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.
H 23.23 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
1970's French Bright Blue Wide Laboratory Stools - Set Of Four
Located in Hook, Hampshire
1970’s French Bright Blue Laboratory Stools – Set Of Four. Good honest lab stools, heavy steel frames with solid heavy birch ply seats. We clean them and check all fixings, they ar...
Steel
H 23.23 in W 15.75 in D 15.75 in
1970's French Light Blue Laboratory Stools - Set Of Eight
Located in Hook, Hampshire
1970’s French Red Mullca Stacking Laboratory Stool – Set Of Eight. One of our most favourite companies, in 1947 Robert Muller and Gaston Cavaillon created the Mullca company, that ...
Steel
H 29 in W 12 in D 17 in
Three Blue Barstools with Leather Seats, Legs Powder Coated
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Iron and leather barstools set freshly powder coated in soft Tiffany-blue. These modern stools have just been kicked up a notch with cheeky blue tall slender legs. The stitched leather top is a perfect warm contrast. Comfortable with clean lines, these stools will work well in modern, industrial...
Iron
H 23.23 in W 15.75 in D 15.75 in
1970's French Bright Blue Laboratory Stools - Quantity Available
Located in Hook, Hampshire
1970’s French Bright Blue Laboratory Stools – Quantity Available 1970’s French Bright Blue Laboratory Stools – Quantity Available. Good honest lab stools, heavy steel frames with sol...
Birch
H 31.89 in Dm 17.72 in
Mid Century Modern Vintage Four Blue Barstools 1950s Austria
Located in Vienna, AT
Mid Century Modern four ( 4 ) barstools from chromed tube steel and electric blue faux leather 1950s Austria. A fantastic set of four ( 4 ) bar stools, they work perfectly in your k...
Chrome
H 41.34 in W 18.9 in D 20.48 in
Set of 4, Tria Stool, Tapparelle High Back Denim Blue by Colé Italia
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 4, tria stool, tapparelle high back denim blue by Colé Italia (RAL color seat) with Lorenz & Kaz Dimensions: H.seat 67/77 (H.105/115) x D.52 x W.48 cm Materials: Plywood St...
Oak, Plywood
H 39.77 in W 18.35 in D 20.48 in
Set of 4 Mint Cielo Bar Stool by Sebastian Herkner
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 4 mint cielo bar stool by Sebastian Herkner Materials: Galvanized and powder-coated tubular steel. PVC strings are made from recycled plastic. Technique: Made from recycled ...
Steel
H 31.11 in W 18.9 in D 20.48 in
Set of 4, Tria Stool, Low Back, Leather Azul by Colé Italia
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 4, tria stool, low back, Leather Azul by Colé Italia with Lorenz & Kaz Dimensions: H.seat 67/77, H 79/89, D 52, W 48 cm Materials: Plywood stool with low back...
Leather, Upholstery, Oak, Walnut, Plywood
H 29.14 in W 24.02 in D 24.02 in
1950's Original French Multipl's Table And Chair Set - Blue
Located in Hook, Hampshire
1950’s Original French Multipl’s Table And Chair Set – Blue 1950’s Original French Multipl’s Table And Chair Set – Blue. Designed by Joseph Mathieu and...
Metal
H 38.19 in W 13.78 in D 13.78 in
Set of Four Barstools in Metal and Teal Green Upholstery
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Set of four barstools, chrome-plated metal, metal, leatherette, Europe, 1960s. Set of four eccentric barstools executed in black lacquered metal with green faux leather seatings. I...
Metal, Chrome
Authentic French Tolix Cyan Blue Stacking Steel Bar Height 30" Stools (Set of 4)
By Xavier Pauchard, Tolix
Located in Highwood, IL
Authentic Tolix Set of (4) Light Green (we think more or an Aqua is appropriate) Powder-Coated Steel Stacking H75 Bar Height Stools. Tolix Color spec is, RAL 6027. The seat height is...
Metal, Steel
Original French Tolix Cyan Blue Powder-Coated Steel Bar Stools - Set of (2)
By Tolix, Xavier Pauchard
Located in Highwood, IL
Set of 2-Original French made Tolix Cyan Blue Powder-Coated Steel H75 Bar Stools. Color: RAL 6027. This pair of Tolix Bar Height Stools have been sitting in a local warehouse for ove...
Metal, Steel
Set of (4) Tolix Steel Kitchen Counter Stools in Periwinkle New Made in France
Located in Highwood, IL
Tolix steel stacking stools and stacking chairs were designed by Xavier Pauchard, who was a trained roofer in France. By 1907 Xavier, later known as Mr. X had perfected a way of prot...
Steel
Set of (4) Genuine French Made Tolix Stools for Dining Tables Showroom Samples
Located in Highwood, IL
Set of (4) Genuine French Tolix Steel Stacking Stools in Chile Pepper Red. The Tolix Stools are a shade under 18" in height which is standard for a dining chair. All of the Dining Room or Kitchen Table...
Steel
Genuine Tolix Vintage Stacking Stools Dining Table Height with Plenty of Patina
Located in Highwood, IL
Genuine French made set of 4 Tolix steel stacking stools probably dating to the 1960's in a vibrant orange and yes, they are heavily distressed. We have hundreds of virtually new sho...
Steel, Metal
Original French Tolix Glossy Dark Grey Table Height Stools - Set of (4) 18" High
By Xavier Pauchard, Tolix
Located in Highwood, IL
Set of (4) Original French Tolix Dining Table Height Glossy Dark Grey Powder-Coated Welded Steel Stacking Stools. The Tolix Dining Table Height Stools are the same height as a dining...
Metal, Steel
