The bistro chair: a vintage myth
The Bistro Chair is one of the oldest pieces in the history of design since it was born in 1856. At the time, the very concept of design was unknown: we then spoke of Arts & Métiers. It was Michael Thonet (1796 – 1871) who created this chair on which we have all sat down at least once. It must be said that this model – the first to be mass-produced – is still present in many establishments today.
The No. 14 chair is designed to be very affordable. Although it is nicknamed “Bistrot chair”, it is quickly found in many interiors. Even today, it is adopted in the industrial kitchen or in the retro dining room. If we still love the original version so much, we also love more contemporary versions.
The Thonet factory has now become the Ton brand. However, it still exists, and it produces seats that bear Michael Thonet’s trademark: bentwood. This vintage icon has also inspired designers for more than 160 years, and it has given rise to numerous reinterpretations over time.
The original bistro chair revisited
It was Michael Thonet himself who was the first to reinvent his most famous creation. And some of these variations have become almost as legendary as the original Bistrot chair.
Often confused with the Bistrot Chair, the 04 Chair is distinguished by the workmanship of its backrest – enhanced by two bentwood arabesques. Like all Ton chairs, it is made by hand and can therefore be fully customised. In the rustic chic or industrial kitchen, however, we love the original version, in a variation of brown.
To maintain a spirit imbued with softness in an interior with a Scandi spirit, we fall in love without hesitation for a pastel version of Chair 04.
Adopting the Bistro Chair in a very chic interior: here’s a funny idea! However, it suffices to turn again to Chair 04, in an armchair version, favoring a black finish. This variation perfectly highlights the work of the curves, delicate enough to integrate into a refined decoration.
Fan of vintage style? The Chair 20 is made for you. With its beech structure inspired by the lines of the original Bistro Chair and its cane backrest, it brings an elegant and retro touch to the dining area. For a very current boho style, opt for its version in light beech and wickerwork. In this bright version in light wood, the 20 chair elegantly matches the Scandinavian table in the Nordic dining room.
Did you guess it? There has been a miniature version of the original Bistro Chair since… 1873! Available in soft or full of pep colours, it is an ideal choice for accessorizing a child’s room. And if it adapts to all decorations, it’s a real “must have” in a retro child’s room. This model, both robust and stylish, is a very good choice if you plan to create a dining area specifically adapted to the little ones in your family kitchen or in the garden room.
The Chair 18 made its appearance in 1876. It differs from the original chair by the curvature of the backrest, which descends to the seat. With its harmonious and clean lines, it is perfectly in line with the current trend, which gives pride of place to organic design. It represents a very nice compromise between vintage inspiration and contemporary decor.
This chair designed in the 2010s by Czech designer Jaroslav Juřica revisits the original Bistro Chair in a very contemporary minimalist version. Composed of two parts instead of six, it displays a look that is both timeless and terribly contemporary. This model of rare elegance works particularly well in a sleek modern or Japandi-inspired decoration.
The term “bistro chair” has passed into everyday language. From now on, it designates a wide variety of seats typical of café terraces, in particular the industrial metal chair. Ton’s Again chair has fun merging these different concepts. Made of curved wood, like the original Bistro Chair, it adopts the traditional lines of a metal model.
Result: a look that is both sober and atypical, stunning in the dining room.
Reinterpretations of the Bistro Chair
As an authentic design icon, the original Bistro Chair regularly gives rise to reinterpretations by designers, and some are rather canon.
The Stuhl armchair displays lines so modern that it is hard to believe, and yet: it is a reissue of a 1904 piece. This model directly inspired by the Bistrot Chair has a large perforated seat , which gives it its little retro charm. Here is a perfect dining room armchair to add a twist to a contemporary interior or to add the finishing touch to a vintage decoration.
The Nella chair by Vega is directly inspired by the Chair 18. This curved solid beech model is an authentic bistro chair, intended for professional use. Robust and easy to maintain, it is available in a wide range of trendy colours. This model, perfectly suited to the dining area of a family kitchen, adapts easily to any type of decor.