It all began with the Thonet Model No. 14 chair, Thonet's most famous. Following its launch in 1859, it was awarded a gold medal at the 1867 Paris World's Fair and has been referred to as "the chair of chairs." Also known as the Bistro Chair, some 50 million No. 14s were sold between 1860 and 1930, and millions more have been sold (and reproduced) since, putting it squarely in the design-classic category. Chair No. 14, now known as 214, is still produced by Thonet.
Thonet chairs mesh with just about any era of decor. Here, a mishmash of chair and table styles pairs seamlessly with a Thonet in the foreground.