"Gebruder Thonet began production of Arm Chair No. 9 in 1870. Neither Michael Thonet nor his five sons could have dreamed then that fifty years later the Swiss architect Le Corbusier would endorse this product as an object capturing the esprit nouveau of the twentieth century. Nor could they have forecast that over 100 years later, people would still be admiring, buying, and enjoying its simple elegance attained through technological perfection and purity."
"Why did Le Corbusier select Arm Chair No. 9 over so many others? First, the chair was utilitarian: it served a function; it was a standard. Second, and equally important to Le Corbusier, the chair was appropriate to the times. Even though the design was fifty years old, its simplicity of line and construction as well as its honesty and clarity of materials devoid of surface decoration confirmed its kinship to the "new" movement. Arm Chair No. 9 was therefore an eminent answer to Le Corbusier's search for furniture which was compatible with his architectural aesthetic.""Le Corbusier summed up the qualities of the Arm Chair No. 9 when he described it as "humble," "common," and "noble." With this endorsement, he broadened the heritage of Michael Thonet's Arm Chair No. 9 -- the Le Corbusier Chair."
from Contemporary Classics by Charles D. Gandy and Susan Zimmermann-Stidham
Arm Chair No. 9 (The Le Corbusier Chair)
Designed by Michael Thonet
Produced by Gebruder Thonet, 1870
Frankenburg, Germany
{Do you see evidence of "The Five Year Plan" -- our home renovation plan -- in action? I took these photos a few weeks ago, just as the professor was starting to cut in the paint in our living room. I'm happy to report that our entire house, save the kitchen and bathrooms, is now outfitted with crown molding and is beautifully painted. Tomorrow the professor starts installing cabinetry in the laundry room!}
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