New (old) Bentwood Chairs for the Sitting/Dining Room

THE POPLAR COTTAGE

We’re in the finish stage of the Poplar Cottage renovation (at least on the interior), and I’ve been obsessively checking Facebook Marketplace. It’s my favorite spot for vintage furniture, secondhand house wares, and unique pieces. FBMP can be hit and miss, but that just makes it more fun ;) Today I wanted to share the Bentwood chairs I recently found for the Poplar Cottage sitting/dining room.

artwork | rug | doorknob (unlaquered brass) | wallpaper (gold/slate)

Aren’t they cute? I’ve been imagining Bentwood chairs in here for a long time and when I saw these on FBMP, I jumped! They came as a set of 5 and I just love the back detail. Bentwood chairs are a classic in design and I wanted to share a bit about them…

what are Bentwood chairs?

Bentwood chairs are essentially chairs made with bent wood. They’ve been around for centuries and are a staple in classic design, praised for their simplicity, function, and beauty. I love that Bentwood chairs are oh so versatile - they look equally at home in our small cottage as they do in chic Parisian cafes.

the history of Bentwood chairs

Michael Thornet (1796-1871) is largely credited with this style of chair. The German cabinet-maker turned furniture-maker pioneered steam-bending techniques that allowed for mass-production of the chairs.

A true later-in-life success story, Thonet founded his company, Gebrüder Thonet, after turning 60. Thonet and his sons (he had 5!) designed their furniture and the manufacturing process with simplicity in mind, using as few parts as possible in each piece. By 1930, the company had sold more than 50 million of there flagship chair (according to the Victoria and Albert Museum).

where to find vintage bentwood chair

There are lots of different designs of bentwood chairs, both from Thonet and other furniture makers, and so many vintage ones still in the world! Facebook Marketplace is a great spot to find them in addition to antique shops and yard sales. Be sure to try different search terms like bentwood, dining chairs, cafe chairs, bent wood chairs, vintage wood chair and check often. Here’s the listing for our’s…

where to find new Bentwood chairs

If vintage furniture isn’t your thing, you can find new Bentwood chairs from lots of places. A few of our favorites: these square ones, these outdoor ones, and these circular ones.

I’m thinking about ordering pads (or making some!) for our Bentwood chairs, just to soften the wood and make lingering over dinner a little more comfy. But this room is getting close to being done!