Since 1859, the chair n ° 14 signed Thonet has made a name for itself. Icon of Parisian terraces, star of flea markets and muses of fans of vintage furniture, she crosses the eras without losing her superb. Born in Germany, copied a thousand times, but never dethroned, the bistro chair continues to impose its style.
Without armrests, with an open file and a tight seat of cannia, The Bistrot chair has freed trends to rise to the rank of design icon.
What is the story of the Bistrot Thonet chair?
Inventor of curved wood furniture, the German-Austrian industrialist Michael Thonet signs his centerpiece, the chair n ° 14, in 1859. Today renamed n ° 214 and better known as the bistro chair, this mythical seat revolutionized the industry when it came out. For what ? By its design first, which is based on the curve of solid wood or bending. Innovative for the time, this technique allowed and facilitated its series manufacturing. But also and above all because the bistro chair, made up of around twenty elements – 6 pieces of wood, 10 screws and 2 nuts – was easy to (rise) to transport. The ancestor of furniture in kit in short!
As light as it is resistant, The bistro chair remains an undeniable and undisputed success. Symbol of Parisian chic, it has sold several tens of millions of copies over the years. Many and many times revisited, with more or less success, it is always made in the Thonet factory in Frankenberg in Germany and makes the hoteliers, restaurateurs and bistros around the world. Without forgetting that it works wonders in individuals in need of authenticity.
Where to find a used bistro chair?
Formerly sold at the price of a bottle of wine, the bistro chair is much more expensive. For a new and encrypted model, it will take around 580 euros HT, against 400 and a few euros for a reissue. As of Ancient bistro chairsprices can sometimes fly away. Of all those we have seen pass, our favorites remain and will remain the Vintage wooden bistro chair and the Canning bistro chairtwo timeless genre. So, to be sure not to be ripped off, we can only advise you too much to hunt on online flea markets, like Selency, which offer authenticated models, around 1,900 euros all the same. Other sites on which you can find beautiful Used bistro chairs ? Leboncoin, eBay or Paruvendu, without forgetting to regularly pass through the Emmaüs structure closest to you.
Where to find a bistro chair at a low price?
If you do not want to pay your bistro chair with the eyes of the head (and we understand it), the decoration brands have imagined models of cheap bistro chairs. Freely inspired by the Bistrot Thonet chair, these revisits highlight the rattan like cannia or metal, for a more industrial spirit. At But, Maisons du Monde, Ikea or Alinea … You are spoiled for choice!
