Bentwood technology is famously associated with which chair and its designer?

• A. Thonet No. 14 Bentwood Chair — Michael Thonet
• B. Wassily Chair — Marcel Breuer
• C. Eames Lounge Chair — Charles and Ray Eames
• D. Windsor Chair — Michael Thonet

Answer: (A)

Bentwood technology relies on steam-softened wood that is bent into graceful curves and then set to hold that shape, enabling lightweight, durable chairs that could be produced in large numbers. This method is most closely associated with Michael Thonet and his No. 14 Bentwood Chair, often simply called the Bentwood Café Chair. Thonet perfected the steam-bending process for beech wood and developed a scalable, factory-made construction that made elegant curved chairs affordable and widely available, shaping modern furniture design and cafe culture across Europe and beyond.

The other options point to different technologies or styles. The Wassily Chair uses steel tubing and fabric or leather, not bentwood; the Eames Lounge Chair relies on molded plywood and cushioning rather than steam-bent solid wood; the Windsor Chair is a traditional, hand-turned design that predates Thonet’s bentwood innovations.