TON and Patrick Norguet: Listening to Wood, Shaping a Modern Classic.

3 Questions for Milan Dostalík, CEO of TON

Q: With Cissy you collaborated with Patrick Norguet. How do you usually choose external designers? What makes a successful partnership between a brand and a designer, and how do you complement each other during the process?

A: We choose to collaborate with designers who share our respect for craftsmanship and our curiosity about new ideas. A successful partnership is based on the ability to listen to each other and build on our respective strengths: the designer brings a fresh creative vision, while we contribute our tradition, know-how, and technical expertise. Throughout the process, we work closely together, testing and refining prototypes until we achieve the right balance between aesthetics, comfort, and durability. This dialogue enables us to create pieces that fit naturally into today’s spaces and will last for generations.

“Craftsmanship is at the heart
of everything we do at Ton.”

Q: TON’s heritage is rooted in Thonet’s bentwood technique. How important is craftsmanship for you, and how do you balance tradition with innovation?

A: Craftsmanship is at the heart of everything we do at Ton. With a heritage rooted in over 160 years of working with bentwood, this tradition defines the quality and authenticity of our work. At the same time, we are committed to innovation, continuously developing our production processes, integrating new technologies, and collaborating with designers who encourage us to think differently. This blend of traditional craftsmanship and modern innovation guarantees that our products remain faithful to our origins while responding to the demands of contemporary living and working spaces.

“A successful partnership is based on the ability to listen to each other and build on our respective strengths.”

Q: TON produces many legendary and timeless chairs. What gives Cissy its own character, and what inspires you when designing a new chair?

A: Thanks to its generous silhouette, tactile softness and refined detailing, Cissy has its own character. The armrest is crafted from a single piece of wood. This distinctive feature combines comfort and elegance, showcasing the strength of our bentwood technique. When designing new chairs, we are inspired by striking a balance between heritage and contemporary needs, and by how people live, work and relax today. This search for harmony between form, function and atmosphere gives birth to each product, and it is this balance that gives our furniture its lasting relevance.

About Cissy lounge

A chair that doesn’t just invite you to sit, it invites you to experience. Cissy is a seamless blend of comfort, craftsmanship and character. Its soft upholstery offers a warm embrace, while the elegant bentwood curves embody the timeless artistry of Ton. Designed for relaxation, Cissy, in either the high or low back version, effortlessly balances heritage with contemporary ease. Paired with a matching footstool, it transforms any space into a sanctuary of comfort.

Patrick Norguet believes in products that are relevant, meaningful and communicative.
Since founding his firm in 2000, Patrick has developed a multidisciplinary approach to his profession, creating furniture for brands such as Cappellini, JANUS et Cie, Cassina and Artifort; lighting for Artemide; textiles and tiles; a watch for Hermès, and concept cars for Peugeot.
At the heart of his practice is an in-depth analysis of the DNA of his clients. Each of his designs offers something innovative, while remaining true to its style and heritage.
He has an avowed passion for product development and technological advances and has created a signature style characterized by pure lines, clean forms, and meticulous details.
His aim is to reduce each to their essence, resulting in objects that are succinct and self evident.
An icon of contemporary design, his multi-coloured Rainbow Chair is part of the permanent collection of New York’s Museum of Modern Art. Other creations have been acquired by the Mobilier National in Paris, and he is the recipient of numerous prizes, including several Red Dot, Wallpaper Design and GQ Man of the Year awards.

TON is a Czech furniture maker from Bystřice pod Hostýnem with more than 160 years of continuous bentwood craft. They elevate the simple act of sitting into a sensory pleasure, focusing on bending wood and hand crafting chairs and tables. Innovation guides their work while honoring origin and tradition, extending classic bentwood technology into contemporary production. Human skill still leads the demanding hand bending, and for simpler bends they use machines developed in their own factory to achieve consistent, efficient results.