Old but also modern - the bentwood chair
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (340230)
Rockingham, Australia
October 6, 2022 3:13am CST
In the photo is a bentwood chair. I thought these were only made a long time ago but when I went searching it seems the same design is still being manufactured today. The first bentwood chair was made by German-Austrian cabinet maker Michael Thonet. This was in the 1850s in Vienna. The style in the photo was named Model 14 and received a gold medal at the 1867 World Fair in Paris.
Thonet’s perfected the technique of using steam to soften the wood. It could then be bent into shape and, when allowed to cool, would dry back into a solid form. The method offers great economy of materials, as there is no need to cut curved shapes from large pieces of wood.
My family had these types of chairs in our farm-house. Mum gave one a pleated skirt then padded the seat and back to create a bedroom chair that sat in front of her dressing table. At our house-sit, we had one each as a bedside table. Note the patten of holes on the seat.
22 people like this
21 responses
@allknowing (136582)
• India
7 Oct 22
We had two arm chairs but had to discard them as they gave way
2 people like this
@JudyEv (340230)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Oct 22
@allknowing Sometimes the local authorities will go around and pick up big items that people might otherwise dump in the bush or whatever. They let you know ahead of time what day they'll come around and people put out all their rubbish on the roadside.
@DevMrSamEleazar (14058)
• Philippines
6 Oct 22
@JudyEv yes also the design is so good.
2 people like this
@divalounger (6123)
• United States
7 Oct 22
Love this chair and I have always wondered how they were made--Thank you--
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340230)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Oct 22
I find it really interesting to learn how things were made before there was quite so much mechanisation.
@averygirl72 (37845)
• Philippines
7 Oct 22
I like the style and design of this chair. How old it is?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340230)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Oct 22
It would be very old - maybe even 80-100 years old.
@RebeccasFarm (89870)
• Arvada, Colorado
6 Oct 22
Lovely chairs. I believe I had seen one or two of them when I was in England.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (89870)
• Arvada, Colorado
7 Oct 22
@JudyEv No I have not but I am sure they are here somewhere
1 person likes this
@CookieMonster46 (13454)
• United States
7 Oct 22
I never seen a chair like it. I like this very much.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340230)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Oct 22
It seems you are still able to buy this style although they are recently made, not antique.
@arunima25 (87814)
• Bangalore, India
6 Oct 22
These chairs are timeless. They look so elegant. Thanks for sharing all the interesting information here
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340230)
• Rockingham, Australia
6 Oct 22
@arunima25 You can tell these are old. I had no idea that they were still being made.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (87814)
• Bangalore, India
6 Oct 22
@JudyEv Yes, they are. I have seen them in good fancy houses. When I was newly married my husband had four dining chairs of that type around our small dining table with glass top. But they were made of metal and did not look as classy as this one.
1 person likes this
@freelancermariagrace (28050)
• Philippines
7 Oct 22
I fancy the design of this chair! 
The holes on it made it look special
The holes on it made it look special1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340230)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Oct 22
Not that I know off - unless there is a chance that the timber expands and contracts with the heat or whatever.
@HomewardBound (552)
•
6 Oct 22
I’m glad to know what a bentwood chair is, I had heard the term. I love the pattern of the holes in the seat.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (340230)
• Rockingham, Australia
7 Oct 22
I liked the pattern too. Better than just a random spread.
