Thonet Icons According to Jil Sander

05/06/2026 - Following its debut in 2025 with an initial selection of reinterpreted classics, the JS . THONET collection expands in 2026 with new pieces that further enrich the project developed by Jil Sander for Thonet. Alongside the iconic S 64 and S 32 cantilever chairs and the B 97 nesting tables, the collection now includes the S 1070 table and the S 411 lounge chair, completing a range that revisits some of the most significant examples of Thonet tubular steel furniture through a contemporary lens.

The collaboration between the German designer and the company founded by Michael Thonet is rooted in shared values such as formal simplicity, material quality, construction precision, and durability. The result is a collection that engages with the Bauhaus legacy while moving beyond a simple re-edition, introducing new finishes, colour schemes, and detailing to offer a fresh interpretation of these design classics.

Pure lines, quality materials, and innovation characterize Jil Sander's unmistakable style. After a long career on the most important international catwalks, Jil Sander entered the world of interior design for the first time by reinterpreting classic Thonet tubular steel furniture from the early 20th century: "Design and architecture have always influenced my work," she says.

The SERIOUS and NORDIC Lines

Like every piece in the JS . THONET collection, both the S 1070 table and the S 411 lounge chair are available in the two distinct aesthetic lines, SERIOUS and NORDIC, each offering a different interpretation of the relationship between metal, wood, and leather. SERIOUS is defined by polished smoked titanium frames and a rich palette that includes graphite black, graphite ruby red, graphite green, and graphite blue. In the lounge chair, the leather upholstery echoes the colours of the lacquered armrests, creating a visual continuity that reinforces the sophisticated character of the series. NORDIC, on the other hand, embraces a lighter and more tactile atmosphere through matte nickel-silver finishes with golden reflections, white-pigmented oak details, and leather upholstery available in light caramel, burnt walnut, and alabaster white. The combination enhances the restrained elegance of the forms while highlighting the natural warmth of the materials.

The S 1070 Table: Essential Design and Material Research

Among the new additions to the collection, the S 1070 table stands out. Available in the SERIOUS and NORDIC lines, the design is based on a 2004 project by Glen Oliver Löw, itself inspired by the earliest Bauhaus tables and particularly Marcel Breuer’s iconic B 9. The table retains the essential qualities that define Thonet tubular steel furniture: a light yet rigorous frame supporting a carefully proportioned tabletop. Jil Sander reinterprets this minimalist structure through a refined exploration of materials and surface finishes. Divided longitudinally into two sections, the tabletop enhances the visual lightness of the design while allowing for a variety of colour combinations. For the designer, colour and material form an inseparable whole. This approach has led to a palette that highlights surfaces while interacting with the metallic finishes of the frames. In the SERIOUS line, the tubular steel frame features a polished smoked titanium finish paired with glossy lacquered tops in graphite black, graphite ruby red, graphite green, and graphite blue, also available in two-tone versions. The NORDIC line, by contrast, combines a matte nickel-silver finish with subtle golden reflections and white-pigmented oak tops.

The attention given to metal finishes helps renew the visual language of Bauhaus classics, while the combination with the collection’s cantilever chairs allows for coherent interiors in both residential settings and professional environments, including meeting rooms, executive spaces, and hospitality projects.

The S 411 Lounge Chair: A Reinterpreted 1930s Classic

Another major addition is the S 411 lounge chair, one of Thonet’s historic designs first introduced in 1932. With this model, the company marked the transition from the early tubular steel pieces, often unupholstered, to softer and more comfortable seating, anticipating the language of modern lounge furniture that would emerge in the following decades. The defining feature of the S 411 is its distinctive S-shaped tubular steel frame, which extends seamlessly into gently curved armrests. The continuous line creates a sense of movement and lightness that contrasts with the generous upholstery of the seat and backrest. According to Jil Sander, this dialogue between the dynamic structure and the softness of the materials is central to the character of the piece. The contemporary reinterpretation focuses primarily on craftsmanship and execution. Sander developed a special upholstery process that reduces visible seams to a minimum. The padding is completely wrapped in leather and secured to the backrest with a continuous cord. Precisely folded corners and concealed internal stitching give the chair a compact, almost monolithic appearance while emphasizing the formal clarity of the design.

Paired with the S 411 H footstool and the B 97 side table introduced in 2025, the lounge chair creates a harmonious ensemble designed for residential lounges, hospitality settings, and shared spaces.

The Bauhaus Legacy in Thonet Tubular Steel Furniture

At the heart of the JS . THONET collection lies a direct dialogue with the Bauhaus design tradition and with figures such as Marcel Breuer, one of the pioneers of tubular steel furniture in modern design.

Like Breuer, Jil Sander places great importance on balancing industrial techniques with natural materials, combining construction innovation with everyday comfort. Leather, wood, and metal become complementary elements within a collection that explores the tension between industrial precision and sensory richness.

Today, the JS . THONET collection includes the S 32 and S 64 cantilever chairs, the S 1070 table, the S 411 lounge chair with matching footstool, and the B 97 side table. Together, these pieces demonstrate the enduring relevance of Thonet tubular steel furniture and its ability to adapt to contemporary living and working environments while preserving the expressive strength of the original designs.

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