Thonet is considered a pioneer of furniture design throughout the world. The company was established in 1819 by Michael Thonet to produce his own designs, using the then-new bentwood process, which he developed. Within a short period of time it became a major furniture manufacturer with a global distribution network. The No.14 Vienna Café Chair, now known as the 214, was perfected in 1859 and is regarded as the world's first, and most successful, mass-produced piece of furniture. Praised by architects and designers, Le Corbusier said of the 214 chair "never was a better and more elegant design and a more precisely crafted and practical item created."

In the 1930's a major expansion took place with the addition of tubular steel furniture from famous Bauhaus associated designers such as Mart Stam, Marcel Breuer and Mies van der Rohe. Today, as well as continuing with the manufacture of many of the tubular steel and bentwood classics, Thonet, in their long established tradition of innovation and design quality, introduce products by renowned contemporary architects and designers.