Something every culture-loving Czech from the 1960s to the 1980s would recognize: the iconic double-seaters by TON. You’d find them in cinemas, theaters, and cultural venues all over the country. With a design that channels the signature Expo 58 style, they were crafted from stained and lacquered beechwood, featuring a robust curved plywood backrest.
These chairs were made in Bystřice pod Hostýnem, home to the original and world-famous Thonet brand, founded there in 1819—renowned for its elegant and innovative bentwood designs. Following World War II, the company was nationalized and renamed TON, a state enterprise. After 1989, it was privatized once again. However, the Thonet trademark, which the new owners contested in court, was ultimately not returned to them.