Michael Thonet No. 14 Bentwood Chair by Ton – Natural Beechwood / Cane Seat

The No. 14 Bentwood Chair was originally created in Michael Thonet’s Boppard, Germany workshop in 1855.  The No. 14 Bentwood Chair is perhaps the most famous chair of all time.  The No. 14 Bentwood Chair’s simple elegance and modest creation from a handful of bentwood pieces have become legendary worldwide.  This No. 14, or A14, bentwood chair is manufactured at a factory utilizing handcraft techniques originated by Michael Thonet.   

In the 1840s Michael Thonet began experimenting with bentwood furniture made by bending wood that had been steamed into a soft and pliable state. Over the next 20 years, Michael Thonet and his sons developed the processes and machines that would allow them to build bentwood furniture in unprecedented quantities. It was in this time period that he developed what has become thought of as the “traditional” Michael Thonet-designed bentwood chair: one featuring a backrest and back legs made from a single piece, a rounded cane or laminated seat, and front legs. In his effort to reduce the number of pieces used in building chairs, he had to connect the main elements that existed on different planes.  This could only be achieved by bending wood.  Michael Thonet’s further experimentation with bending wood yielded amazing results.  By the 1850s, Michael Thonet’s bentwood styles had become mainstream, and he was on his way to creating a catalog of chairs yet to be rivaled.

Made in the Czech Republic by Ton.

Dimensions: H 33″  D 20 1/4″  W 16 1/4″  SH 18 1/4″

Materials:  Bentwood chair.  Frame in solid natural beechwood.  Seat in woven cane.