Pair of Thonet-style chairs in bent wood – Central Europe, around 1920

This pair of Thonet-style chairs made of steam-bent beech follows the classic bistro model of the Viennese Secession: a backrest with vertical slats crowned by a single-piece curved crossbar, and a round seat made of solid wood. Central Europe, circa 1920. Attributed to the Thonet tradition or the Central European bentwood school (notably Jacob & Josef Kohn or Fischel), this piece exhibits the formal and constructive characteristics of Viennese bentwood from the early 20th century, although no markings allow for a certain attribution. Mundus, Kohn, and Thonet dominated the European production of bentwood seating during the first quarter of the 20th century. Their pieces, exported from Vienna, Bohemia, and Central European factories to cafés, bourgeois homes, and offices worldwide, became synonymous with the new modern taste for clean lines. Details. Materials and techniques: Steam-bent beech; round seat in solid wood. Place of origin: Central Europe. Period: Viennese Secession. Date of manufacture: Circa 1920. Dimensions: Piece #1: Length 51 cm × Depth 39 cm × Height 73 cm (seat 48 cm) · Piece #2: Length 54 cm × Depth 39 cm × Height 73 cm (seat 49 cm) Condition: Good. Wear consistent with age and use. Manufacturer's labels not retained.