This year marks a century since the Bauhaus art school relocated from Weimar to Dessau, a milestone that coincides with the lasting legacy of tubular steel furniture in modern design. Among the iconic pieces born from this era is Thonet's B 9 H stool, originally created for the Bauhaus canteen, which later evolved into the B 9 nesting table, a design still produced today and emblematic of Thonet's enduring connection to Bauhaus principles.
© Thonet
The innovation of tubular steel furniture can largely be attributed to Marcel Breuer and Mart Stam, who first applied industrial materials typically reserved for hospitals and transport to residential interiors. Breuer's eureka moment, inspired by his bicycle handlebars, led to designs that were lightweight, functional, and aesthetically minimal, offering airy interiors unencumbered by bulky furniture. His early creations, including the B 9, were prototyped at the Junkers aircraft plant and officially unveiled at the 1927 "Die Wohnung" exhibition in Stuttgart.
Thonet embraced Breuer's vision after acquiring his company Standard Möbel in 1929. By 1930, Thonet established a steel department in Frankenberg, manufacturing a wide array of tubular steel designs, including the S 32/S 64 cantilever chairs, B 97 nesting tables, and the B 285 desk. These pieces combined material innovation with Bauhaus minimalism, ensuring that interiors were both functional and visually open. Thonet's experiments with tubular steel extended the pioneering bentwood techniques first developed by Michael Thonet, showcasing a mastery of form, flexibility, and industrial production.
Today, Thonet continues to celebrate Bauhaus heritage through contemporary reinterpretations. Collaborations like JS . THONET with designer Jil Sander reimagine classics such as the S 64 and B 97 in modern finishes like matte nickel silver and glossy titanium. Similarly, the S 243 chair by Frank Rettenbacher combines tubular steel with plywood to produce a colourful, practical, and minimalist design. These pieces exemplify the timeless appeal of tubular steel, offering functional, sustainable, and visually striking furniture for both residential and contract interiors.
Thonet's legacy is not only historical but also enduring: the company remains committed to producing long-lasting, quality furniture in its Frankenberg facility, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern technology. With sustainability and durability at the forefront, Thonet furniture continues to bridge past and present, proving that Bauhaus-inspired design is as relevant today as it was a century ago.
More information:
Thonet
www.thonet.de
