Viennese GTV Design - Furnishing classics made of bentwood
Top Facts
- Timeless furniture made of bent wood and Viennese straw
- Highest material and production quality
- Classic chairs by Michael Thonet such as the model N. 14
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Vienna GTV Design - Michael Thonet's legacy
As a traditional company, Wiener GTV Design occupies a venerable place between the past and the modern. The legendary bentwood furniture with its elements of Viennese wickerwork have become timeless bestsellers and still ensure that the manufacturer enjoys great international renown today. GTV (Gebrüder Thonet Vienna) goes back to the German-Austrian master carpenter Michael Thonet, who is considered one of the most famous furniture manufacturers of the industrial age.
The history of Wiener GTV Design
Michael Thonet, who came from Boppard in the Rhineland, tried to make furniture from bentwood with the help of steam as early as the beginning of the 18th century. But in the end it was the Austrian chancellor Metternich who brought the furniture pioneer to Austria and supported him in the development of the popular chairs N. 1 or N. 14. The distinctive wickerwork, called Viennese straw, was an important component of Thonet's furniture from the very beginning. With the emerging success, he transferred the business to his sons, who founded the Gebrüder Thonet Company in 1853. In the following years, several other production facilities were opened in various countries. The bentwood chairs became world-famous.
The two world wars had a severe impact on the company. After 1945, some locations developed into independent companies. Michael Thonet's heirs helped the brand back on its feet in Austria and opened their own factory in Friedberg in 1962. In 1976 the company was renamed Gebrüder Thonet Vienna (GTV). Since then, Wiener GTV Design has tried to combine innovation and traditional manufacturing. Thus, the old production methods were modernized step by step. However, the high-quality materials are not only used for the production of the time-tested classics - the company continuously engages new design talents who are allowed to realize their creative ideas there.
Interesting facts about Wiener GTV Design
- The iconic N. 14 chair was built more than 50 million times between 1850 and 1930 alone, making it not only one of the most famous but also one of the best-selling pieces of furniture in the world. Thonet researched it for almost 20 years before he succeeded in bending the beechwood slats perfectly - the first piece of furniture that could be produced industrially was born. To this day, the bistro chair consists of only 6 components and is available in different versions.
