Tolix Chairs
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.
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tolix Chairs
Metal
Early 20th Century Austrian Vienna Secession Tolix Chairs
Upholstery, Bentwood
Early 20th Century Dutch Black Forest Tolix Chairs
Oak
1950s French Vintage Tolix Chairs
Metal
1960s Romanian Modern Vintage Tolix Chairs
Beech, Naugahyde
1940s Polish Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tolix Chairs
Cane, Wood
20th Century European Art Nouveau Tolix Chairs
Bentwood
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tolix Chairs
Leather
20th Century Polish Mid-Century Modern Tolix Chairs
Beech, Velvet
1940s French Art Deco Vintage Tolix Chairs
Metal
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tolix Chairs
Upholstery, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary French Tolix Chairs
Steel
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tolix Chairs
Wood, Leather
Early 2000s French Mid-Century Modern Tolix Chairs
Metal
1950s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage Tolix Chairs
Metal
Tolix chairs for sale on 1stDibs.
Creators Similar to Tolix
- What is Tolix?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Tolix is a French maker of steel furniture. The iconic Tolix chair was first designed in the 1930s, and reached its final design by the 1950s. On 1stDibs, you’ll find a collection of vintage and contemporary Tolix furniture from some of the world’s top sellers.
- Can I stack Tolix chairs?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, you can indeed stack Tolix chairs. The sleek design makes this chair an easy fit for your interior or exterior needs, and when you're done, you can easily stack and stow them away. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of Tolix chairs from some of the top sellers around the world.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022To check if your Tolix chair is real, first check for the embossed Tolix logo which should be crisp and easy to read. The chair will also have ‘Made in France’ marked on it. On 1stDibs, find a collection of expertly vetted Tolix chairs from some of the world’s top sellers.