Antique Bentwood Swivel Desk Chair with Pressed Seat, Thonet Style

An antique bentwood swivel desk chair in the manner of Thonet, executed in steam-bent beech with a deeply pressed seat depicting cherubs, scrolling foliage, and a central floral cartouche. The yoke-form crest rail extends into shaped, flared armrests supported by sweeping bentwood scrolls — a configuration produced by the Vienna bentwood houses (Thonet, Kohn, Fischel) for use as captain's, telegrapher's, and clerk's chairs from the late 19th through early 20th century.

The chair pivots on a turned central column reinforced with four splined bentwood legs, joined by a circlet stretcher and terminating in scrolled toes. Iron tack-style fasteners secure the column splines at the base. The pressed seat retains strong relief on the carved decoration despite generations of use, and the swivel mechanism remains functional.

CONDITION

Good overall and structurally sturdy. Visible wear to the seat including scratches, chips, a through-crack at the rear of the pressed panel, and scuffing throughout. The seat sits slightly askew on the swivel. A previous repair is present to one of the "C"-form arm supports. Age-appropriate finish wear consistent with a working chair of this age.

DIMENSIONS / SPECIFICATIONS

• Overall: 30" H × 24-1/2" W × 21" D
• Seat: 17-1/2" W × 17-1/2" D × 16-1/2" H
• Construction: Solid bentwood (beech), pressed wood seat
• Mechanism: Swivel