The Tolix Chair – History and Replicas

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.

History

It all started in the early 20th century when Frenchman Xavier Pauchard (1880–1948) discovered he could make metal waterproof by coating it in molten zinc. This process is now known as galvanization.

Pauchard was a roofer in the rural Le Morvan region of France in the early 1900s. He learned the trade from his father and grandfather who both worked in the region on the roofing business.

Years later, Pauchard founded his household item company Tolix. His small factory was located in Autun, France, in the central Burgundy region.

He created the first iteration of the Tolix chair, called the Model A chair, in the mid-1920s. The classic metal chair we know today came about 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.

With a quick design change, the chair became stackable up to 25 chairs high. Before long, tens of thousands of Tolix chairs were being produced.

Today you can find these funky metal chairs in design museums around the world – as well as surrounding your everyday dining room. The design hasn’t changed since the last iteration decades ago.

Where to Buy 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.

 

How to Style Tolix Chairs

There are many ways to style and decorate your home with Tolix chairs. Here are some ideas.

Typically, Tolix chairs are used in the dining room, though they are also perfect for outdoor use as well.

It’s common to put a seat cushion or faux fur on the base or around the back to make them more comfortable, too!

Pink Tolix chair with pink sheepskin rug
Boutique Belgique
White folix chairs with wood dining table
Unknown
Soft blue tolix chairs with white sheepskin throws via Amy Kartheiser Design
Amy Kartheiser Design
White tolix chair mixed chair dining room via Dranmesider
Dranmesider
Blue tolix dining chair via Lina Ostling
Lina Ostling
Shades of blue tolix chairs in dining room via Rue Mag
Rue Mag
White tolix chairs with crystal chandelier
Orange tolix chair via DLF
Design Love Fest
Copper tolix chairs with pink flower table setting
Style Me Pretty
Purple tolix chairs in the dining room
Metal tolix chairs with bright abstract art
The Design Files
Black tolix chairs in modern dining room via Alyssa Rosenheck
Alyssa Rosenheck
White Tolix Chairs In Gray Dining Room
Summer Adams / Jan Scarpino

 

Have you used Tolix chairs in your dining room?

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