Armchair and bench in bentwood – Jacob & Josef Kohn, Vienna, circa 1900

Superb pair of Viennese furniture comprising an armchair and a bench in bentwood, with caned seat and openwork fan-shaped carved back.
Their fluid and elegant design illustrates the exceptional craftsmanship of the Jacob & Josef Kohn company, pioneers of the steam-bent wood technique, also used by Thonet at the same time.

The backrest, crafted in the shape of a feather or a fan , gives the whole piece an airy and refined appearance, typical of Austrian Jugendstil (Viennese Art Nouveau).
These pieces are stamped “J. & J. Kohn, Wien” , the original mark is visible under the seat.

Technical details:

• Period: circa 1890–1910

• Manufacturer: Jacob & Josef Kohn, Vienna (Austria)

• Materials: Bentwood (beech), natural cane seat

• Style: Jugendstil / Viennese Art Nouveau

• Approximate dimensions:

  • Armchair: H 87 × W 57 × D 55 cm

  • Bench: H 87 × L 120 × D 55 cm

• Marking: Original stamp “J. & J. Kohn Wien” under the seat

• Condition: Good structural condition, caning to be restored on both pieces (traditional restoration possible)
  
  
  The Jacob & Josef Kohn company was founded in 1849 in Vienna, and experienced international growth parallel to that of Thonet.
  She collaborated with the greatest designers of the Vienna Secession, including Josef Hoffmann , Otto Wagner and Koloman Moser .
  His creations, recognizable by their lightness and sinuous lines, are now preserved in the world's greatest museums, notably the MAK (Museum für angewandte Kunst) in Vienna and the Musée d'Orsay in Paris.