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The technique
of wood bending
The technique of wood bending is a very
ancient technique existing in the craftsman-
ship of different civilizations, but remained in
the corners for a long time due to a limited
advantage in productivity.
the technique
The intuition of Michael Thonet took the moves
from the observation that fresh wood is more
flexible than dry wood : Starting from this con-
sideration, Thonet and some of his contempo-
raries tested the bending of the wood sheets
packets, dipped in boiling glue and then dried
into rigid forms.
This solution, however, did not guarantee
the strength of the product, because of the
precarious nature of the adhesive. To over-
come this problem, Thonet tried to work only
on the physical properties of the wood, by
excluding all the glue from his procedures, in
order to recover a considerable flexibility of
the material – even after aging – by increasing
the smoothness between the fibers by placing
them in highly humid environment.
the patent
In 1842, Michael Thonet patented the process
that made him famous throughout the world:
the wood strips (beech, by far the favorite for
its long, regular and knotless fiber) are turned,
placed in an autoclave to absorb moisture,
bent by force and fixed in metal forms, and
finally dried; the finishing of the pieces was fol-
lowed by the assembly of the “Vienna straw”,
another element that became characteristic
for the company.
A real industrial process that went hand in
hand with the progressive elimination of orna-
ments and joints, in favour of a rigorous line
and careful attention to the simplification of
the joining elements.
Formal elegance, solidity and lightness have
determined the success of the company that
in a few years started production sites all over
the world.A unique production process that
has its roots in a history rich in suggestions
and that is now renewed in the high qual-
ity of materials that Gebrüder Thonet Vienna
chooses to make its products, characterized
by valuable elements that unite them with high
craftsmanship.The woods, selected for their
strength and versatility, are combined with
fabrics that enrich the range of colors pro-
posed by the collection with precious nuances.
