Thonet-style rocking chair, early 20th century

Thonet-style rocking chair, early 20th century
Curved beech wood and cane seat.
In good overall condition, with signs of wear consistent with its age.
Measurements: 96 × 104 × 55 cm.

Provenance: Estate of Ramon Martí Alsina and Ricard Martí Aguiló.
Artistic and heritage collection originating in the legacy of Catalan painters Ramon Martí Alsina (1826–1894), a seminal figure of 19th-century Catalan Realism, and his son Ricard Martí Aguiló (1857–1935).

Passed down and enriched across successive generations, the collection brings together works from the original holdings of both artists alongside acquisitions made by their descendants. Dedicated to preserving and recovering the family legacy, the descendants actively reacquired works by the painters as they entered the market, progressively expanding the collection to encompass paintings, sculptures, archaeological artifacts, and other items of artistic and historical significance.
The complexity of its curved forms and the visual lightness of the structure link this rocking chair to the Viennese tradition of bentwood furniture developed during the second half of the 19th century. The design is constructed using long pieces of bent beech that interconnect the armrests, glides, and supports in a continuous interplay of spirals, while the seat and high wickerback add a sense of transparency to the piece.

The piece follows the technical principles popularized by Michael Thonet, who, in the mid-19th century, perfected the steam-bending of solid beech wood—a process that made it possible to create sturdy, lightweight furniture suitable for mass production. Rocking chairs were also part of the extensive repertoire developed using this technique.