Posted 8 years ago
Skyhart
(6 items)
I do not know very much about this pub-style chair. I believe it to be older than the J&J Kohn chair that I posted about previously - possibly mid to late 1800's. I purchased this chair at auction - very cheap. It has it's original "embossed" seat although there is crack/hole in it - I have not repaired it. The top of the back has also lost wood - probably due to being leaned back against a wall while someone sat in it. Believe I did clean up the finish on it. There is also an original label on the underside of the seat. Would love to find more information about the factory/maker and possible value of the chair if any. THANKS
What I found on the internet -
The small bug (bow) wood furniture industry Josef Jaworek was the only Polish member of distribution organization Mundus, Vienna by their foundation in 1907. Mundus merged with J&J Kohn, Vienna in August, 1914.
Teschen was a city in the crownland Österreichisch Schlesien (Austrian Silesia) of the Austrian Empire.
As a result of WW 1, the city was divided along its river Olsa. The right side of the river became Polish. Today, it has the name Cieszyn. The left side of the river became part of Czechoslovakia (today: Czech Republic), and has the name Cesky´ Tesín.
Michael Thonet's patent on wood bending expired in 1905. That year, 52 curved furniture factories were established in Austria-Hungary. Apparently it was one of the factories. The chair could only be made after 1905. At that time, the kohn company was founded, so it makes no sense which chair was made first. In Europe, it is believed that because Thonet and Kohn are so strong that they constantly produce furniture designs with the greatest designers of the time, the prices of the products of these two factories are higher. Contemporary designers include Josef Hofmann, Kolomon Moser, Otto Wagner, Gustav Siegel, Robert Örley .Jan Kotera, and others.
This form was also manufactured by the Debrecen (Hungary) factory.
I have just bought an identical model of this chair. Mine was in Weston Super Mare, England, forty years ago, and now with me in Cornwall, England. My research shows a London agent's office for Josef Jaworek bentwood furniture from 1890 to 1905. So his production must extend at least for those years. My chair also has the square head bolts to the back leg braces, and screws (three each) to the front leg braces. My seat pattern is the same as this example.