In every elegant café, a piece of history can be found in the curved shapes of a bentwood chair. Bentwood, a revolution in design and manufacturing, began to conquer the world of furniture in the 19th century. This technology, which turned the industrial production of high-quality furniture upside down, is largely thanks to innovators such as Thonet and the Thonet brothers.
The magic of bentwood lies in a demanding manufacturing process that requires decades of perfection. From steam-bent strips of wood to artfully intertwined chair legs, the manufacturing technique behind these pieces of furniture reveals true craftsmanship. This time-honored skill goes hand in hand with modern design requirements to create timeless pieces.
Thonet - Pioneers of bentwood furniture
Michael Thonet is considered the pioneer of bentwood furniture. He revolutionized furniture production in the 1850s by developing a technique for bending solid beech wood. This innovation enabled him to bend wood into almost any desired shape, making organic forms and elegant lines the standard in furniture production.
The iconic Thonet chairs are testament to this groundbreaking technology. By heating beech wood in steam baths, the material could be bent and shaped into the desired form. This process was not only used for chair legs and backrests, but also shaped the aesthetics of bentwood furniture in general.
Bentwood furniture lends any room an extraordinary elegance and lightness. Even today, Thonet is still synonymous with quality and timeless design in the field of bentwood furniture. Michael Thonet's legacy is continued by the Thonet company to this day, with a focus on traditional craftsmanship, innovation and timeless design.
The art of bentwood production
The technique of wood bending makes it possible to achieve the desired shape of the wood using metal templates and special tools. This processing of bent wood, especially bent beech wood, became a trademark of the Thonet company and still contributes to the signature look of Thonet furniture today.
A classic example of this is the Thonet coffee house chair, also known as model no. 14. This iconic design is characterized by its organic shapes and blends seamlessly into any room.
The manufacturing technology behind bentwood furniture
The production of bentwood furniture begins with the selection of high-quality wood. After thorough preparation, the wood is heated and bent using specific equipment. After cooling, the wood retains the desired shape, which makes it both visually appealing and functional.
The advantages of bent beech wood
- Aesthetics: The ability to create soft, organic shapes makes pieces of furniture appear more elegant and can visually expand a room.
- Stability: Curved wood ensures high strength and offers exceptional durability.
- Comfort: The rounded edges and gentle curves make Thonet chairs and other bentwood furniture incredibly comfortable.
- Environmentally friendly: beech wood is a renewable raw material; bending instead of carving the wood reduces waste.
- Innovation: Historically, bentwood stands for the revolution in furniture design, represented by icons such as the Thonet bentwood chair.
