For more than 180 years, Thonet — or Gebrüder Thonet — has produced elegant and durable tables and cabinets as well as chairs, stools and other seating that wholly blur the lines between art and design. Widely known as a trailblazer in the use of bentwood in furniture, the European manufacturer has reimagined the places in which we gather.
Noted for his skill in parquetry, German-Austrian company founder Michael Thonet received an invitation from Austrian Chancellor Prince Metternich to contribute Neo-Rococo interiors to the Liechtenstein City Palace in Vienna. The Boppard-born Thonet had honed his carpentry skills in his father’s workshop, where he carried out experiments with plywood and modified the Biedermeier chairs that populated the studio.
Thonet’s work for the chancellor raised his profile, and the cabinetmaker gained international recognition, including at London’s Great Exhibition of 1851, which featured works created by members of the Arts and Crafts movement as well as industrial products of the day. Thonet showed a range of furniture at the fair and won the bronze medal for his bentwood chairs. He incorporated his family’s company, the Thonet Brothers, with his sons in 1853.
Bentwood furniture dates as far back as the Middle Ages, but it is the 19th-century cabinetmaker Thonet who is most often associated with this now-classic technique. Thonet in 1856 patented a method for bending solid wood through the use of steam, and from there, the bentwood look skyrocketed to furniture fame. The works of renowned mid-century modern designers such as Alvar Aalto, Arne Jacobsen, and Charles and Ray Eames that put this technological advancement to use would not be as extensive or celebrated were it not for the efforts of the pioneering Thonet.
Considered the world’s oldest mass-produced chair, Michael Thonet’s ubiquitous Chair No. 14 demonstrated that his patented bentwood technology made it possible to efficiently produce furniture on an industrial scale. Now known as the 214, it won the German Sustainability Award Design for 2021, a recognition of the company’s commitment to environmentally responsible production.
Often called the Coffee House chair — the company’s first substantial order was for a Viennese coffeehouse — the No. 14 remains an icon. Thonet originally designed the chair in 1859, and it is considered the starting point for modern furniture.
The bentwood process opened doors — there were investments in machinery and new industrial processes, and the business began mass-producing furniture. By the end of the 1850s, there were additional Thonet workshops in Eastern Europe and hundreds of employees. Michael Thonet’s reputation attracted the attention of notable architects including Otto Wagner, Marcel Breuer and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.
The No. 14 was followed by the No. 18, or the Bistro chair, in 1867, and the 209, or the Architect’s chair, of which Le Corbusier was a fan. (The influential Swiss-French architect and designer used Thonet furniture in his Pavillon de l’Esprit Nouveau at the 1925 International Exposition of Decorative Arts in Paris.)
Thonet’s chair designs also appeared in artwork by Toulouse-Lautrec, John Sloan and Henri Matisse in his Interior with a Violin Case. The noteworthy Thonet rocking chair remains a marvel of construction — in the middle of the 19th century, Michael produced a series of rockers in which the different curved parts were integrated into fluid, sinuous wholes. Thanks to Thonet, the humble rocker acquired something unexpected: style. It was captured in the paintings of Pablo Picasso, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and James Tissot.
Thonet is currently split into global divisions. Thonet Industries U.S.A. was acquired in 1987 by Shelby Williams and joined the CF Group in 1999, while the Thonet brand in Germany is owned by Thonet GmbH.
Find antique Gebrüder Thonet furniture on 1stDibs.
$1,808Sale Price / set|26% Off
Set of Four Art Nouveau Nesting Tables No. 10 by Thonet, circa 1900
By Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH
Located in Lucenec, SK
Set of 4 Art Nouveau nesting tables or Quartetto tables by Thonet Wien, model no. 10, circa 1905.
Bentwood
Thonet Vienna Art Nouveau Set Of Four Nesting Side Tables, Black Stained, C 1900
By Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH
Located in Vienna, AT
An elegant Art Nouveau side table set comprising four individual tables of varying sizes that can be nested inside one another. High-quality, handcrafted furniture featuring decorati...
Beech
Pair of Art Nouveau Thonet Side Tables - Vienna, 1904
By Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH
Located in Girona, Girona
Pair of tripod and triangular side tables in stained and varnished solid beech, thick glass tops with fleur-de-lys motif. Production: Thonet, Vienna, model 9104 from 1904.
Glass, Beech
Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH MOS Side Table in Wood with Brass Feet
By Adolf Loos, Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH
Located in Brooklyn, NY
MOS is the family of storage units designed by GamFratesi with console, bookcase and side table, which can also be used as a bedside table, that incorporates the style of the bench o...
Wood
Thonet Vienna Art Nouveau Set of Four Nesting Side Tables, Mahogany Stained
By Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH
Located in Vienna, AT
High-quality handcrafted placemat, beech bentwood, stained mahogany, shellac hand-polished: Four nesting side tables in different sizes with an elegant design, the largest of the tables with a smoked glass inlay on top. Manufactured by Thonet brothers, Vienna, around 1900 Model number 9110 Measures of largest: Height: 69.5 cm / 27.36 inches Width: 60.0 cm / 23.62 inches Depth: 40.0 cm / 15.74 inches Bibliography: Illustrated Catalogue of Michael Thonet, Vienna 1904, page 68, number (91)10 Original vintage furniture...
Smoked Glass, Beech
Historicism Beech Bentwood Side Table No 13 by August Thonet circa 1880 Vienna
By Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH
Located in Vienna, AT
Historicism vintage side table from bentwood and beech in wonderful warm walnut stained color tone model No. 13 designed by August Thonet manufactured by Gebrüder Thonet, circa 1880 Vienna. A very rare vintage side table model no 13 ( 9313 ) from bentwood and beechwood, while the top is walnut veneered, the beechwood base is stained very similar to walnut color. August Thonet, the son of Michael Thonet, designed this model No 13. ( 9313 ) circa 1880. Throughout its elegant feet this table is named deer leg table...
Beech, Walnut
Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH Hold On Side Table in Wenge and Marble Top
By Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH, Adolf Loos
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This table completes and enriches the company’s first line of upholstered pieces with sumptuous elegance. The folding structure in ash wood post has a round top available in such pre...
Wood
Thonet Vienna Art Nouveau Set Of Four Nesting Side Tables Mahogany Stained, 1900
By Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH
Located in Vienna, AT
An elegant Art Nouveau side table set comprising four individual tables of varying sizes that can be nested inside one another. High-quality, handcrafted furniture featuring decorati...
Beech
Edwardian Mahogany Art Nouveau Inlaid Occasional Table
Located in Altrincham, GB
Edwardian Mahogany Art Nouveau Inlaid Occasional Table, with Marquetry and Pewter Inlay - 21"w x 20"d x 28"h
Pewter
Art Nouveau Side Table made of Bamboo
Located in Hannover, DE
This stunning Art Nouveau side table made of bamboo is a real gem! It's a true rarity and a must-have for any collection. This table is absolutely stunning! It's lovingly crafted by ...
Bamboo, Raffia
$2,800 / set
H 29.14 in W 22.05 in D 15.75 in
Set of Four Hand-Carved French Art Nouveau Nesting Tables, Circa 1900
Located in Antwerp, BE
Set off four French Art Nouveau nesting tables,late 19th or early 20th century. Dimensions; 56 x 39 x 74 cm. 49 x 36 x 72 cm. 42 x 32 x 70 cm. 36 x 29 x 68 cm.
Wood
Round side table by Thonet
By Thonet
Located in Hronská Breznica, Banskobystrický kraj
Round side table by Thonet. Professionally stained and repolished.
Brass
Thonet Bentwood Side Table with Scrolled Base, Austria, C. 1900-1919
By August Thonet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Thonet Bentwood Side Table with Scrolled Base, Austria, circa 1890–1919 This elegant bentwood side table is a classic example of late 19th- to early 20th-century Central European de...
Beech
1900s French Art Nouveau Wooden Side Table With Floral Top
Located in High Point, NC
This 1900s French Art Nouveau wooden side table captures the movement’s characteristic fluidity and handcrafted elegance. Its gently arched legs, connected by lattice-style stretcher...
Wood
MIGO – Side Table in Solid Ash Wood with Fabric Strap
By Daniel Schofield
Located in Lisboa, Lisboa
Minimal in its components, the MIGO table consists of two parts: a tabletop and a conical-shaped base whose upper edge ends with a subtle strap, allowing it to be lifted with ease. ...
Wood, Plywood, Ash
$1,166Sale Price|20% Off
H 26.19 in W 15.75 in D 15.56 in
Oak Art Nouveau Arts & Crafts Side Table, 1900s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Stunning and rare Art Nouveau Arts & Crafts side table. Striking Dutch design from the 1900s. Solid oak frame with hand-carved flowers on top and legs. This wonderful Art Nouveau ...
Oak
$875
H 30.25 in W 24 in D 17.75 in
Antique Edwardian Mahogany Quartetto Set Nest of Four Occasional Tables 1900
Located in Dublin, Ireland
Superb Set of Edwardian polished Mahogany occasional Nest of Tables of English origin, circa 1900. Of traditional graduated size, these stacking or nesting tables with rectangular t...
Mahogany
MIGO – Side Table in Solid Oak Wood with Fabric Strap
By Daniel Schofield
Located in Lisboa, Lisboa
Minimal in its components, the MIGO table consists of two parts: a tabletop and a conical-shaped base whose upper edge ends with a subtle strap, allowing it to be lifted with ease. ...
Wood, Oak, Plywood
Andrianna Shamaris Petrified Wood Side Table with Cracked Resin
Located in New York, NY
It’s fascinating how Mother Nature produces these exquisite 40 million year old petrified teak logs with such contrasting colors and natural patterns and markings throughout. Modern ...
Resin, Wood, Reclaimed Wood, Petrified Wood
Art Nouveau Bentwood Side Table
By Thonet
Located in Vienna, AT
Vienna secession beech bentwood table. Rectangular Beech / bentwood. Vienna, 1900.
Beech, Plywood, Bentwood
Michael Thonet, bentwood 19th century side table No. 1, Austria
By Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH, Michael Thonet
Located in Turku, Varsinais-Suomi
Elevate your living space with the exquisite charm of Michael Thonet’s 19th century side table No. 1, seamlessly blending Austrian craftsmanship with timeless elegance. Its intricate...
Bentwood
Sold
H 30.71 in Dm 24.02 in
Early 20th Century Thonet Brothers Vienna Rehbeintisch Bentwood Side Table
By Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH
Located in Norwich, England
Early 20th century bentwood Rehbeintisch 'deer leg table' designed by Gebruder Thonet in 1888 - Vienna. Circa 1900. Stamped Thonet. Delivery included ...
Beech, Bentwood, Pine
Sold
H 29.73 in W 20.28 in D 14.18 in
Vienna Secession Side Table by Gustav Siegel for Gebrüder Thonet Austria, 1900s
By Gustav Siegel, Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Stunning and rare Vienna Secession side table. Design by Gustav Siegel for Gebrüder Thonet Austria. Striking Austrian design from the 1900s. Original lacquered beech frame with origi...
Brass
Sold
H 30.71 in W 20.48 in D 20.48 in
Thonet Vienna Art Nouveau Table No 8040, Design by Marcel Kammerer, circa 1905
By Marcel Kammerer, Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH
Located in Vienna, AT
Small table with elegantly curved bentwood elements: two U-shaped bent struts with the ends parallel as legs tied to the corners of the table top, two further U-shaped bent struts opposite, with ends touching the floor, attached to the legs of the small table with brass buttons and supporting it, three curved wooden cross braces running parallel under the table top, two parallel brass braces near the floor, brass shoes on the feet. Beech bentwood, stained mahogany, hand-polished shellac. Design by Marcel Kammerer (1878 - 1959): as a Wagner student, worked for several years as chief draftsman in Otto Wagner's office and worked on important buildings, such as the church at Steinhof. Kammerer designed a large part of the furniture for Wagner's postal savings bank building. In addition, he also ran independent projects. Gebrüder Thonet Vienna, manufactured around 1905 Model Number: 8040 Design: Marcel Kammerer, 1904-05 Manufactured from 1905 Catalogue: 1907 supplement The table no. 8040 and the armchair Otto Wagner designed for the Postparkasse were presented in the same issue (October 1905) of the company magazine 'Thonet Zentral Anzeiger' Regarding this model, manufactured at the Bistritz plant, the company committed to producing a complete line in the same style in the near future. One of these models was the amazing coat...
Beech
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H 30.32 in Dm 18.12 in
Thonet Vienna Art Nouveau Saloon Reading Table No 1 Mahogany Stained circa 1900
By Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH
Located in Vienna, AT
Elegant saloon table with a round, original table top with edging to prevent rolling, decorative and elaborate bentwood struts and applications with volutes on the three-sided foot. Beautifully designed, handcrafted furniture with bentwood elements, beech, stained mahogany, shellac hand-polished. Manufactured by Thonet Brothers...
Beech
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H 30.32 in W 40.95 in D 24.41 in
Art Nouveau Serving Trolley, After a Design by Adolf Loos, ca 1905
By Adolf Loos, Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH
Located in Vienna, AT
Elegant serving trolley in the style of a cab: The housing above the two large spoked wheels, as well as the connected 'carriage' on two legs, have fixed glass shelves on the top, co...
Beech
Sold
H 46.46 in W 17.72 in D 17.72 in
Thonet Vienna Art Nouveau Flower Pedestal, Design by Marcel Kammerer, ca 1900
By Marcel Kammerer, Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH
Located in Vienna, AT
Pedestal with elegantly curved bentwood elements: four legs over a square plan, conically converging upwards, protruding at the top end, whereby two legs are connected to each other by a circular bend, within this headpart a circular shelf...
Beech
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H 29.53 in W 22.83 in D 15.35 in
Art Nouveau Bentwood Nesting Tables by Thonet, Marked, Austria circa 1905
By Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Beautiful set of four Art Nouveau bentwood nesting tables from the period around 1905 made by the renowned manufactory of Thonet Vienna. The model No. 10 was artfully made of fine bentwood (= beechwood that has been bent under steam and high pressure) and trimmed to a lovely dark mahogany tone. This over 115 year old Thonet nestling table...
Bentwood
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H 23.23 in W 22.44 in D 14.96 in
Art Nouveau Thonet Bentwood Side Table No.9171 with Palmettes, Austria Ca. 1910
By Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Elegant Art Nouveau bentwood side table made by the famous company of Thonet in Austria around 1910. The timeless designed side table Mod. No. 9171 show...
Beech, Bentwood
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H 29.73 in W 23.63 in D 15.75 in
Thonet Vienna Art Nouveau Music Table, Mahogany stained, Around 1900
By Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH
Located in Vienna, AT
Small table with elegantly curved legs, one horizontal and four vertical slots for notes and newspapers. Shapely furniture made by hand in high-quality with bentwood elements, beech,...
Beech
Sold
H 30.32 in W 24.02 in D 17.72 in
Art Nouveau Thonet Side Table, Design Josef Hoffmann, Austria, circa 1910
By Josef Hoffmann, Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Remarkable Art Nouveau Thonet Side Table from the renowed company of Thonet around 1910. Designed by none other than the world famous Austrian designer and founder of the "Wiener Wer...
Beech
Sold
H 25.6 in W 17.7 in D 17.7 in
Ebonized Beechwood Side Table by Thonet, Art Nouveau Period, Austria circa 1915
By Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH
Located in Lichtenberg, AT
Elegant ebonized Art Nouveau beechwood side table by made by the famous company of Thonet in Austria around 1915. A timeless designed side table with rectangular top plate and a floa...
Beech