While the first name that comes to mind when thinking of bentwood furniture might be Thonet (maker of the iconic Thonet No. 14 chair or “bistro chair”), Michael Thonet and his subsequent studio, the Gebrüder Thonet (Thonet Brothers), had a strong competitor in 19th-century Vienna: Jacob & Josef Kohn (also referred to as J. & J. Kohn). Mundus-Kohn was the name given to a short-lived company owing to an early 20th-century merger between J. & J. Kohn and Mundus, a Viennese firm that Rudolf Weill & Co.'s Leopold Pilzer founded in 1907.
Founded in 1849 by a father and son with the motto “Be one step ahead,” Jacob & Josef Kohn created modern furniture for indoors and out from Austrian beech. At the turn of the 20th century, after establishing itself with mastery of everything from chairs to coatracks and even doll furniture, J. & J. Kohn began working closely with the Wiener Werkstätte, the artisan cooperative cofounded by Austrian architect and designer Josef Hoffmann (Gustav Klimt and Koloman Moser were also members). Through this partnership, J. & J. Kohn produced an array of furniture in bentwood, cane and upholstery, which it sold through showrooms across Europe and North America. Its designs throughout the first decade of the 20th century reflect the Art Nouveau movement that was quickly gaining traction across Europe.
Price wars and mergers ensued during the First World War. Changes in the organizational structure of Thonet included a merger with Viennese company Mundus in the early 20th century, which followed Mundus’s becoming a majority stakeholder in J. & J. Kohn — these mergers yielded the formation of Mundus-Kohn and later, in 1922–23, Thonet-Mundus.
The new conglomerate went on to produce examples of its bentwood furniture in keeping with the modern style of the Vienna Secession. While Thonet rebuilt, rebranded and expanded in the United States and elsewhere after World War II, J. & J. Kohn never produced furniture under that name again.
Find antique Mundus-Kohn furniture on 1stDibs.
Original Otto Prutscher&Kohn Jacob/Josef Jugendstil Wiener Werkstätte
By Woka Lamps, Otto Prutscher, J & J Kohn & Mundus
Located in Vienna, AT
Originally made by Thonet with the Nr: 567 - for the Café Heinrichshof - oposite the Vienna States Opera House, destroid 1945. Published first in 1908 in a "Sesselalbum" by Thonet (J...
Beech, Bentwood
Art Nouveau Sculptural Stool in bentwood and cane by Mundus, 1920s
By J & J Kohn & Mundus
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find a gorgeous antique Art Nouveau stool by Mundus. The stool features exceptionally sculptural form done in bentwood - 6 bentwood rings put together to cre...
Cane, Bentwood
Vintage Bar Stools done in Beech Benrwood by Mundus, Yugoslavia 1970s
By J & J Kohn & Mundus
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find vintage bar stools done in Beech Bentwood, manufactured by Mundus. Chairs are painted in dark brown, nearly black colour. Made in Yugoslavia in 1970s. ...
Beech, Bentwood
$1,624
H 16.93 in Dm 19.69 in
Art Deco Original Bentwood Stool , Rattan Cane Top, designed by Michael Thonet
By Thonet, Michael Thonet
Located in Vigonza, Padua
A original art deco Bentwood Stool or Table with Rattan Cane Top designed by Michael Thonet, with 4 spherical feet. Wax polished The seat is still with its original rattan cane st...
Beech
Midcentury Bar Stool, Czechoslovakia 1970s
Located in Praha, CZ
Good original condicion Made in Czechoslovakia 1970s Seat diameter 31 cm
Metal
$1,980
H 18.51 in W 15.75 in D 15.75 in
Stool Model 616 / S, designed by Otto Wagner for Jacob & Josef Kohn
By Jacob & Josef Kohn, Otto Wagner
Located in Vienna, AT
Beech bentwood or plywood designed about 1905 by Otto Wagner for Kohn. Original condition newer restored.
Beech, Plywood
Mid-Century Vintage Swivel Bar Stools 1970s
Located in Baltimore, MD
A beautiful set of four mid-century modern bar stools circa 1970s. Each with a high back, padded backrest and swivel padded seats made of vinyl upholstery in a dark brown color. The ...
Upholstery
Bar Stools in the Style of Charlotte Perriand, France, 1970s
By Charlotte Perriand
Located in Antwerp, BE
1970s bar stools with woven rush seats, crafted in the timeless style of Charlotte Perriand. Their minimalist wooden frames and natural materials evoke the rustic elegance of French ...
Wood
$2,000Sale Price / set|37% Off
H 15.5 in W 13 in D 13 in
Art Deco Huali and Marble Stools, Chinese Rosewood, 1920s, Shanghai
Located in Wainscott, NY
20th century handsome Huali and marble stools are Chinese Art Deco, from Shanghai in the 1920s. Their original use would have been as stools around a game table. Lovely styled in a ...
Rosewood
Pair of Thonet Romanian Bentwood Cane Bar Stools
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Rare pair of mid-century modern bar stools crafted from bentwood after Thonet. The stools feature a classic heart motif back crafted from gracefully curved beech. The round seat has woven cane inset and is supported by long straight legs conjoined by round and curved stretchers. The lower ring stretcher serves as a footrest with a seat height of 29.5 inches high. Each chair is stamped on bottom "made in Romania" with missing paper labels. Styled after the famous No. 16 sweetheart chairs...
Cane, Bentwood
$1,750 / set
H 23.5 in W 14.5 in D 14.5 in
Italian Bistro Style Mid Century Bentwood and Cane Counter Height Stools
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Set of 3 Italian riviera bistro style bar stools. Made in Romania in the 1950s. Made with precise bent wood and topped with a cane seat. A classic interpretation of a stool. Count...
Cane, Bentwood
Josef Hoffmann Chair for Jacob and Josef Kohn Furniture
By Josef Hoffmann
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Josef Hoffmann Chair Model 725 circa 1903-1905. Rare variation with caned seat and back. Usually found with upholstered seat and back. Chair is sometimes said to be by Gustav Siegel ...
Cane, Beech
Vienna Secessionist Bentwood Chair by Kohn Mundus
By J & J Kohn & Mundus, Thonet
Located in New York, NY
Classic steam bent Vienna Secessionist side chair made in Czechoslovia, by J.J. Kohn & Mundus, circa 1900/1920's. The chair is in very good, clean, ready to use condition, showing o...
Cane, Bentwood
$2,610
H 16.93 in W 18.9 in D 13.78 in
Art Deco Modernist Stool by J.A. Muntendam for L.O.V. Oosterbeek, 1920s
By L.O.V. Oosterbeek
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Magnificent and rare Art Deco Modernist stool. Design by J.A. Muntendam for L.O.V. Oosterbeek. Striking Dutch design from the 1920s. Solid walnut base with re-upholstered seat in off...
Bouclé, Walnut
$1,067Sale Price|20% Off
H 18.51 in W 17.72 in D 13.78 in
Walnut Art Deco Modernist Stool by L.O.V. Oosterbeek, 1920s
By L.O.V. Oosterbeek
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Stunning and rare Art Deco Modernist stool. Design by L.O.V. Oosterbeek. Striking Dutch design from the 1920s. Solid walnut base and re-upholstered with a multicolored Art Deco fa...
Fabric, Walnut
Stool J&J Kohn Nr.620, Josef Hoffmann
By J & J Kohn & Mundus, Josef Hoffmann
Located in Praha, CZ
Manufactured in Austria by the Jacob & Josef Kohn company since 1909. This amazing design was renowned by Josef Hoffmann in year 1907, using in the famous Viennese café Fledermaus...
Beech, Bentwood
Stool J & J Kohn Nr.620, Josef Hoffmann
By J & J Kohn & Mundus, Josef Hoffmann
Located in Praha, CZ
Manufactured in Austria by the Jacob & Josef Kohn company since 1909. This amazing design was renowned by Josef Hoffmann in year 1907, using in the famous Viennese café Fledermaus. J...
Beech, Bentwood
Stool, Hocker J&J Kohn Nr.728, circa 1907, Josef Hoffmann
By J & J Kohn & Mundus, Josef Hoffmann
Located in Praha, CZ
Viennese secession stool Nr.728 was designed by Josef Hoffmann for company Jacob & Josef Kohn circa year 1905. In year 1907 was these furniture model used in the famous Viennese café Fledermaus...
Beech, Bentwood
Pair of J J Kohn Mundus Bentwood Stool Made in Czechoslovakia
By J & J Kohn & Mundus
Located in New York, NY
Pair of J J Kohn and Mundus bentwood stools made in Czechoslovakia, in the Vienna Secessionist style, after Thonet. These stools were originally found ...
Bentwood
Pair of J J Kohn and Mundus Bentwood Stools Made in Czechoslovakia
By J & J Kohn & Mundus
Located in New York, NY
Nice early pair of bentwood stools by J J Kohn and Mundus. Secessionist School early modern design after Thonet. Please view the other of similar stool...
Cane, Bentwood