Thonet High Level Dining with Range 118, Modern Chair Design, 20C Classic German Furniture Images

Thonet High Level Dining with Range 118 Chair Design

Chair Design by Sebastian Herkner

15 Oct 2019

Design: Sebastian Herkner, 2018/2019

Thonet High Level Dining with Range 118 Chairs

The elegant wooden chair range 118 by Sebastian Herkner for Thonet, which was introduced at imm Cologne in early 2018 to great success, has reached new heights with the addition of a chic and comfortable bar stool model in either a wicker or an upholstered seat version.

When first launched it was clear that, with the 118 chair, Sebastian Herkner had intuitively linked Thonet’s renowned history to its vital present with an entirely natural evolution of chair design. The 118 is both simple and sophisticated. It is based on the principle developed by Michael Thonet in the mid-19th century of reducing a chair to the minimum of elements.

The 118 range references the iconic 214, the archetype of a Thonet chair, with its seat frame bent from a single piece of wood and with its wickerwork seat.

Above all, however, it’s the discreet yet distinctive details that give the 118 range its clear identity, at once in contrast and yet in perfect harmony with the design’s essential simplicity: the legs of the chair are curved on the three outward facing sides but finished with a flat plane and defined edges on the inward side. In this way the legs reflect the horseshoe shape of the seat and enhance the timeless charm which characterises Herkner’s much-admired addition to the Thonet portfolio.

Comfortable bar stools and upholstered versions of chair 118 – the details

The distinctive formal features of the 118 chair, the first piece in the range, also grace the stylish new bar stool in the family. This extension to the range was developed specifically to meet the current demands of both the residential and the hospitality sectors, where higher level tables and bars are increasingly popular.

The bar stool versions (model 118 H) are available in two heights (65 and 75 cm) and offer the perfect solution to the new ways in which we live and work. The bar stools also offer a low yet comfortable and supportive backrest enabling users to enjoy these ergonomic designs for longer periods than with many typical bar stools. The attractive contrast of the metallic footrest adds to both the aesthetic and practical appeal of the new model.

The new bar stool in an upholstered version (118 H SP) offers even more comfort. It impresses with a formally successful contrast between the refined wooden elements and the welcoming cushion of the seat element.

The entire range 118 is available in natural beech as well as stained versions. High-gloss lacquered versions are currently being developed. The seat is either stretched with wickerwork or, in addition to the upholstered versions, also available in moulded plywood.

Thonet showroom / agent in the UK: 3rd Floor, 104-110 Goswell Road, London, EC1V 7DH, UK
T +44 (0) 7980 019 194 E: [email protected]

Thonet furniture design

Thonet – future-oriented furniture design with a long tradition
The unique success story of Thonet began with the work of master carpenter Michael Thonet. Since establishing his first workshop in Boppard on the River Rhine in 1819, the name Thonet has stood for high-quality, innovative and elegant furniture. The breakthrough came with the iconic chair No. 14, the so-called Vienna Coffee House Chair: the pioneering technique of bending solid beech wood for the first time enabled the mass production of chairs.

The second milestone in design history was the tubular steel furniture by the famous Bauhaus architects Mart Stam, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Marcel Breuer in the 1930s. At the time, Thonet was the world’s largest producer of these tubular steel furniture designs, which are considered timeless today.

For the company today, the continuous process of innovation stands in the foreground alongside a focus on tradition and fine craftsmanship. Thonet collaborates with renowned national and international designers – in addition, some of the furniture is designed by the in-house Thonet Design Team. All of the furniture is produced in the company-owned manufacturing facility, and, following the motto “Individuality is our standard”, custom-tailored solutions are part of everyday life in Frankenberg.

Chief Executive Officer Brian Boyd together with Chief Operating Officer Michael Erdelt and Creative Director Norbert Ruf manage the company at the corporate head offices and production site in Frankenberg/Eder (Germany). The descendants of Michael Thonet, the fifth and sixth generations, are actively involved with the company’s business as partners and sales representatives.

Thonet: High Level Dining with Range 118 images / information received 110820

Thonet.de

Location: Frankenberg, Germany, western Europe