miniature+thonet+rocking+chair+no.+9

miniature thonet rocking chair no. 9

For over two decades, the Vitra Design Museum has been making miniature replicas of milestones in furniture design. The Miniatures Collection encapsulates the entire history of industrial furniture design - moving from Historicism and Art Nouveau to the New Objectivity of Bauhaus and Radical Design, and from Postmodernism all the way up to the present day. Exactly one sixth of the size of the historical originals, the chairs are all true to scale and precisely recreate the smallest details of construction, material and color. The high standard of authenticity even extends to the natural grain of the wood, the reproduction of screws and the elaborate handicraft techniques involved. This has made the miniatures into popular collector's items as well as ideal illustrative material for universities, design schools and architects.

In the second half of the 19th century bentwood firms began to manufacture rocking chairs which, as a symbol of leisure and relaxation, corresponded to the need of the bourgeoisie for an appropriate level of comfort.

Around 1882 the firm of Jacob & Josef Kohn put a model onto the market which differentiated distinctly from earlier rocking chairs. A double loop, which clearly stands out against the framework, unites the supporting functions on either side. As a result of the back-leg-like supports of the prototypes like the Thonet rocking chair being replaced by smaller bentwood loop at the back, the construction of the chair takes on an elegant and weightless appearance. The firm, founded in 1867, had initially mainly copied Thonet furniture. Innovatory drafts, such as the Rocking Chair No. 9, helped the business to develop its own original style.

Each Vitra miniature is true to the original in construction and materials, and reduced in size on a scale of 1:6. Each miniature is packaged in a wooden box, accompanied by an informational booklet. Production notes: Each of the delicate objects are made by hand; on average, each miniature requires five hours of careful manual work. Ongoing quality control ensures that every miniature corresponds to its larger original in terms of finishing, details and materials.
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