In the 1830's he began to experiment with bending of wood, which was then used in his profession. Bentwood furniture was first introduced to the public in 1841 at the industrial exhibition in Koblenz, which was also visited by the Austrian Chancellor Metternich. On his recommendation, Thonet moved to Vienna the following year and founded his own furniture factory.
He had thirteen children with his wife Anna Maria, but only five sons lived to adulthood. Because of them he renamed the company to “Gebrüder Thonet” in 1853.
The interest in bentwood furniture was constantly growing, therefore, Thonet decided to establish a new factory in 1856. Due to favourable conditions he chose Koryčany in Moravia, where he subsequently moved for a time. Manufacture started there in 1857 and due to its great success the company soon expanded and new factories were built in Bystřice pod Hostýnem and Vsetín.
Thonet's bentwood furniture soon became renowned and the German businessman won numerous awards for his manufacture, including the Golden Cross of Merit and the Knight's Cross of the Order of Franz Joseph. At the end of his life he was a renowned furniture manufacturer. He died on 3rd March 1871 in Vienna and the company management was taken over by his sons.