8 Contemporary Designs That Channel the Original 1859 Thonet Bentwood Chair

Au courant echoes of Michael Thonet’s No. 14 chair, with its strongly vegetal origins, have cropped up in cane, bamboo, and bentwood products.

Bentwood design inspiration
MR SERIES, TOU FURNITURE by Drill Design for Kanemitsu, tou-furniture.com Courtesy Kanemitsu

Launched in 1859, Michael Thonet’s No. 14 bentwood chair spawned generations of spin-offs, including classics like Marcel Breuer’s tubular-steel-and-cane Cesca chair. Lately, au courant echoes of No. 14’s vegetal origins have cropped up in cane, bamboo, and bentwood products from seating to bamboo silk rugs.

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