Bentwood Chairs in the style of Thonet, Hungary, 1960, Set of 2

Details

Description

A set of two antique chairs in bentwood, with a curved crest rail over vertical splats and a moulded board … Read more A set of two antique chairs in bentwood, with a curved crest rail over vertical splats and a moulded board seat. Originates from Hungary, where beech was steam-bent in iron moulds and assembled with through screws.The steam-bent beech chair was born in Vienna in the middle of the nineteenth century and became the most widespread seat in Europe: light, strong, knock-down and cheap to ship. Its presence in cafés, dining rooms and waiting rooms made it so common that it went almost unnoticed. The chairs retain the labels of their Hungarian maker. Hungary sustained a bentwood industry of its own, parallel to the Viennese and Moravian ones, supplying cafés and domestic dining rooms across the region. Produced during the same period as Thonet furniture, this chair reflects the bentwood technique developed in Central Europe in the late 19th century. Its construction and typology suggest a parallel production—possibly a contemporary copy or a piece made under license within the broader network of workshops that adopted this innovative method. Beyond any specific attribution, it retains the functional character and essential aesthetic of period bentwood design.The seat hoops and stretchers are single lengths of steam-bent beech; the rear legs run up in continuity with the back uprights. The joints are screwed from inside, the heads left visible beneath the seat.The beech has taken a pale honey tone under its original varnish, more golden where hands and clothes have passed. The seats show the sheen that years of use give, with the odd fine scratch. The curves keep their tension and the hoops have no play. The set is complete and stable.An everyday dining chair, easy to stack against a wall and light to move. It works around a solid wood table and suits a rustic kitchen as readily as a contemporary dining room. See less