The Will to Create a Classic 
The period-typical “bowl chair” developed by 
Edelhart “Eddi” Harlis for Thonet in 1954 was 
produced in various versions until the end 
of the 1950s: The numbers 663 refer to the 
three-legged variants, while 664 was used for 
the versions with four legs. The abbreviation 
ST designates the version with legs made of 
tubulär Steel and a P after this Stands for a pal- 
isander-veneered seat bowl. In the mid-1990s, 
the ST 664 model became a classic at Thonet 
and was produced again until 2010. It was 
considered the “most consistent design in ply- 
wood technology in terms of form,” even though 
i 
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Wannensessel Bowl Chair S 774 
Entwurf Design: Edelhard „Eddi“ Harlis, Düsseldorf, 1954 
Ausführung Execution: Thonet Frankenberg / Kegelmann Technik, 2012; 
Carbon, Edelstahl Carbon, stainless Steel; MAK H 3895/2016; Schenkung 
Donation MAK ART SOCIETY (MARS) 
the model was not a major commercial suc- 
cess at the time: “Perhaps the design was too 
extreme for the taste of the time or did not meet 
the expectations of Thonet customers.” 1 On 
the occasion of the re-edition of this piece of 
furniture at the end of the 20th Century, the 
model ST 664 was given the name “The Egg" 
due to the oval shape of the bowl. In Cooper 
ation with Kegelmann Technik, the costly S 774 
“Carbon" limited edition of the supposed clas 
sic was created in 2012. In the so-called Resin 
Transfer Molding process, the original molded 
plywood seat bowl was made from a compos- 
ite of plastic and carbon fabric encased in 
transparent epoxy resin, which gives the futur- 
istic-looking piece of furniture an aesthetically 
pleasing “behind-glass look.” 
1 Cf, Sabine Epple. “Fortschritt mit Konstanten,” in: Exhib, Cat. 
Leipzig 2014: Sitzen - Liegen - Schaukeln, 8-27: 13. 
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