Details

Title

Model Number 16

Artist/Maker

Michael Thonet (Austrian, 1796-1871), designer
Gebrüder Thonet, Austrian, 1853-1921, manufacturer

Date

ca. 1862

Medium

Beech and cane

Dimensions

51 7/8 x 57 1/2 x 22 1/8 inches

Credit

Gift of Sara and Paul N. Steinfeld

Accession #

2015.78

On View

Currently not on view

This settee, with its original caning and geometric form, is an early example by Michael Thonet. By the 1850s, Thonet had perfected his innovative use of beech rods in his bentwood furniture; first soaked in hot water, the rods were then placed in iron molds and allowed to dry. The furniture was often shipped to the purchaser unassembled, keeping costs low. This new way to quickly and affordably mass-produce objects evolved into a thriving company with Thonet’s five sons, Gebrüder Thonet. The company designed hundreds of objects with delicate, lightweight appearances.