Chair
1887 - 1900 (manufactured)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The furniture made by Thonet Brothers (the firm named in 1853 for the sons of the firm’s founder, Michael Thonet), was the first to have been both mass produced and shipped knocked-down. The design of Thonet furniture directly reflected its ‘production line’ manufacturing process, with the making of each element broken down into a series of individual tasks. The firm’s key design principle was to manufacture as many chair models from as few different parts as possible. These parts were then packed in boxes, for ease of shipping, and assembled by Thonet shops or distributors rather than consumers. The method of shipping meant that prices could be kept lower than that of furniture shipped fully assembled. This particular model was Thonet’s most popular between the 1860s and the 1930s, with some 50 million said to have been manufactured during that period. Manufacture continues today.
Delve deeper
Discover more about this object
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 8 parts.
|
| Materials and techniques | Steam-bent, solid beechwood frame, solid beechwood and caned seat, metal and wood fittings. All wooden parts stained |
| Brief description | Chair, model no. 14, designed and manufactured by Thonet Brothers (Gebrüder Thonet), Vienna, ca. 1887 - 1900 |
| Physical description | Chair, model no. 14, designed and manufactured by Thonet Brothers (Gebrüder Thonet) |
| Gallery label | Chair, model no. 14
1859
Designed and manufactured by Thonet Brothers (Gebrüder Thonet)
Designed in Austria (Vienna)
Manufactured about 1887–1900, factory unknown
Frame: steam-bent, solid beechwood
Seat: solid beechwood, caned
Fittings: metal and wood
All wooden parts stained
Museum no. W.10-2012
Thonet’s designs were early examples of ‘knock-down’ furniture. Packed in compact, one-metre square crates, each containing 36 chairs, they could be shipped to showrooms, distributors or shops and assembled on arrival. No 19th-century firm sold as many chairs to as many countries, including Africa, Asia and the Americas, or had as many branch offices as Thonet.
(01/12/2012) |
| Summary | The furniture made by Thonet Brothers (the firm named in 1853 for the sons of the firm’s founder, Michael Thonet), was the first to have been both mass produced and shipped knocked-down. The design of Thonet furniture directly reflected its ‘production line’ manufacturing process, with the making of each element broken down into a series of individual tasks. The firm’s key design principle was to manufacture as many chair models from as few different parts as possible. These parts were then packed in boxes, for ease of shipping, and assembled by Thonet shops or distributors rather than consumers. The method of shipping meant that prices could be kept lower than that of furniture shipped fully assembled. This particular model was Thonet’s most popular between the 1860s and the 1930s, with some 50 million said to have been manufactured during that period. Manufacture continues today. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.10:1 to 8-2012 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | August 1, 2012 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
