TON
TON has bent the same beechwood, in the same Czech factory, since 1861. The company grew from Michael Thonet’s original bentwood works in Bystřice pod Hostýnem, and it still makes the classic No. 14 chair alongside a contemporary collection designed by some of Europe’s leading studios. BeDESIGN carries TON in Houston, Texas. Visit our showroom to see the craft in person, or request a custom quote for your project.
About TON
Michael Thonet opened his furniture works in Bystřice pod Hostýnem, Moravia, in 1861, drawn by the region’s beech forests. His breakthrough — steam-bending solid beechwood, reinforced with a steel band, into curved forms that wouldn’t break — became the technical basis for the No. 14 chair, introduced in 1859 and often cited as the first piece of furniture ever mass-produced. It won a gold medal at the 1867 Paris World Exposition, and roughly 50 million were sold before 1930.
The Bystřice factory was nationalized after the Second World War and renamed TON in the 1950s — an acronym for Továrna Ohýbaného Nábytku, “bent furniture factory.” Three companies today trace their lineage to Thonet’s original enterprise: Thonet GmbH in Germany, Thonet Vienna in Austria, and TON in the Czech Republic, which occupies the original Bystřice site and, by the company’s own account, has produced bentwood furniture there continuously for over 160 years — longer than any other furniture maker at a single location.
The craft
TON’s bentwood process has changed less than most manufacturing in the last century and a half. Beechwood slats are steamed, then bent by hand in pairs by craftsmen using clamps and molds refined over generations, before being oven-dried into their final shape. Some of these steps have resisted mechanization even as the factory has modernized around them. TON employs more than 800 people today, combining that hand craft with technical specialists, and sources its beechwood under FSC® certification.
The designers
The No. 14 chair remains in production, alongside newer icons: Chair 314, designed by Swedish studio Claesson Koivisto Rune, updates the bentwood silhouette for contemporary interiors and offices. French designer Patrick Norguet designed the Cissy lounge chair. Alexander Gufler, working across several TON collections including Merano and the recently introduced All’Essenza, has become one of the brand’s most prolific contemporary collaborators.
What makes TON different
Most furniture brands buy craftsmanship as a marketing story. TON’s is simply where the company has always been — the same buildings, the same bending technique, updated but never replaced. That continuity is unusual in European furniture, and it shows in a catalog that ranges from the unaltered 1859 chair to design-forward contemporary pieces made with the same hands and the same wood.
Why Buy TON at BeDESIGN
BeDESIGN carries TON furniture in Houston, with custom quotes, trade pricing, and white-glove delivery throughout Texas. TON pairs an unmatched design pedigree with genuinely functional, everyday furniture — chairs and tables built for use, not display — which makes it a natural fit for dining rooms, offices, and hospitality projects that want authenticity without sacrificing durability.
Visit our showroom to sit in a TON chair, which tells you more about the bentwood construction than any photograph. Every order is custom-quoted for your project.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does BeDESIGN carry TON in Houston?
Yes. BeDESIGN carries TON furniture at our Houston showroom, with custom quotes and trade pricing.
What is TON best known for?
TON is best known as the direct successor to Michael Thonet’s original bentwood furniture works, founded in 1861 in Bystřice pod Hostýnem, Czech Republic. The company still produces the No. 14 chair — one of the first pieces of mass-produced furniture in history — alongside a contemporary collection by designers including Claesson Koivisto Rune and Patrick Norguet.
Is TON the same company as Thonet?
TON descends from the same company Michael Thonet founded, and operates from the original 1861 factory site. Over the twentieth century the original Thonet enterprise split into three independent companies — Thonet GmbH (Germany), Thonet Vienna (Austria), and TON (Czech Republic) — each producing its own collections today.
How is TON furniture made?
TON’s signature process is steam-bending solid beechwood, a technique pioneered at the same factory in the 1850s. Slats are steamed, hand-bent in pairs using traditional clamps and molds, and oven-dried into shape — a process that remains partly manual even in a modern factory.
How long does a TON order take?
Lead times vary by piece and finish. BeDESIGN provides a detailed timeline with every quote.
Can I see TON furniture in person in Houston?
Yes. BeDESIGN’s showroom at 2016 W Alabama St in Houston features TON pieces. Appointments are welcome but not required during regular hours.
Schedule a Consultation
Every TON piece at BeDESIGN is custom-quoted for your project. Contact us for a complimentary design consultation at our Houston showroom, or request pricing by phone or email.
BeDESIGN | 2016 W Alabama St, Houston, TX 77098 | (713) 623-1177 | hello@be-design.us