Tolix - Furniture

Industrial design: get the look with Tolix furniture

Tolix furniture epitomises ever-popular industrial style and is not only used to brighten up factories, restaurants and public spaces but many a home too. The founder of Tolix, Xavier Pauchard, developed a technical process for galvanising sheet metal and hence effectively protecting it from rust. Tolix has been producing steel furniture and household accessories since 1917 and its industrial aesthetic continues to be hugely popular to this day. Since then, functional-looking Tolix furniture has been produced en masse and the vintage charm that the pieces exude ensure that they continue to be highly sought-after collector’s items to this day. In 2006, Tolix was awarded the honourable and prestigious “Entreprise du patrimoine vivant” label on account of its ability to keep traditional cultural treasures fresh, current and alive.

The Tolix chair: a popular classic piece of Tolix furniture

The Tolix A Chair is a classic piece of Tolix furniture recognised the world over and often imitated but never duplicated. In 1934, Xavier Pauchard designed a chair made from sheet zinc that can be used outside whatever the weather and is therefore particularly prized amongst café owners. The chairs are stackable and any rain that lands on them drains nicely away through the holes in the seat. This most iconic piece of Tolix furniture is showcased in collections at the MoMa in New York, the Pompidou Centre in Paris and the Vitra Museum in Weil am Rhein. In addition to the A Chair, various other pieces of Tolix seating furniture are available which complete the range, all in keeping with the same style: 

1. the H bar stool, the H stool and the H Mini step stool
2. the AC16 armchair and the Mouette children’s armchair
3. magnetic seat cushions for extra comfort

Classic pieces of Tolix furniture popular in the form of modern new editions

Chantal Andriot has been at the helm of Tolix since 2004 and since then the company has been stealing the spotlight with updated new editions of Tolix furniture. New designs and new production techniques mean that well-known pieces of furniture are being brought right up to date to suit modern styles of décor without losing any of their original, industrial charm:

1. The 55 collection, a range of iconic pieces featuring an industrial aesthetic, was launched in 1955 and includes coffee tables, console tables and dining tables. Conical, tapered table legs made from natural, untreated oak and table tops made from colourfully painted steel give the new editions of classic pieces of Tolix furniture a modern look.
2. There is also a new, graphic version available of Tolix’s iconic storage piece, a steel wardrobe in various different sizes and finishes. The Vestiaire has a main frame made from sheet steel, doors made from perforated sheet metal and handles made from solid oak. Explosive colours, such as pumpkin and red, turn this wardrobe into a real head-turner but Tolix furniture also looks just as great in softer tones such as night blue and lichen green.

Tolix furniture exudes timeless charm with an industrial look, features high-quality materials and is robust and made to stand the test of time. Tolix furniture cannot fail to attract people’s attention and for all the right reasons, whether in the form of an original design or a new edition, on a café terrace, outside in your garden or inside in your living room.