Wiener GTV Design

Turin / Italy

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Wiener GTV Design (Gebrüder Thonet Vienna) is an Austrian wooden furniture company, which still produces re-editions of historic bentwood pieces, as well as new collections, the result of collaboration with international designers. Woodworker Michael Thonet founded the company in 1853 after he moved to Vienna from Germany at the invitation of his great admirer, Austrian Chancellor Metternich. By 1865, Gebrüder Thonet, which began as a family business run by the founder and his five sons, already had 22 single-brand shops worldwide. The company's success was based on the revolutionary wood bending method patented by Michael Thonet, resulting from more than fifty years of research and experimentation. This era saw the birth of the first chair in the celebrated Thonet collection. The N.1 Chair, designed for the Schwarzenberg Palace in Vienna, was followed by the N.4 Chair, designed for the Daum Café on Vienna's Kohlmarkt, and later by the glorious N.14 chair, which would be reproduced 45 million times until 1903. As the new century dawned, the company began to collaborate with avant-garde Vienna Secession architects, including Otto Wagner, who designed the Postparkasse furniture collection, and Adolf Loos, who created the Café Museum chair. Today Gebrüder Thonet Vienna is part of the Moschini Group headed by Poltrona Frau founder Franco Moschini. Thanks to its renewed association with the world of design, the brand has regained its leading role on the international scene.

Re-editions of iconic Wiener GTV Design pieces

In addition to the Otto Wagner and Adolf Loos collections, the Wiener GTV Design catalogue includes re-editions of other iconic pieces that have made the company's - and design - history. Dating from 1904, the beechwood Wiener Stuhl chair is characterised by an enveloping structure composed of just a few elements, including the armrests, made in one piece, and the backrest, forming the rear legs. Suitable for furnishing public venues like restaurants and cafés, according to the original design, the beechwood Vienna 144 chair reworks a model by Adolf Loos. The collection consists of the Vienna 144 chair with armrests and a plywood or upholstered seat and Vienna 144 high or low stools. Designed by Josef Hoffmann in 1930, N. 811 is available in three models - one with a Vienna straw seat and backrest, one with an upholstered seat and backrest and another with an upholstered seat and Vienna straw backrest. The collection is completed by the N.811 high bar stool and the N.811 chair with armrests. In production since 190, the floor-standing Kleiderstænder curved beechwood coat rack is a timeless classic. The supple forms create an elegant and functional object that also serves as an umbrella stand. Naturally, the Wiener GTV Design catalogue includes the icon of icons, the N.14 chair. With its simple yet elegant forms and versatile and timeless design, it is suitable for any context, public or residential.

New Wiener GTV Design furniture collections for residential and contract use

Wiener GTV Design's new trajectory began in 2013 under Riccardo Pigati. In addition to its renewed manufacturing quality achieved by moving production to Italy, the company launched collections created by renowned designers in the Gebrüder Thonet tradition. In addition, the company focused on improving its contract sector, traditionally a strong point with Thonet products for cafés, hotels, theatres and other public venues. The Caryllon collection is characterised by decoration in the intense colours typical of designer Cristina Celestino's language, with which she reinterprets the Gebrüder Thonet tradition. The Caryllon coffee table has a distinctive top created by 4 intersecting circles and decoration with straw strips, a tribute to the art of inlaying. The profile and legs are in solid bentwood. The collection is completed by the rectangular or round Caryllon dining table, available in various colours. The Targa seating collection by the Italian-Danish duo GamFratesi revisits bentwood and Vienna straw in a contemporary key, offering comfortable armchairs and sofas with essential and elegant lines. The curved beechwood frame supports a seat with large cushions and a curved back that integrates the armrests. The collection consists of a two- or three-seater sofa, an armchair and an ottoman. The Swedish studio Front uses its characteristic ironic and poetic language to design several objects for Gebrüder Thonet, including the Peers laminate and bentwood coffee table, the Coat Rack Bench, the bentwood and glass Arch Coffee Table and the Hideout Lounge Chair with a square wood structure and high Vienna straw armrests.