Lot 007: Thonet Style Bentwood Armchair with Upholstered Seat, c.Early 20th Century

Description

An elegant Thonet-style bentwood armchair, featuring a dark stained timber frame and a circular upholstered seat. This piece exemplifies the innovative bentwood technique popular in early 20th-century European furniture design, offering both grace and durability. Key Details: * Origin/Era: Early 20th Century * Material: Bentwood, timber, fabric upholstery * Style: Thonet Style / Art Nouveau Condition: The upholstered seat and its decorative piping are heavily worn and frayed, requiring re-upholstery. The bentwood frame exhibits general wear, scuffs, and some chips to the finish consistent with age. There is a visible hole on one armrest, possibly from a missing plug or decorative element. The underside reveals evidence of historical repairs or reinforcements, including a tacked-on wooden piece and visible nuts and bolts securing the seat. Interesting fact: * Michael Thonet pioneered the bentwood technique in the mid-19th century, allowing for mass production of complex, curvilinear furniture designs that were both lightweight and strong. * Thonet's designs, particularly the 'Chair No. 14', became iconic for their simple elegance and practicality, influencing furniture production globally. Use: This armchair is an ideal candidate for restoration, suitable for a vintage or eclectic interior, or as a decorative accent piece.

Condition Report

Heavy wear and fraying to upholstered seat and piping; general wear, scuffs, and chips to timber frame; visible hole on one armrest; historical repairs and reinforcements evident on the underside of the seat.

Specifications