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

This pair of Thonet-style chairs made of steam-bent beech features a more compact silhouette than the usual bistro chair: a low backrest with a curved flat crossbar and vertical slats, and a square seat with softened edges. 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 certain attribution. The large bentwood manufacturers of Central Europe—Mundus, Kohn, and Thonet—offered a wide catalog of variants suited for every use: dining room, café, office, or living room. This version with a low backrest and square seat was designed for tables of intermediate height and domestic interiors. Details. Materials and techniques: Steam-bent beech; square seat in solid wood. Place of origin: Central Europe. Period: Vienna Secession. Date of manufacture: Circa 1920. Dimensions: Piece #1: Length 43 cm × Depth 45 cm × Height 78 cm (seat 46 cm) · Piece #2: Length 37 cm × Depth 44 cm × Height 76 cm (seat 47 cm) Condition: Good. Wear consistent with age and use. Manufacturer labels not preserved.