The sturdy and sleek furniture designed by Tolix has become a standard of trendy cafés and retro diners. For nearly a century, the French company has become synonymous with café culture in France and beyond.
In 1908, Xavier Pauchard, nicknamed Mr. X, founded Tolix in Burgundy, France. A zinc roofer by trade, Pauchard focused on making household items from sheet metal and using zinc to galvanize his products. Clean-lined and practical, Tolix’s metal furniture marked an early expression of mid-century modern style.
Pauchard designed Tolix’s flagship industrial-style chair, the Chaise A, in the mid-1920s. Also known as the Model A chair, it was designed with small holes in the seat to allow rainwater to drain without sacrificing comfort or durability. In 1934, Pauchard improved the Chaise A with the slimmer, more lightweight Marais A chair. Stackable up to 25 chairs high, it quickly became a favorite among hospitals, schools and factories.
There is debate about whether Joseph Mathieu’s designs influenced Pauchard’s creation of the Multipl, another stacking metal chair from the mid-20th century.
Major museums have exhibited Tolix’s designs, including the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the Vitra Design Museum in Rhein, Germany. In 2006, the brand received the label of Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant, a formal acknowledgment from the French Ministry of Economics and Finance of its industrial excellence and mastery.
Due to a shift in design trends, Tolix fell out of favor near the end of the 20th century and filed for bankruptcy. The company rebounded in 2004 under the ownership of its chief financial officer, Chantal Andriot. Strengthened by a high demand for industrial furniture, Tolix is now experiencing a resurgence in popularity, especially in cafés, breweries and restaurants.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of Tolix dining chairs, tables, stools and more.
Set of Four Vintage Tolix Café Chairs by Xavier Pauchard
By Tolix, Xavier Pauchard
Located in Stockton, NJ
A set of four original Tolix bistro café chairs designed by Xavier Pauchard. Wonderful patina and red paint to each.
Metal
Tolix Genuine Made in France Set of (6) Classic Glossy Grey Powder-Coated Chairs
By Tolix, Xavier Pauchard
Located in BENSENVILLE, IL
Tolix Genuine Made in France Set of 6 in their Classic Glossy Grey Powder-Coated finish. Our authentic French Tolix inventory consists of a mixture of Tolix dining chairs, counter h...
Metal, Steel
1960's Original French T55 Tolix Rectangular Dining Table 'Model 1296'
By Tolix
Located in Hook, Hampshire
1960’s Original French T55 Tolix Rectangular Dining Table – 120cm (Model 1296 ) 1960’s Original French T55 Tolix Rectangular Dining Table – 120cm (Model 1296). Tolix is one of our all time favourite companies. In 1907 Frenchman Xavier Pauchard discovered that he could protect sheet metal from rusting by dipping it in molten zinc (galvanisation) and a few years later he set up his factory producing steel furniture. Tolix was the creator and founder of perhaps the most iconic cafe chair of all time, the Tolix model A, designed in 1934 and sadly now copied worldwide. Tolix used...
Metal
Erik Buck Model 49 dining chairs for O.D. Møbler 1960's
By Erik Buch
Located in Diest, BE
Experience the perfect blend of Scandinavian craftsmanship and mid-century design with these exquisite Model 49 dining chairs by renowned Danish designer Erik Buck (Buch) for O.D. Mø...
Wood
Set of Four Chairs Italian Production
Located in bari, IT
Set of four wooden chairs with red fabric seat of the period Italian production 1960s.
Fabric, Beech
Set of Four Red Cado Chairs, Steen Østergaard, 1974
By Ostergaard Steen
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Polish production chairs from Plastics Factory 'Krywald' in Knurow have embossed signatures. They come from the 1970s. The author of this project is the Danish architect Steen Østerg...
Plastic
1940s Original Tolix Dining Chair, Model A, Green
By Xavier Pauchard
Located in Hook, Hampshire
1940s original Tolix dining chair, model A, green 1940s original Tolix dining chair, model A. The first production of the model A was in the 1930s. This is a very early example fr...
Metal
$3,200 / set
H 36.62 in W 17.72 in D 16.54 in
Set of 6 French Modern Brutalist Chairs, Charles Dudouyt Style, Made in 1960s
By Charles Dudouyt
Located in Odense, DK
This set of 6 Modern Brutalist chairs, crafted in the 1960s by a French cabinetmaker are made in the style of Charles Dudouyt, they feature solid pine construction and seagrass seats...
Seagrass, Pine
Set of 6 Unusual French 1960s Dining Chairs
Located in Long Island City, NY
Set of Six French Mid-Century Dining Chairs with tapered mahogany legs, a cut-out back and brass details. (end caps protection of back legs are removable)
Brass
$2,991 / set
H 29.14 in W 23.63 in D 15.75 in
Set of Four Black Glossy Cado Chairs, Steen Østergaard, 1974
By Ostergaard Steen
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Polish production chairs from Plastics Factory 'Krywald' in Knurow have embossed signatures. They come from the 1970s. The author of this project is the Danish architect Steen Østerg...
Plastic
$9,900 / set
H 37.5 in W 20 in D 25 in
Set of 8 Post Modern Dining Chairs, Powder Coated Tan and Ivory Boucle, 1980's
By Ettore Sottsass
Located in Culver City, CA
These chairs are what happens when wabi-sabi restraint elopes with full-blown postmodern maximalism. Each one has been professionally powder-coated in the most delicious shade of war...
Steel
Set of Four Gilt Metal Dining Chairs
By John Salterini
Located in New York, NY
Four matching armless high back cafe style dining chairs. Gold tone over iron base frame, with woven metal backrests and seats. Please note we are also offering, separately, the mat...
Iron
Set of Four Marzio Cecchi Model 'S' Chairs, Italy
By Marzio Cecchi
Located in New York, NY
The famous model "S chair", an iconic and unique design by Marzio Cecchi for Studio Most in Italy, circa early 1970s. Made of wicker rope, the graceful and sculptural "S" form is sup...
Metal
$3,350 / set
H 37.8 in W 18.51 in D 18.12 in
Set of Niels Koefoed Dining Chairs, Model "Lis", Rosewood, 1960s
By Niels Koefoed, Koefoeds Møbelfabrik 1
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Set of Niels Koefoed dining chairs made in solid rosewood. New upholstered in tan aniline leather. Model Lis, made by Niels Koefoeds Møbelfabrik Hornslet, 1960s.
Leather, Rosewood
$717 / item
H 30.71 in W 24.41 in D 20.48 in
Arne Jacobsen Model 3107 Dining Chair in Cognac Leather, 1960s
By Arne Jacobsen, Fritz Hansen
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Arne Jacobsen dining chair new upholstered with cognac pure aniline leather. Base of powder coated steel tube. Model 3107 Syveren, made by Fritz Hansen.
Leather
Sold
H 33.5 in W 17.5 in D 19 in
Authentic Steel French Tolix Classic Glossy Grey Powder-Coated Chairs
By Xavier Pauchard, Tolix
Located in BENSENVILLE, IL
Authentic Steel French Tolix Set of (6) Classic Glossy Grey Powder-Coated Chairs. Tolix Dining Chairs have been hand-made in France for almost 100-years. This is a set of 6 Genuine S...
Metal, Steel
Sold
H 33.5 in W 17.5 in D 19 in
Authentic Steel French Tolix Set of (6) Classic Glossy Grey Powder-Coated Chairs
By Xavier Pauchard, Tolix
Located in BENSENVILLE, IL
Authentic Steel French Tolix Set of (6) Classic Glossy Grey Powder-Coated Chairs. Tolix Dining Chairs have been hand-made in France for almost 100-years. This is a set of 6 Genuine S...
Metal, Steel
Sold
H 33.5 in W 17.5 in D 19 in
Authentic Steel French Tolix Set of (6) Classic Glossy Grey Powder-Coated Chairs
By Xavier Pauchard, Tolix
Located in BENSENVILLE, IL
Authentic Steel French Tolix Set of (6) Classic Glossy Grey Powder-Coated Chairs. Tolix Dining Chairs have been hand-made in France for almost 100-years. This is a set of 6 Genuine S...
Metal, Steel
Sold
H 33.5 in W 17.5 in D 19 in
Original French Tolix Powder-Coated Sky Blue Steel Stacking Chairs - Set of (2)
By Xavier Pauchard, Tolix
Located in BENSENVILLE, IL
Genuine French Hand-Made Tolix Stacking Chairs in Sky Blue, although we do have an additional 375-400 Authentic Steel Tolix Ding Chairs in stock, along with several hundred Steel Tol...
Metal, Steel
Sold
H 33.5 in W 17.5 in D 19 in
Tolix Authentic French Steel Set of 6) Classic Glossy Grey Powder-Coated Chairs
By Xavier Pauchard, Tolix
Located in BENSENVILLE, IL
Tolix Authentic French Steel Set of 6) Classic Glossy Grey Powder-Coated Chairs. Tolix Dining Chairs have been hand-made in France for almost 100-years. This is a set of 6 Genuine St...
Steel, Metal
Sold
H 33.5 in W 17.5 in D 19 in
Tolix Steel Stacking Chairs in a Wonderful Hot Bubble Gum Pink Set of (4)
By Xavier Pauchard, Tolix
Located in BENSENVILLE, IL
Authentic set of ( 4) Tolix chairs in Hot Bubble Gum Pink. The Hot Pink Powder-Coated finish blends wonderfully in Tolix modern design, which was created in France in 1934 by metalw...
Metal, Steel
Sold
H 33.5 in W 17.5 in D 19 in
Tolix Fern Green Original Made in France - Set of (8) Hundreds More Available
By Tolix
Located in BENSENVILLE, IL
Tolix Fern Green set of 8) steel stacking Chairs, iconic in modern design, were created in France in 1934 by metalworker Xavier Pauchard. His innovative use of galvanized steel made ...
Metal, Steel
Tolix Orange Stacking Cafe Chairs
By Tolix, Xavier Pauchard
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Set of 8 Tolix chairs designed by Xavier Pauchard. Solid Comfortable Chairs! These were always used in a dining room so chairs present like new! Great bright color ready to go! Stack...
Metal
1950's French Red Metal Outdoor Dining Chairs, Set of Seven
By Tolix
Located in Hook, Hampshire
1950’s French red metal outdoor dining chairs – set of seven. 1950’s French red metal outdoor dining chairs – set of seven. Similar to Tol...
Metal
Sold
H 35.44 in W 16.93 in D 16.15 in
1950's Toledo Orange Metal Stacking Outdoor Chairs - Set Of Eight
By Tolix
Located in Hook, Hampshire
1950’s Toledo Orange Metal Stacking Outdoor Chairs – Set Of Eight 1950’s Toledo Orange Metal Stacking Outdoor Chairs – Set Of Eight. Reminisce...
Metal
Sold
H 32.29 in W 15.75 in D 18.9 in
1950's Original Yellow French Tolix T2 Metal Café Dining Chairs - Pair
By Tolix
Located in Hook, Hampshire
950's Original Yellow French Tolix T2 Metal Café Dining Chairs - Pair 1950's Original Yellow French Tolix T2 Metal Café Dining Chairs - Pair. Please note the images show four chair...
Metal
Sold
H 32.29 in W 15.75 in D 18.9 in
1950's Original Yellow French Tolix T2 Metal Outdoor Dining Chairs, Set of Six
By Tolix
Located in Hook, Hampshire
1950’s Original yellow French Tolix T2 metal outdoor dining chairs – set of six 1950’s Original yellow French Tolix T2 metal Caf? dining chairs – set O...
Metal