Pair of Thonet-style chairs in bentwood with low backrest – Central Europe, circa 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 spindles, 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 early 20th-century Viennese bentwood, although no markings allow for a certain attribution. The large bentwood manufacturers of Central Europe — Mundus, Kohn, and Thonet — offered a wide catalogue of variants suited to 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's labels not retained.