Thonet is one of the oldest furniture manufacturers in the world. The company’s history began in 1819, when Michael Thonet opened his first workshop in Boppard on the Rhine. Through his experiments with new techniques for shaping wood, he developed furniture that was lighter, more elegant, and easier to manufacture than many traditional designs of the time.
After moving to Vienna, Michael Thonet founded his own company in 1849, which later operated under the name Gebrüder Thonet. The brand achieved its international breakthrough in 1859 with Chair No. 14, known today as Model 214. By bending solid beech wood, the chair could be assembled from just a few components, transported in a space-saving manner, and produced in series on an almost industrial scale. This made Thonet a pioneer of modern furniture design and industrial furniture manufacturing.
A second significant era began in the 1920s with the development of furniture made from bent steel tubing. Designers and architects such as Mart Stam, Marcel Breuer, and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe used the material to create lightweight and functional furniture with a completely new aesthetic. Models such as the S 33, S 32, S 64, and S 533 became icons of the Bauhaus and Modernist movements and continue to shape Thonet’s identity to this day.
Today, the product range includes chairs, armchairs, bar stools, tables, Side tables, desks, shelves, coat racks, and lounge furniture for both residential and commercial settings. In addition to its historic classics, Thonet regularly develops new collections in collaboration with internationally renowned designers. The contemporary designs often draw on the brand’s signature materials, structural principles, and minimalist design language.
The furniture is manufactured in Frankenberg, Hesse, where Thonet has been producing since 1889. At the factory, traditional craftsmanship meets modern manufacturing technologies. Working with bentwood and tubular steel requires specialized expertise that has been passed down through generations within the company and is continuously refined.
Durability is a key component of the brand’s philosophy. Thonet relies on high-quality materials, timeless design, and a construction that allows for long-term use and, in some cases, repairs. Wood and steel are used efficiently, many suppliers are based in the local region, and production in Germany adheres to established quality and environmental standards.
Thonet furniture is suitable for living spaces as well as offices, conference areas, restaurants, hotels, and public facilities. Its minimalist design allows for versatile combinations, while the characteristic shapes give the furniture a high degree of recognizability. In this way, Thonet combines historical design with a clear, long-term perspective on contemporary furnishings.
