With his 520 upholstered chair, Italian designer Marco Dessi reconceptualized a Thonet classic – the 209 bentwood chair. While directly nodding to the German manufacturer’s lineage, the new chair fills the void between the bentwood elements with soft upholstery, adding a higher degree of comfort with a lightweight design. 

Equally suitable around a private dining table as in a restaurant or conference room, the 520 chair was recently relaunched in a wide range of colours and materials. Two back options were also realized – one with armrests (520 PF) and one without (520 P). 

To realize his chair, Dessi developed a complex bentwood element that reduces the space between the lower arc and the seat, creating an opening that doubles as a convenient handle when moving the chair. 

Made from beech, Thonet’s 520 upholstered chair is available in a variety of finishes (natural, brightened and stained, stained black and stained dark brown) as well as numerous upholstery options that range from bright and bold to muted and neutral.