VICTORIAN PERIOD: Thonet No.1 Rocking Chair

History

The first rocking chair designed using Thonet’s patented Bentwood technology. This rocking chair was designed by Michael Thonet around 1860. Now it can be seen in Brooklyn Museum, USA.

Designed by

Michael Thonet.

In 1816 Michael Thonet set up a building and furniture workshop in Boppard on the River Rhine. This was a modest beginning of the furniture giant company THONET.

In 1830’s Thonet experimented with methods of bending wood using hot steam. Although methods of bending wood were known for centuries, they were very time-consuming and not very efficient. Thonet’s method was far more effective, and it gave rise to the wave of Bentwood furniture that has been popular worldwide to this day.

Prince Metternich, State Chancellor of the Kaiserlich und Königlich Monarchy, appreciated Thonet’s works and in 1842 he invited Thonet to Vienna. In 1849 Thonet and his sons opened a new, much bigger company in Vienna.

Dimensions

99.7 x 57.2 x 114.3 cm

Materials

Copper beech, leather

Elements and Principles

Line is the Element of this design and Movement is the governing Principle. The curved lines of the chair sides and the oval lines of the seat and the backrest give this rocking chair increased feeling of movement – as you would expect of a ROCKING chair.

Manufactured by

Gebrüder Thonet

Used by Designers

The rocking chair was mainly used in residential rooms, particularly in family rooms bearing the style of the bygone era. However recently there has been a strong revival of the Thonet Bentwood Chair No.14 and it is very popular in cafes and restaurants. With this revival, it can be expected that Thonet No.1 Rocking Chair will soon make its way to recreational spaces worldwide, cafes, libraries and restaurants in particular.

Replicas

There are numerous replicas of the Thonet # 1 Rocking Chair. On the occasion of the 190 anniversary of the manufacturing of this iconic rocking chair, Thonet has manufactured a strictly limited edition of 25 pieces of this chair. They can be seen here: http://www.dexigner.com/news/18475

Since the original design there have been many replicas of the chair worldwide.

Contemporary interpretations and influences

Resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Thonet#/media/File:69.79.1_threequarter_PS6.jpg

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:69.79.1_threequarter_PS6.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Thonet

http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/94974/Rocking_Chair_Model_1

http://www.thonet.com.au/history/

http://en.thonet.de/about-us/thonet-the-story/the-thonet-principle.html

http://www.ebay.com

http://www.designboom.com/eng/education/rocking/modern.html

http://en.thonet.de/chi-siamo/designer/gebrueder-thonet.html

http://www.houzz.com/photos/14434087/Cool-Furniture-contemporary-rocking-chairs-miami