Set of four Thonet-style bentwood chairs – Central Europe, circa 1920

This set of four Thonet-style chairs made of steam-bent beech wood features the classic bistro model of the Viennese Secession: a backrest with vertical slats crowned by a single-piece curved crossbar, and a round seat made of solid wood. 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. Gathering a set of four identical chairs after a century of use is exceptional. The large manufacturers of Central Europe—Mundus, Kohn, Thonet—produced millions of these chairs for cafés, restaurants, and bourgeois homes, but they rarely survive in coherent and complete sets. The bentwood technique allows for continuous lines by bending steam-cooked beech bars in metal moulds. The base consists of a continuous curved leg, a lower perimeter hoop, and a backrest crossbar, all elements bent from a single piece, secured by discreet screws. Details. Materials and techniques: Steam-bent beech; round seat in solid wood. Place of origin: Central Europe. Period: Viennese Secession. Date of manufacture: Circa 1920. Dimensions: Piece #1: Length 51 cm × Depth 41 cm × Height 76 cm (seat 48 cm) · Piece #2: Length 50 cm × Depth 41 cm × Height 73 cm (seat 47 cm) · Piece #3: Length 46 cm × Depth 40 cm × Height 74 cm (seat 47 cm) · Piece #4: Length 52 cm × Depth 41 cm × Height 73 cm (seat 47 cm) Condition: Good. Wear consistent with age and use. Varied patinas among the four chairs. Manufacturer labels not retained.