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Viennese design conquers
the world

Michael Thonet (1796 - 1871) is one of the greatest innovators of the 19th century. His bentwood furniture revolutionized furniture-making, placing it on an industrial basis for the first time. In 1853 together with his five sons he founded the Gebrüder Thonet company (Thonet Brothers). Over the folIowing decades Thonet proceeded to conquer the world with his bentwood furniture. His famous Model No. 14, also known as the Konsumsessel, was produced in its millions.

A journey through 150 years
of furniture design

To mark the 150th anniversary of the company the Imperial Furniture Collection is mounting the exhibition Thonet Brothers. Bentwood furniture. The exhibition focuses on the history of Thonet's „Viennese“ bentwood furniture, from its beginnings in Germany at Boppard am Rhein to the present day.

Designing for Thonet

Special emphasis is given to the development of the early mass-produced models as well as designs by various Viennese architects of the Viennese Modernist movement from 1900 to today. Many of the objects displayed have been loaned by Austrian collectors, and they illustrate the development of Thonet‘s mass-produced models.

Location:
Kaiserliches Hofmobiliendepot, Andreasgasse 7, A-1070 Vienna

Duration:
3 September 2003 to 6 January 2004

Opening hours:
Tuesday - Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm

Tickets:
€ 6.90 / € 4.50

Curator: Dr. Eva B. Ottillinger, Museen des Mobiliendepots

Architect:
Norbert Steiner, SPUTNIC, Vienna

Graphic design:
Nik Thönen, re-p, Vienna