Thonet - Michael Thonet - Fauteuil - 221 - Beech - armchair

Very beautiful original Thonet desk chair / armchair (no. 221). The well-known brand is still visible to a very small extent on a sticker on the bottom (see photo) with a stamp 'Thonet Austria' (see photos). The combination of this sticker and stamp was used between 1889 and 1921. The model 221 was designed in 1898, which allows us to conclude that this chair dates from the period 1898–1921. It is known that this chair was produced mainly until 1910. The chair is 90 cm high, the width is 60 cm (from armrest to armrest) and the depth 55 cm (from backrest to front). The weight is about 5 kg. The wood used is beech.

The Thonet armchair model 221 is a rare, luxurious classic designed in 1898 and produced around the turn of the century (c. 1890–1910). In contrast to the well-known, simple Thonet bistro chairs, model 221 breathes pure Jugendstil (Art Nouveau). A special feature of this chair is the Palmleaf motif on the backrest; it stands out with an openwork, fan-shaped 'palmet' with 7 branches, made from cut veneer plywood. The top of the front legs is often decorated with subtle woodcarving capitals, giving the chair an architectural look. The seat is traditionally fitted with hand-woven rattan weaving (Austrian cane) and the chair is made from the characteristic curved beechwood, darkly stained in a warm American mahogany tint.

The Thonet armchair model 221 is documented in the historical Thonet catalog of 1906 (page 18). Thanks to the combination of the light, strong curved wood with the graceful Jugendstil lines, the model is today a sought-after collector’s item that fits both an antique worktable and an eclectic modern interior.

Michael Thonet is regarded as the first and most important designer of furniture. He was also the first to perfect bending wood with steam to such an extent that it could be applied in industrial furniture manufacturing. The steam-bent elements are clearly visible in this chair as well. This gave the Thonet chair its stability. It is remarkable how stable this chair still is despite its age of over 100 years!

The chair is still 100% original. The weaving clearly needs replacement, even though the seat is still sturdy enough to sit on. The stain and protective varnish are worn away in many places due to use, and at the back a piece of veneer from the seat is loose (see photos). However, the chair still looks very decorative and will be a jewel in any interior! It is also certainly a conversation piece!!

The chair will be carefully packed and insured for shipping.