Thonet Cantilever Chairs

The cantilever chair is unquestionably one of the great innovations in furniture history. Chairs stand on four legs. Or stood. At the beginning of the 20th century a new idea took hold: An s-shaped steel tubing frame supports the chair - with no hind legs. The frame runs along the floor to a point at the rear of the seat and thus ensuring the necessary balance to stop the seat from tipping over. The term "cantilever" is due to the springs or vibration of the cantilever structure. The author of the cantilever chair design are Bauhausstudents Marcel Breuer (S 32/ S 64) and Mart Stam (S 43). The production of the cantilever chairs was realized from the outset by the furniture manufacturer Thonet. Today Thonet cantilever chairs are available with or without armrests, in fabric and leather upholstery or mesh, cane or upholstery. Following the success of the cantilever chair the design principle was transferred to stools, armchairs, and sofas.