Thonet in Boppard: Rediscovering the Origins of a Global Brand
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Thonet in Boppard: How a Workshop Made Design History
How did a workshop in Boppard become a global brand, whose furniture continues to shape design history today? The lecture Thonet – The Beginning of a Global Brand in Boppard will focus on November 10, 2026, on the craft, economic, and familial origins of the famous furniture company.
From the Middle Rhine to the World
Dr. Wolfgang Thillmann and Bernd Breidenbach trace the early history of Michael Thonet. In Boppard, the furniture pioneer developed crucial craft and entrepreneurial foundations before moving to Vienna, where he, together with his sons, built an internationally successful company.
Innovation, Furniture Art, and Industrialization
The focus is on those innovations that made Thonet a pioneer in furniture history. The evening highlights the connection between traditional craftsmanship, technical development, and industrial production. Thus, the lecture opens a perspective on art and cultural history regarding the emergence of modern furniture design in the 19th century.
New Sources, Critical Perspectives
The speakers draw on extensive, previously unknown documents and archives. They question traditional narratives and scrutinize supposedly established insights into the company's history. The examination of the workshop is intertwined with historical source criticism and conveys cultural education firsthand.
An Evening for Design and History Enthusiasts
The artistic experience of this lecture arises not only from dealing with furniture as functional objects. It is about form, material, construction, and the aesthetic experience of a design that permanently changed everyday life. Afterward, a glass of wine invites exchange with the speakers and other guests.
Look forward to an informed journey to the origins of a design classic. The lecture evening at the State Regional Archive Koblenz connects furniture history, company history, and regional memory culture – an opportunity to discover Thonet's rise to a global brand from a new perspective.
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