Description
A rare bentwood beech sidetable in black lacquer with guilded details. With an intriguing label, telling an interesting story. The picture shows (in Cyrillic): БРАТЬЯ ТОНЕТЪ ВѢНА. This literally means: “Thonet Brothers, Vienna” (Gebrüder Thonet, Wien) Additionally, you see: С.П.Б. = Saint Petersburg Б.Т. = abbreviation of Bratya Tonet (Thonet). What does this mean in concrete terms? This is original Thonet and even more importantly: This is an export table for the Russian market, specially made for sale in Saint Petersburg, among others, with an official reference to Vienna (headquarters). The spelling provides a decisive clue to the date: The word “ТОНЕТЪ” ends in a hard -ъ (jer) And “ВѢНА” uses an old letter (Ѣ). This is pre-revolutionary Russian script. Crucial conclusion: Produced before 1917 (before the Russian Revolution) Most likely: ca. 1890 – 1914 After 1917, this spelling was abolished.
The table is in good condition, some signs of use on the tabletop, h. 78, top diameter 55,5
