Tolix chairs have become a staple of industrial style, in good part due to their functional design and ease of use. But like any good product, it took a few iterations before it became the chair we know today. It all started in the early 20th century, when Frenchman Xavier Pauchard discovered he could make metal waterproof by coating it in molten zinc. Years later, Pauchard founded his household item company Tolix.
He created the classic metal chair we know today as the Tolix chair in 1934. It’s a simple design with solid triangular legs for support, and a simple round back with a thick stripe up the center. The chair was designed to be weatherproof, with holes in the seats so water could drip out. The design was tweaked in 1956, after café owners complained the chair wasn’t stackable.
Before long, tens of thousands of the chairs were being produced and today you can find them in design museums around the world – as well as surrounding your everyday dining room.
Tolix Chairs
The original Tolix® Chair can be purchased at Design Within Reach for just shy of $300. Luckily, we’ve found fifteen suitable alternatives you can purchase for less than $200 each below. Typically, tolix chairs are used in the dining room, though they are also perfect for outdoor use as well. It’s common to put fur on the base or around the back to make them more comfortable, too!
Inspiration
Boutique Belgique
Amy Kartheiser Design
Dranmesider
Lina Ostling
Rue Mag
Bolig
Design Files
Meg Biram
Design Love Fest / @maryannemoodie
Design Love Fest
Style Me Pretty
The Design Files
Alyssa Rosenheck
Summer Adams / Jan Scarpino
Have you used tolix chairs in your dining room?
[…] Tolix chairs are perhaps the most well-known of all industrial dining chairs. This classic metal chair has been popular for decades and remains a reliable choice for getting the industrial look. You can find tolix chairs in a myriad of colors and finishes. […]