Boppard chair, c. 1836-1840, Michael Thonet, German (Prussian), German (Prussian), 1796-1871, 33 1/4 x 16 7/8 x 19 in. (84.46 x 42.86 x 48.26 cm), Bent and laminated wood, walnut veneer, cane, Germany (Prussia), 19th century, Indelibly identified as classics of modern design, the remarkable bentwood furnishings of Gebrüder Thonet continue to turn heads more than a century later. The history of bentwood furniture dates back centuries, but it was Michael Thonet, an enterprising cabinetmaker from Boppard-am-Rein in Germany, who propelled the notion of steam-bending woods (and subsequently, tubular metal) into the 20th century, representing a significant passage from craft to industrial production.