Thonet furniture originated with Michael Thonet in 1830, who pioneered the technique of bending wood to create elegant, mass-produced furniture. The company, officially renamed Gebrüder Thonet in 1853, achieved global fame with designs like the iconic No. 14 café chair, which was built on a modular principle for efficient production and disassembly. Over time, Thonet's manufacturing expertise attracted leading modern designers like Le Corbusier, Marcel Breuer, and Mies van der Rohe, expanding the company's portfolio to include furniture made from materials like tubular steel.