subscribe to rss feedGerman furniture brand Thonet recently hosted an event for a group of its partners from throughout Europe, dedicated in part to launching the new table series S8000 as designed by Hani Teherani. The visit included an extended tour through the various Thonet factories in Frankenberg, Germany, as well as several presentations on new products and developments.
The Thonet site has been in use since the company moved from Vienna to Germany and has seen extensive expansion and renovation in the past century. The old villa of the Thonet family is still in prime condition and was recently renovated and refurbished to form a showcase of the home-collection. Right next door is the Thonet museum, which shows the development and product lines of the company as well as key historic events and happenings. The 2 main factories still house a major part of the production work, with only a small part being outsourced.
The Thonet classics, including the 214 chair which celebrated its 150th birthday last year, are still under production. A large segment of the factory is still dedicated to bending wood, the production process that initiated the Thonet success. Craftsmen bend the wood, which was steamed in a special oven beforehand, into the shape of a part of the chair. The bent wood is fixed to a mold to allow it to keep its shape. The frame is combined into a chair with the seat, whose fabric, leather of woven wicker is also produced here.
The Thonet product range has grown steadily over the years, expanding with both new product lines and by rejuvenating and modernizing older products. Some of the interesting new developments presented at the event included the S8000 conference table, the S360 chair and several series for home use.
The crafts tradition at Thonet is still very much apparent in its new products as well as the old ones. Combined with this, their choice of high-tech designer Hani Teherani for the S8000 table was a bold one that has resulted in a powerful and minimalist product line. The high quality in production and details is apparent in every product, with the home lines especially suited for a "classic" look.
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