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Wilde + Spieth

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German furniture manufacturer founded in 1831, known for Egon Eiermann's mid-century seating classics such as the SE 68 chair.

Last updated September 27, 2026

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Overview

Wilde + Spieth is a German manufacturer of seating furniture based in Esslingen am Neckar. Its history reaches back to 1831, when it began as a carpentry business, and it was renamed Wilde + Spieth in 1912, initially focusing on roller-shutter construction. In 1948, at the suggestion of architect and designer Egon Eiermann, the company began producing seating furniture. Eiermann's moulded-wood chairs represented a pioneering innovation: the development of serial furniture for social housing. In close collaboration with Eiermann, more than 30 models of serial furniture in wood and tubular steel were developed up to 1970, now regarded as design classics. The best known is the stackable SE 68 chair, produced since 1950. In the 1950s Wilde + Spieth also added designs by other modern architects, including Paul Schneider-Esleben, Herta-Maria Witzemann and Herbert Hirche. The contemporary programme (as of 2009) includes, alongside Eiermann's chair classics, designs by Daniel Libeskind and Thore Garbers. The company also makes orchestra chairs, music stands and accessories for musicians. Today Wilde + Spieth positions itself as a forward-looking company focused on sustainability, outstanding service and the highest quality standards, manufacturing modern classics beloved by architects, stylists, designers and design lovers worldwide. Its products are designed for durability, repairability through spare parts, and long-term everyday use.

History

The story of Wilde + Spieth dates back to 1831, when carpentry made by local craftsmen was the core of the business. Long-lasting quality has been a focus since the beginning. The company was founded as Schreinerei Spieth (Spieth carpentry) in 1831. In 1912 it was renamed Wilde + Spieth, with roller-shutter construction as its main business field. A decisive turning point came in the late 1940s: at the suggestion of the famous German architect Egon Eiermann, the company began producing seating furniture in 1948. Eiermann's moulded-wood chairs pursued a pioneering innovation: the development of serial furniture for social housing. In close collaboration with Eiermann, more than 30 models of serial furniture in wood and tubular steel were developed up to 1970, now counted among the classics of design. The best known is the stackable SE 68 chair, produced since 1950. In the 1950s Wilde + Spieth also took designs by other modern architects into its programme, including Paul Schneider-Esleben, Herta-Maria Witzemann and Herbert Hirche. The company has also been developing chairs for musicians for decades; some of the world's most renowned orchestras, such as the Elbphilharmonie Orchestra in Hamburg, have chosen its products. The contemporary programme (as of 2009) includes, alongside Eiermann's chair classics, designs by Daniel Libeskind and Thore Garbers, as well as orchestra chairs, music stands and accessories for musicians. Today Wilde + Spieth sees itself as a forward-looking company with a focus on sustainability, outstanding service and the highest quality standards. It manufactures its products with attention to detail and a sense of materiality – modern classics beloved by architects, stylists, designers and design lovers worldwide. The company emphasises conscious reduction, omission and simplification, quoting Eiermann: 'nothing that is simple can ever be repugnant.' It stresses that quality is the sum of several equally important steps, and that a chair must adhere to human-scale values such as ergonomic requirements, tactile surfaces, natural materials and a balance between function and aesthetics. Spare parts ensure that its classics can be repaired rather than disposed of, and its furniture is consistently designed for durability—thoughtfully engineered, robustly crafted and individually configurable.

  • 2009

    Contemporary programme included designs by Daniel Libeskind and Thore Garbers alongside Eiermann classics.

  • 1970

    By this year, more than 30 models of serial furniture in wood and tubular steel had been developed with Eiermann.

  • 1950

    Stackable SE 68 chair entered production.

  • 1948

    Began producing seating furniture at the suggestion of architect Egon Eiermann.

  • 1912

    Renamed Wilde + Spieth; main business field initially roller-shutter construction.

  • 1831

    Founded as Schreinerei Spieth (carpentry business).

Products and positioning

Manufacturer of durable, repairable modern furniture classics with a focus on sustainability, craftsmanship and long-term use, favoured by architects, designers and cultural institutions.

  • SE 68 Multi Purpose Chair

    Stackable chair designed by Egon Eiermann, produced since 1950; available in black, oak or beech with black or chrome frame.

  • SE 18 Folding Chair

    Folding chair available in black or beech.

  • SE 42 3-Legged Chair

    Three-legged chair in beech.

  • S 38/S1 Stackable Stool

    Stackable stool in black/black or black/chrome.

  • SBG 197 R Swivel Chair

    Swivel chair in black/chrome.

  • S 197 R20 Swivel Chair

    Swivel chair in black/black, black/chrome or beech/chrome.

  • S 193 R20 Swivel Stool

    Swivel stool in black/black, black/chrome, beech/black or beech/chrome.

  • SB 38 Bar Stool

    Bar stool.

  • SB 68 Bar Chair

    Bar chair.

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