The elegant wooden chair range 118 by Sebastian Herkner for Thonet, which was introduced at imm cologne in early 2018 to great success, has reached new heights with the addition of a chic and comfortable bar stool model in either a wicker or an upholstered seat version.
When first launched it was clear that, with the 118 chair, Sebastian Herkner had intuitively linked Thonet’s renowned history to its vital present with an entirely natural evolution of chair design. The 118 is both simple and sophisticated. It is based on the principle developed by Michael Thonet in the mid-19th century of reducing a chair to the minimum of elements. The 118 range references the iconic 214, the archetype of a Thonet chair, with its seat frame bent from a single piece of wood and with its wickerwork seat. Above all, however, it’s the discreet yet distinctive details that give the 118 range its clear identity, at once in contrast and yet in perfect harmony with the design’s essential simplicity: the legs of the chair are curved on the three outward facing sides but finished with a flat plane and defined edges on the inward side. In this way the legs reflect the horseshoe shape of the seat and enhance the timeless charm which characterises Herkner’s much-admired addition to the Thonet portfolio.
Comfortable bar stools and upholstered versions of chair 118 – the details
The distinctive formal features of the 118 chair, the first piece in the range, also grace the stylish new bar stool in the family. This extension to the range was developed specifically to meet the current demands of both the residential and the hospitality sectors, where higher level tables and bars are increasingly popular. The bar stool versions (model 118 H) are available in two heights (65 and 75 cm) and offer the perfect solution to the new ways in which we live and work. The bar stools also offer a low yet comfortable and supportive backrest enabling users to enjoy these ergonomic designs for longer periods than with many typical bar stools. The attractive contrast of the metallic footrest adds to both the aesthetic and practical appeal of the new model.
The new bar stool in an upholstered version (118 H SP) offers even more comfort. It impresses with a formally successful contrast between the refined wooden elements and the welcoming cushion of the seat element.
The entire range 118 is available in natural beech as well as stained versions. High-gloss lacquered versions are currently being developed. The seat is either stretched with wickerwork or, in addition to the upholstered versions, also available in moulded plywood.
Thonet showroom / agent in the UK: 3rd Floor, 104-110 Goswell Road, London, EC1V 7DH
T +44 (0) 7980 019 194 E: Prash@atmosphere1102.com
