What are some interesting facts about bentwood chairs?
Another interesting fact is that of the 80+ million Bentwood chairs that have been sold since their first creation, more than half of the sales occurred before 1930. While this particular type of chair is still highly popular, other types of chair designs have weaved their way into the general public.
How is Bentwood Furniture made?
The process of making an item of Bentwood furniture involves using a specialist method of soaking or steaming a good quality piece of wood which causes it to become wet and makes it manageable to bend and manipulate into the desired shape.
What is a number 14 bentwood chair?
It’s likely you will recognise the iconic Number 14 Bowback chair (also known as the bistro chair) which was originally designed in the 1860s. As one of the best-selling chairs ever made, it is comprised of six pieces of Bentwood including two that form the Bowback element of the chair and a further two for the front legs.
What are bent wood chairs used for?
The bent pieces of wood can make up various elements of a chair or a stool. They can be curved slightly to form stylish legs or they can be put to practical use.
When were bentwood chairs invented?
1850sWho invented bentwood chairs? All bentwood furniture, including Trent Furniture's extensive range, derives from the first bentwood chair made by German-Austrian cabinet maker Michael Thonet in the 1850s in Vienna. The first of its kind was named the Model 14 and soon became known as the 'chair of chairs'.
Who designed the Thonet chair?
cabinetmaker Michael ThonetGerman cabinetmaker Michael Thonet dreamt about designing a chair that could be mass-produced and sold at an affordable price. After years of technical experiments he finally succeeded and the No. 14 was launched in 1859; the first piece of furniture to be both good-looking and inexpensive.
When was the first Thonet chair made?
The No. 14 chair is the most famous chair made by the Thonet chair company. Also known as the 'bistro chair', it was designed by Michael Thonet and introduced in 1859, becoming the world's first mass-produced item of furniture. It is made using bent wood (steam-bending), and the design required years to perfect.
What did Michael Thonet invent?
bentwood furnitureMichael Thonet (2 July 1796, Boppard – 3 March 1871, Vienna) was a German-Austrian cabinet maker, known for the invention of bentwood furniture.
What type of wood is bentwood chairs made of?
Novel Technique. Bentwood furniture began with the discovery of a new technique—the bending of solid beech wood—that was perfected and patented by the German-Austrian cabinet maker and craftsman Michael Thonet.
What kind of wood are bentwood chairs made of?
Many of the early bentwood pieces were stained black or dark brown. Seats were commonly made of cane or plywood and were the only portions not made by the bentwood method. One of the most aesthetically pleasing examples of bentwood furniture is the Thonet rocking chair.
What did Michael Thonet do?
A humble artisan who set up his own workshop specializing in parquetry (1819), Thonet began in 1830 to experiment with new cabinetmaking techniques. He developed a system of steambent veneers and glued four or five together, from which he made complete chairs that were light and curvilinear.
How do you pronounce Thonet?
Thonet: (German, Austrian) toe-net.
Where was the Thonet chair made?
In 1941, as demand for their furniture in the USA continued to grow, Thonet came to the US and began production in Statesville, North Carolina.
Who invented bentwood chairs?
All bentwood furniture, including Trent Furniture's extensive range, derives from the first bentwood chair made by German-Austrian cabinet maker Michael Thonet in the 1850s in Vienna. The first of its kind was named the Model 14 and soon became known as the 'chair of chairs'.
How are bentwood chairs made?
Part of the genius of bentwood chairs is the way they are made, with no need for any extra materials apart from steam. Thonet's in-depth experimentation allowed him to perfect the technique of using steam to soften the wood, bending it into the desired shape, and then leaving it to cool and dry back into a completely solid form.
What happened next?
Thonet's sons continued his legacy and bentwood furniture factories popped up throughout Europe. Slatback side chairs are a further example of the technique, combining the bentwood steam method with a straight or curved slatted back rest.
Why are bentwood chairs used in bars?
Bentwood chairs make popular bar furniture for all of the reasons already mentioned. They look good and have a traditional appearance that suits a lot of bars and pubs. They are comfortable to sit in, encouraging patrons to remain on your premises for longer.
Need quality bentwood chairs?
If you need quality bentwood chairs for a great price, view the Trent Furniture bentwood chairs range now. And if you have any questions or need further information about our furniture, contact us using the link below, we'd be happy to help you.
Who invented bentwood furniture?
All of our bentwood furniture comes right from the source, with roots in the centuries-old tradition of steam-bent, laminated wood work. Michael Thonet (pronounced To-net) was the father of bentwood technology—his original methods are still used in the factory he founded in 1861.
What is a Thonet chair?
To this day, bentwood chairs are known commonly as ‘Thonet chairs’ chairs and his creations are as ubiquitous as they are timeless. After centuries of heavy, hand-carved furnishings, Thonet’s light-weight, mass-produced chairs were greeted with open arms, beloved for their simple, functional design. Below is a selection from our Antiques & Vintage ...
What is bentwood chair?
Bentwood chairs are certainly the most recognizable and one of the most established chairs that have ever been produced. Bentwood chairs. The simple, yet elegant design is found around the world and is arguably the best in terms of its structure, sturdiness and beauty. The bentwood chair has stood the test of time and is arguably more popular today ...
Why is bent wood called bentwood?
The name “Bentwood” is derived from the fact that the wood on the chair has been bent into position. Using a combination of heat and moisture, the wood becomes soft and flexible enough to bend into different shapes. Once it dries out, the wood becomes hardened and keeps it new shape for many years to come. There are many different types of wood ...
How many No 14 chairs have been made?
To date, over tens of millions of No 14 chairs have been produced. The most innovative aspect of bentwood chairs in Thonet’s eyes was their expendability due to their mass production. At the 1867 World Exhibition in Paris, Thonet earned a gold medal for his design and the popularity of the chair began to grow exponentially.
What is a black Thonet chair called?
Black Thonet Bentwood Chair. A Bentwood chair is sometimes called a Thonet Chair in honor of its creator Michael Thonet. While bentwood chair were actually being made at least two centuries before Thonet was even born, he perfected the process which made the wood easier to bend and allows for mass production to begin.
What was Thonet's first chair called?
The most popular chair was simply titled Thonet “No 14”, although it has been called the Vienna or Qitay chair.
How many Bentwood chairs are there in the Moulin Rouge?
In fact, Lautrec’s work, “At the Moulin Rouge” you can actually see two Bentwood chairs in the painting. Of course, there have been many other people who have owned Bentwood chairs which makes them a rather iconic symbol of our times.
How many screws did Thonet use to put together his No 14 chair?
The famed No 14 chair only required a couple of nuts and screws to put the six pieces together. It was so simple that many people purchased the chair while still in pieces and then put it together themselves.
What is bent wood furniture?
Bentwood furniture is a piece where all or part of it is formed by wood that has been bent and shaped to achieve its final design , and you can commonly see this in certain makes of chairs and stools. The bent pieces of wood can make up various elements of a chair or a stool.
When was the number 14 chair made?
It’s likely you will recognise the iconic Number 14 Bowback chair (also known as the bistro chair) which was originally designed in the 1860s. As one of the best-selling chairs ever made, it is comprised of six pieces of Bentwood including two that form the Bowback element of the chair and a further two for the front legs.
Can you bend wood to make a stool?
By bending wood into a circle, it can then be added with upholstery to form the seat of the stool itself, or alternatively, placed further down inside the legs to strengthen the entirety of the piece, ensuring it is durable and safe for people to sit on. One of the benefits of bending wood to create a piece of furniture is ...
Where is the Tsimshian bentwood box?
A red cedar Tsimshian bentwood box dating from the 1880s, on display at the UBC Museum of Anthropology. Bentwood boxes are a traditional item made by the First Nations people of the North American west coast including the Haida, Gitxsan, Tlingit, Tsimshian, Sugpiaq, Unangax, Yup'ik, Inupiaq and Coast Salish.
What is a 14 chair?
Cradle by Gebrüder Thonet (ca. 1870) Bentwood objects are those made by wetting wood (either by soaking or by steaming), then bending it and letting it harden into curved shapes and patterns. In furniture making this method is often used in the production of rocking chairs, cafe chairs, and other light furniture.
Who created the Chagudax?
Andrew Gronholdt is credited with reviving the art of chagudax carving in the 1980s. Present day Unangan artists create chagudax for ceremonial purposes and offer them for sale to the public as well.