Light and durable Viennese furniture became widely popular around the world in the 19th century. The German and Austrian cabinetmaker Michael Thonet developed the technique for its mass production. The process involved cutting beechwood into bars, soaking them in boiling water or steaming, and then stretching them on metal forms to create a round or rectangular shape.
By the early 20th century, this type of furniture was produced at over 60 facilities worldwide, with 16 of these companies located in Russia. At that time, there were over 20,000 different styles available, each with its own unique finish. For example, a seat for a chair could be made of plywood, covered with leather for comfort, or woven from reeds. Furniture ranged in color from the natural hue of beechwood to tinted shades of walnut, rosewood, and ebony.
The simplicity and low cost of chair and armchair production contributed to their widespread popularity, first in Europe and later around the world. Viennese furniture was sold in shops and warehouses located in major cities. Orders from smaller settlements could be placed through regularly published catalogs and pricing lists.
In fiction of the 19th and early 20th centuries, references to Viennese chairs can be frequently found. For instance, Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin in his novel “The Duel” writes,
