Vintage Thonet Stool

Vintage Thonet Stool

• Vintage. 
• Found in a flea market in Avignon.
• Made of steam bent wood.
• Oiled finish. 
• Embossed seat. 
• 14.25″ diameter x 18.25″h

Editor’s notes

A late 19th-century Viennese bentwood stool in the Thonet circle, featuring an original embossed wood seat with a central rosette and scrolling floral decoration. The stool is constructed from steam-bent beechwood with a dark ebonized finish, showing honest wear consistent with age and use.

The embossed seat pattern—characterized by its segmented rosette and surrounding Historicist scrollwork—is typical of Austrian bentwood production circa 1895–1905, a period when manufacturers such as Thonet, Jacob & Josef Kohn, and Fischel produced refined yet utilitarian stools for domestic and commercial interiors.

Originally intended for use as a piano, sewing, or utility stool, this piece exemplifies the innovation of early industrial furniture design: lightweight, strong, and elegant in form. The surface patina and softened embossing reflect over a century of use and contribute to its authentic character.