Set of four Thonet No. 209 chairs

Set of four Thonet No. 209 chairs.
Beech wood. Reupholstered in Dedar velvet.
In good condition with signs of age.
Measurements: 76 x 53 x 56 cm.

The Thonet No. 209 chairs, designed by the Gebrüder Thonet around 1900, represent one of the finest examples of the steam-bent wood technique developed by Michael Thonet. Their most distinctive feature is the wide, continuous hoop, crafted from a single piece of solid bent beech, which simultaneously forms the backrest and armrests, giving them a fluid, light, and extraordinarily elegant silhouette. The frame, consisting of just six main pieces, combines great simplicity of construction with remarkable strength, while the seat—originally a Viennese wicker seat, though upholstered versions also exist, such as those now being auctioned—provides comfort without sacrificing visual lightness. Its balance of functionality, artisanal refinement, and formal purity made No. 209 an icon of modern design: Le Corbusier incorporated it into many of his buildings and went so far as to state that the chair “possesses nobility,” recognizing it as one of the few pieces of furniture capable of engaging with modern architecture. More than a century later, it remains one of Thonet’s most iconic models and an absolute benchmark of timeless design.