Ton
Industrialisation, steam power, electricity, evolutionary theory – the nineteenth century produced many remarkable innovations unsurpassed to this day.
One of these was the technique of bending wood, a technique on which Michael Thonet and his sons built a network of factories where they transformed bent wood into iconic furniture designs.
Production began in 1861 in Bystřice pod Hostýnem in the Czech republic.
The logistically advantageous position with plentiful beech trees in the surrounding forests, combined with a skilled local workforce, shaped the spirit of a factory that has managed to preserve its exacting craft for more than 150 years. In spite of several changes in ownership, the factory has been producing under the independent label Ton since 1953.
Work at Ton beats to the same rhythm as it did 160 years ago. The rhythm of skilled wood benders placing hundreds of pieces of wood into bending forms each day. Their strength, speed and affinity with wood continue to fascinate no matter how many times one observes their craft.
Manual work also dominates the rest of the production process, complemented by the innovative work of Ton’s designers, technological advancements and their responsible management of natural resources.
This is Ton – quality that will last for generations.
About the designer
Yonoh Studio
Two young Spanish industrial designers – Clara del Portillo and Alex Selma, decided to establish a multidisciplinary studio in 2006. The results of their creative design-work are simple and functional products – from chairs, sofas, lamps, and accessories to outdoor furniture.
They have won several international awards for their work, including the Red Dot Design Award, the IF Design Award, and the Good Design and Wallpaper * Design Awards. Because they work together in the studio and complement each other, they decided to name (the studio) Yonoh, which is an ambigram – a text that can be read upside-down; so in itself, it symbolically reflects the personalities of Clara and Alex.
They designed the Hexagon table for TON, collection Valencia and Ginger armchair.