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.
$225 / item
Tolix T14 Chair Outdoor Painted in Chili Red
By Patrick Norguet, Tolix
Located in Shakopee, MN
Designed by Patrick Norguet in 2014, the T14 chair's truly modern design introduced innovation into manufacturing process, for an exceptional piece. An ergonomic and mono-block desig...
Stainless Steel
Tolix T14 Chair Outdoor Raw Steel in Glossy Raw Steel
By Tolix, Patrick Norguet
Located in Shakopee, MN
In a perforated steel version, the T37 chair takes on a lighter and more contemporary appearance. - Stackable chair.
Stainless Steel
$225 / item
Tolix T14 Outdoor Dining Chair in Graphite
By Patrick Norguet, Tolix
Located in Shakopee, MN
Designed by Patrick Norguet in 2014, the T14 chair's truly modern design introduced innovation into manufacturing process, for an exceptional piece. An ergon...
Stainless Steel
Tolix A56 Armchair Indoor Raw Steel in Glossy Raw Steel
By Tolix, Jean Pauchard
Located in Shakopee, MN
Created in 1956 by Jean Pauchard, the A56 armchair is one of the 20th century's great classics in furniture. The seat was widened in 2019 to suit a more modern taste in comfort. - ...
Steel
Tolix T14 Chair Outdoor Painted in Night Blue
By Patrick Norguet, Tolix
Located in Shakopee, MN
Designed by Patrick Norguet in 2014, the T14 Chair's truly modern design introduced innovation into TOLIX®'s manufacturing process, for an exceptional piece....
Stainless Steel
$225 / item
Tolix T14 Chair Outdoor Painted in White
By Patrick Norguet, Tolix
Located in Shakopee, MN
Designed by Patrick Norguet in 2014, the T14 chair's truly modern design introduced innovation into manufacturing process, for an exceptional piece. An ergon...
Stainless Steel
Tolix AC16 armchair Indoor Raw Steel in Glossy Raw Steel
By Tolix
Located in Shakopee, MN
The AC16 armchair has a wide seat and armrests to fully relax. The AC16 Armchair is welcome at the end of the table or as an occasional armchair in the en...
Steel
Tolix A56 Arm Chair Perforated Outdoor Painted in Graphite
By Tolix, Jean Pauchard
Located in Shakopee, MN
- Created in 1956 by Jean Pauchard, the A56 armchair is one of the 20th century's great classics in furniture. The seat was widened in 2019 to suit a more modern taste in comfort. ...
Stainless Steel
$253 / item
Tolix A56 armchair Indoor Painted in Black
By Tolix, Jean Pauchard
Located in Shakopee, MN
- Created in 1956 by Jean Pauchard, the A56 Armchair is one of the 20th century's great classics in furniture. The seat was widened in 2019 to suit a more modern taste in comfort. ...
Steel
Tolix A56 Arm Chair Indoor Painted in White
By Tolix, Jean Pauchard
Located in Shakopee, MN
- Created in 1956 by Jean Pauchard, the A56 armchair is one of the 20th century great classics in furniture. The seat was widened in 2019 to suit a more modern taste in comfort. - S...
Steel
Danish Wingback Chair in Red Upholstery
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Easy chair, fabric, beech, Denmark, 1950s This archetypical wingback chair of the 1950s is both extremely comfortable and pleasing to the eyes. The armchair is upholstered in a fine...
Fabric, Beech
$1,074 / set
H 29.5 in W 17 in D 17 in
Tolix Authentic French Made in Glossy Dark Grey Bar Height Stools Set of (6) New
By Tolix, Xavier Pauchard
Located in BENSENVILLE, IL
Tolix Bar Height Stools Hand-Made in France and have been sitting in a warehouse for over 10-years. Set of 6 Tolix Bar Height Stools, although we also have a few counter height Tolix...
Metal, Steel
Indoor/Outdoor Lounge Chair
By Patricia Urquiola
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Indoor/Outdoor Lounge Chair Wear consistent with age and use Outdoor Furniture - Patricia Urquiola Style Measures : 60cmx96cm H:118cm SH:51cm
Metal
$1,320 / item
H 33.47 in W 36.62 in D 28.35 in
Green Indoor / Outdoor Filicudi Cactus Chair, Made in Italy
By MARCANTONIO
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Scroll down and click "view all from Seller" to see more than 400 other unique products. This green and brass indoor / outdoor armchair features a brass finish mid century legs...
Brass
$891 / set
H 29.5 in W 20.67 in D 20 in
Set of 2 Kartell Venice Chairs in Glossy White by Philippe Starck
By Philippe Starck, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
A tribute to the city of Venice in a chair for both the table and the living room, which combines classic lines with comfort. Venice is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.
Plastic
Lombok Armchair Indoor or Outdoor
Located in Paris, FR
Armchair lombok Indoor or outdoor with structure in steel and natural rattan. With cushion seat and back included. Colors finish in taup, brown, or ocher. Lead time production if on ...
Steel
Half-Moon Armchair Indoor or Outdoor
Located in Paris, FR
Armchair half-moon Indoor or outdoor with structure in steel and natural abaca from Borneo. With cushion seat and back included. Colors finish in linen cream (indoor), or grey or lig...
Steel
$1,014 / set
H 33.5 in W 17.5 in D 19 in
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
$281Sale Price|25% Off
H 35 in W 20 in D 22 in
In Stock in Los Angeles, Calipso Red/White Outdoor Director's Chair
By Giovanni Battista Crema
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Calipso red/white outdoor director's armchair In Stock in Los Angeles Folding red/white aluminum outdoor chair in aluminium, finished in white powder coating. Anodized aluminum frame, stainless steel nuts and bolts...
Aluminum, Stainless Steel
Outdoor Victorian Faux Twig Chair
Located in Queens, NY
Outdoor English Victorian painted iron arm chair with faux twig design and painted slat seat and back.
Iron
$1,600 / item
H 30 in W 41 in D 35 in
Knotty Contemporary Rattan Indoor-Outdoor Armchair, Cushions in Sunbrella Fabric
By Nina Edwards Anker
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Looped are a set of armchairs in polyethylene rattan, comprising of sculptural knot forms. Edwards Anker says: “The affect of the form imitates the function, which is to embrace the ...
Rattan
$2,293 / item
H 30.52 in W 22.17 in D 21.19 in
Conservatory Outdoor Chair in Stainless Steel Powder Coated White with Cushions
By Lemon
Located in Amsterdam, NL
The Conservatory Collection offers a window to a bygone era, when conservatories and orangeries were sanctuaries of peace and quiet, seamlessly blending the indoors with the natural ...
Steel
Tolix Pair of Steel Unpainted Armchairs Made in France
By Tolix
Located in BENSENVILLE, IL
Tolix Steel Stacking Armchairs made in France and not painted. These have been in a warehouse along with over 1900 pieces of Tolix for the last 10-15 years and will have plenty of su...
Metal, Steel
Tolix A56 armchair Indoor Painted in Graphite
By Jean Pauchard, Tolix
Located in Shakopee, MN
- Created in 1956 by Jean Pauchard, the A56 armchair is one of the 20th century's great classics in furniture. The seat was widened in 2019 to suit a more modern taste in comfort. ...
Steel
Sold
H 21 in W 21 in D 20 in
Pair of French Tolix Industrial Chairs with Distressed Orange Paint Finish
By Tolix
Located in Buchanan, NY
An exceptional pair of French 1920s industrial metal Tolix armchairs with worn and distressed orange paint. Typical of the garden and bistro furniture...
Iron