4 stripped bentwood bistro chairs - Baumann

A set of four recently stripped vintage beechwood bistro chairs, branded Baumann. The bent beechwood frames are made from bending solid wood with steam, a technique which ultimately revolutionized furniture design in the 1800s and still carries on today.

Baumann, a prominent French furniture maker, was established in 1901 by Swiss entrepreneur Emile Baumann in Colombier-Fontaine, France. Initially, Baumann produced a simple child’s chair, the 'charette' but quickly grew into a significant bentwood furniture manufacturer. By the 1970s, they were producing nearly one million chairs annually, with showrooms across France and in international locations such as Algiers and Tunis. Their chairs were renowned for durability and flexibility, making them popular in French cafes and restaurants. Post-World War II, Baumann embraced mid-century modern design, blending Scandinavian influences with French style in models like the Mondor and Dove. Their innovative designs and strategic marketing solidified their place in the furniture industry for much of the 20th century.