A Rare Thonet Number 3 Bentwood Rocking Chair

In 1830, Michael Thonet began experimenting with what was soon to be known as “bentwood” furniture and it was not long before Thonet and his sons were producing this furniture on an industrial scale. The name Thonet quickly became synonymous with a high standard of exquisite craftsmanship and Thonet’s bentwood products soon joined the ranks of the most famous and most imitated furniture products of modern times.
During the late 19th century, many bentwood furniture designs were created by Thonet, with the help of unknown artists and artisans. However, by the turn of the century, a new design trend had emerged, and furniture manufacturers recruited renowned artists and architects of the time to create innovative new products. Throughout the early 20th century, the volume, expertise and reach of the Thonet Company’s manufacturing capabilities attracted many of the world’s leading designers: Otto Wagner, Marcel Breuer, Le Corbusier’s, and Mies Van der Rohe.