Friday, January 8, 2010

Picasso had one...I want one too!

This image has me hanging for the new little junk shop up the road to re open. They have a No.14 Vienna Thonet chair down there with a price tag of $10 on it!
I have wanted some of these design icons for ages and now that the kitchen is done, the table (like the one above) is crying for some.
apartment therapy
For those of you who don't know what Thonet chair is (the one above is the No.18 chair made in 1876) it is basically the first mass produced, flat packet chair which was started by a man named Michael Thonet circa 1819. He was the first person to make bentwood furniture using steam to shape European Beech to make this everlasting design. The chair comes in 6 components with a few nuts etc and a plywood seat to make a wonderful iconic piece known as either a bistro chair or in the No. 14's case, a 'Consumer Chair'.


All I know is I love them, want some and need the man down the way to open his door so I can hand over my $10 and be on my way. I almost feel guilty because they can sell from $1000.00 to $30, 000.00 (apparently) for an original one. He obviously doesn't know what he has. I will have to put me best "What a cute little chair. This would look good in my bathroom don't you think?" face on...like I have no idea what it is.
Wish me luck! I have about 4 days or so to wait and see if he is open...argh!
Ness xx
Fire Update - As of this afternoon, the fire is semi under control. The cooler day we had has set the men up to do some fierce back burning and they managed to set up some strong containment lines. Tomorrow we are in for a scorcher and relative humidity is basically nil (a fires best friend), so it could all be for nothing. Lets hope the lines contain. Thank you all for your concern. It has been lovely. You are all wonderful people and I am lucky to call you friends. xx

23 comments:

  1. I had 6 of these Bentwood chairs as part of my last dining table setting..and later sold them..always loved them..but hubby wasnt a big fan...thought they felt flimsy and wasnt a fan of the woven base. I think they look gorgeous in a kitchen...hope you score your little bargain :)

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  2. My stomach just sank. You sold them! The one I am after is the one with the solid base, not the woven one. I agree those ones feel a bit flimsy.
    xx

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  3. Good luck Ness, I think you should camp out the front of his shop for the last couple of days, just incase!! It's worth it, they are adorable, and you can't pass up one with a solid base... they last so well!
    :)

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  4. I have six in my garage i'm not sure whether they are thonet or not, think they are though. They are in original condition and have been in the local Mason's lodge since about the turn of the century. I will go and check in the morning when the redbacks have gone back to their webs.
    Julienne

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  5. I have a set of six at the lake house in the Adirondacks....bought them up there years and years ago at the Red Barn in Northville... they surround my grandmother's old oak square table...
    Don't think I could ever sell them as they are so much a part of the good memories of that place.
    You will find yours and they will look wonderful around that table you have pictured! I am sure you will enjoy them for years to come!
    Good luck! :)

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  6. I have 6 up in my loft. ...but they are the ones with the flimsy bottoms!!!!. It's funny because I was just talking about them to someone a couple of hours ago.
    Hope you get your chair and so pleased to hear a bit of good news regarding the fires. I won't uncross my fingers just yet, though, Ness. XXXX

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  7. Oh my gosh!!! I have one of these and had no idea what I've got!!! My great-aunt had a chair like this and left it to me in her will when she died in 1988. I hope you get the one you want -- $10 is a bargain indeed!

    Thanks for educating me today!! (I feel rather like I've just been on Antiques Roadshow!!!).

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  8. Hi Ness,

    Just catching up on the last couple of posts, been busy with bookwork, still more to do over the weekend. (yay!!) Anyway, love what you won, the candlesticks are to die for. Some candlesticks are not nicely proportioned but these beauties are and the artichoke canisters are so cute. Wow!! I don't seem to be a person that wins things. Will have to go in more giveaways. Didn't know this about bentwood chairs. One more day down, only 3 to go before the doors open and you can get your chair!!!!! Hope those fires stay away Ness. The men do such a great job fighting them.
    Have a great weekend.
    Take care.
    Janine
    XXOO

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  9. Do whatever it takes to get that chair, they are little gems!!!

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  10. Julienne,
    Go check! You will know beacuse they have a stamped plate behind the lip of the chair that has THONET on it. If they do GET THEM OUT OF THE GARGAGE, polish them up and use them in your home or sell them and pay it off!
    Good luck...would love to know how you go.
    Ness xx

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  11. laura. Glad to know you are keeping them. They are such a beautiful piece and go with any decor...hang on to them.
    Ness xx

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  12. Jacqueline.
    If you dont want them I will have them and get the bottoms fixed! =0)

    Thank you for your thoughts about the fire. I think they have really got on top of it today.
    Ness xx

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  13. Sherry-Lee.
    So glad you now realise what it is. You probably thought 'thanks...a chair!'. I have ahad lots of emails from people who have had them handed down etc and thought the same thing. Now they now why they were left/given to them.

    Now go polish your treasure.
    xx

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  14. Thanks Janine,
    I think it is well and truly under control now which is a HUGE relief.
    I dont win things usually so I was stoked to get these lovelies!

    Believe me I am counting the days until I can see if the chair is still there. I may sob if it is not.
    Ness xx

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  15. i love these too.
    i had them long ago, and i still miss them.

    btw....great deal.
    they look beautiful.

    xx

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  16. Thank you for the chair history and the fire update!

    : )

    Julie M.

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  17. The egg white can last for a very long time. I gave one to a friend over a year ago and she still uses it. =)
    You just have to be a little bit careful when you put in the candles so you don't "scrape" the sugar and egg white off. If you do you can easily make a new one.

    /helena

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  18. one of those was standing on the street waiting to get picked up by the garbage men. I thought when I am back from shopping I am gonna bring it home... and it was gone.. a few weeks later I was at a birthday party of a friend living in the same street and there it was . white painted just being perfect haha...

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  19. hopefully the shop owner is not a blog reader

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  20. Good luck Ness, hope it's there waiting for you!!

    I do love a little serendipitous second hand shopping :)

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  21. Ness
    Thank you for your wonderful comments. I say if you spot a deal it was meant for you. $10.00 wow that is a great deal. Maybe I'm shopping in the wrong country. Go get that chair!!!

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  22. Finally got to the garage and fought of the redbacks but could only reach 3 of the chairs. Fortunately they were the ones that have the original hard carved seat but they are Joseph & Jacob Kohn Austria (because it is Austria I would place them late 1800's) and they are in pretty good original condition. Same style as the No 14. The other 3 I know were once cane bottoms but have the hard seat put on the top. They will go for sale eventually with lots of others of my treasures when I get my Etsy shop up and running. Do you want me to let you know? Regards Julienne

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