 214 was ideally suited.
The invention of bentwood chairs
Making furniture has always been a labor-intensive and tedious affair. Classically, carpenters made furniture per order. Technical revolutions and new processes in the middle of the 19th century caused the emergence of mass production. The bentwood technique developed by Michael Thonet meant that wood could now be shaped in almost any direction. Semi-circular arches of chair backs and backs could be made more easily and quickly. The curved chair leg reinforcements were also an innovation - technically, but especially in terms of design.
The bentwood furniture was an economic success and technically a revolution. Even during Michael Thonet's lifetime, this led to a large industry. His sons and descendants continued the company and established further production facilities.
Coffee house chairs today
Today, the coffeehouse chairs are considered classics. The Thonet 214 goes back to the original by Michael Thonet. Even after all these years, the model still looks appealing and chic. Models like the Thonet bentwood chair 209 and 210 were further developments of the original Thonet 214. Unlike the first coffeehouse chair, the new models had armrests. However, the designers of these chairs were no longer Michael Thonet himself, but his sons. To this day, the Thonet company produces these chairs and even today they have not lost their charm.