Did you know that...
We have been sitting for five thousand years only. Although homo sapiens managed to stand up as early as some 1.9 or 1.8 million years ago, people are in fact only learning how to sit.
Ancient Greeks were using chairs at home or for work, but never for dining. They were enjoying culinary experiences lying down on so called "kline". The Greeks also gave the name to chairs. The English word "chair" is derived from the Greek word "cathedra".
A chair was a symbol of power. Those who had a chair ruled. Vassals used to sit on benches only - e.g. in churches or in monasteries.
Renowned chair No. 14, so called "Thonet chair", has been produced for over 150 years.
"Number fourteen" is the first chair that was designed for factory manufacturing. Over 80 million pieces have been produced so far, of which 50 million before 1930. Michael Thonet demonstrated solidity of chair No. 14 by throwing it down from the Eiffel Tower at the World Exhibition in Paris where it was awarded the golden medal.
Bent wood of Michael Thonet became an inspiration for a number of other designers who were using an imitation for similar shapes that was easier to bend, specifically metal pipes. These designers included among others Le Corbusier, Marcel Breuer, Mart Stamm, Miese van der Rohe, and also Czechs Ladislav Žák or Jindřich Halabala.
Famous personalities who came to like to the Thonet's products also included Pablo Picasso, Lev Tolstoy, Toulouse-Lautrec, Renoir and Salvador Dali. Among living celebrities who have Thonet chairs in their seats there is Sandra Bullock.
Visit TON showroom, seat on famous Thonet chairs, explore wood colours, upholstery options, order and delivery terms.
Browse TON Contract and Home PDF Catalogues or check our Virtual Catalogue to see wide variety of seating furniture.
