Thonet Folding Chair-Cane, Early Production

Thonet folding cane chair, early production.
Curved beech wood, ebonized; rattan seat. Mechanism: folding, tripod legs with brass hinges.
Thonet stamp on one of the legs.
In good overall condition considering its age; the seat has a repair in the rattan.
Provenance: private collection, France.
Measurements: 75 cm high x 23 cm seat diameter (approx.).

A Victorian ingenuity piece by Thonet that combines two functions in one: a walking cane and a folding chair. One of the legs retains the original Thonet stamped mark, direct evidence of the company’s manufacture, which places the piece among Thonet’s early production, during the period when this type of folding cane-chair became popular for hunting, racing, and outdoor events. The handle, curved like a crook, extends into a straight wooden rod that serves as a central axis, around which three curved wooden legs pivot, unfolding into a tripod to support a circular seat made of hand-woven cane. Finished in black, revealing the natural wear and tear from use on the handle and the support points.