The Iconic Bentwood Chair

Sara Ruffin Costello's (editor of Domino) living room/dining room.

Did you have a nice weekend? I sure hope so! 

I'm still obsessing a bit about the new (soon to be) study. I've decided not to paint or do anything structural -it's pretty much pulling pieces of furniture out of storage and other rooms in the house and arranging them. I'm considering using some bentwood chairs that we've been storing because they are small and light.

Spray painting them black would certainly be easy and I like the look.

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Bentwood chairs have been around since the early eighteen hundreds when Michel Thonet invented them. 

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Thonet was a German, living in Vienna, when he created the bentwood process: soaking, steaming, bending and molding wood into various shapes.

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Most of the bentwood seen in the eighteenth century was manufactured in France, Austria and Poland.

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In 1870, when Thonet's patent expired, several other companies went into production making bentwood chairs. One of those companies was Mundus and Kohn. Eventually the companies merged and are still in existence today as Thonet Company.

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 Speaking of the armchair version, (above) the celebrated 20th century architect Le Corbusier stated "Never has anything been created more elegant and better in its conception, more precise in its execution, and more excellently functional."

Elle Decor

The iconic No 14 chair is still manufactured today as the No. 214 chair. It consist of six pieces. The design has remained unchanged for nearly 150 years.

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Often referred to as the bistro chair, it has become the most influential design in the history of furniture. 

Decor Pad

Of all of the finishes that I've seen, this is the one that I favor most.

Apartment Therapy

http://www.annesage.com/

I love the chairs paired with the Saarinen's modern tulip table.

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Muriel Brandolini’s Upper East Side townhouse.

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Sources and Excerpts: Lennonhall Antiques ,  Patrick Taylor,  EBay Guides

It's estimated that Thonet chairs have seated more people than any other chair in history? It is amazing to me how timeless this chair is! I like to try and think about what new piece of furniture will stand the test of time like Thonet's No.14. Will there ever be one? Any ideas?

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