Design: Sebastian Herkner, 2018/2021
Good designs are distinguished by their ability to adapt. In keeping with precisely this motto, Thonet is expanding its “Offenbach chair” range designed by Sebastian Herkner in 2018 with a version that includes armrests. Minimalist and honest, sophisticated and precise, the new 118 F model adds another level of comfort.
Range 118 is a collection of elegant wooden chairs, including two barstools. Its clear lines lend a subtle elegance to any setting – be it a private dining room, a restaurant, café or even in ‘New Work’ environments, such as co-working spaces. The collection includes versions in stained or high-gloss colours and the seat is available in moulded plywood, wickerwork or with upholstery.
Sebastian Herkner took his inspiration for the 118 range from Thonet’s multifaceted heritage: using the principle Michael Thonet himself created in the 19th century, Herkner too reduced his chair to the fewest possible elements, while also relying on clean lines and fine details. The chair legs are rounded to the back with subtle edges to the front, and echo the trapezoidal seat typical of Thonet chairs. The angle of the backrest is perfectly aligned with the chair’s seat.
“The 118 chair with armrests is the natural evolution of a much-loved series that quickly established itself on the market,” says Norbert Ruf (Thonet Creative Director and Managing Director).
Now with armrests, the newest addition to the collection offers maximum comfort. The bentwood armrests are pleasing to the touch thanks to the slight curvature to their upper side. They provide support and a feeling of cocooned comfort. Combined with one another, the models from the 118 range create a harmonious seating arrangement around the table, embodying liveliness and encouraging guests to linger.
As with the 118, the 118 F is available in lightened beech, in stained finishes or with high-gloss lacquer (only in combination with canework or upholstery). The seat is available with canework, in moulded plywood or with upholstery.
Thonet showroom in the UK: 3rd Floor, 104-110 Goswell Road, London, EC1V 7DH
T +44 (0) 7980 019 194
Thonet press contact in the UK: Stephanie Bretherton, Tel. +44 (0) 20 – 7609 1151
E-mail stephanie@qspr.com
Thonet – future-oriented furniture design with a long tradition
The unique success story of Thonet began with the work of master carpenter Michael Thonet. Ever since he established his first workshop in Boppard on the River Rhine in 1819, the name Thonet has stood for high-quality, innovative and elegant furniture. The breakthrough came with the iconic chair No. 14, today known the world over as the Vienna Coffee House Chair: the pioneering technique of bending solid beechwood enabled the mass production of chairs for the first time. The second milestone in design history was the tubular steel furniture by the famous Bauhaus architects Mart Stam, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Marcel Breuer in the 1930s. During those pioneering years, Thonet was the world’s largest producer of these tubular steel furniture designs, which are today considered timeless.
For the company today, the continuous process of innovation is the top priority, together with a focus on tradition and fine craftsmanship. Thonet’s furniture designs originate both from its collaborations with renowned national and international creatives and from the in-house Thonet Design Team. Chief Executive Officer Brian Boyd and Creative Director Norbert Ruf manage the company from the corporate head office and production site in Frankenberg/Eder (Germany). Michael Thonet’s fifth- and sixth-generation descendants are actively involved with the company’s business as partners and sales representatives.