Brands · 1 piece

Tolix.

Chair A, Chair T, bar stool — galvanised steel chairs and stools by Xavier Pauchard for Tolix, vintage authenticated Made in France.

Country: France
Founded: 1927

Knoll

€1,700.00

4 chaises Wire Chair – Harry Bertoia pour Knoll

Tolix

Tolix is a French edition house founded in Autun in 1927 by Xavier Pauchard. Its Chair A, designed in 1934, became one of the most widely diffused industrial furniture pieces of the 20th century — an essential of Paris café terraces, public gardens and trans-Atlantic ocean liners. Hot-dip galvanised through the proprietary Tolix process, stackable, timeless, the chair has continued to be produced in Autun without industrial interruption. LAPIERRE sources, restores and reconfigures vintage Tolix for the Paris and European market.

Brand history

The company was founded in 1927 in Autun, Saône-et-Loire, by Xavier Pauchard, an ironworker engineer trained in industrial sheet metal. Pauchard was among the first in France to master hot-dip galvanisation applied to furniture: stamped steel is immersed in a molten zinc bath that coats it with a durable corrosion-resistant layer. This technique transformed outdoor furniture, then limited to wood or fragile cast iron.

The Chair A was designed in 1934. Single-piece stamped steel shell, openwork back, galvanised seat. Stackable up to ten, light, robust, economical. It was immediately adopted by French café terraces, public gardens and ocean liners — the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique fitted the SS Normandie with Tolix chairs in 1935. The Chair T (with integrated armrest tablet variant), the A56 armchair (1956) and the H bar stool followed in the next decade.

Tolix crossed the 20th century without major industrial change. Hot-dip galvanisation remains central. The company stayed family-run until the 2000s, then changed hands while preserving the Autun factory and original tooling. Tolix today still edits the Chair A and its variants, alongside contemporary collections (Pauchard armchair, garden table) signed by current designers (Jean-Pierre Geneviève, Normal Studio, Patrick Norguet). The house carries the French Living Heritage Company (EPV) label.

Signature pieces we source

Chair A. Designed in 1934 by Xavier Pauchard. Single-piece galvanised steel shell, openwork back, stackable. Sought in raw galvanised, or original colours (red, blue, moss green, white, black). Absolute signature piece.

Chair T (Type B / Marais T). Chair A variant with different back. Rarer in arrivals.

A56 Armchair. Chair A with added armrests (1956). Sought in raw galvanised or lacquered.

H Bar Stool (75 cm). High four-leg model, short or no back depending on variant. For open-kitchen counters and bars.

Garden Stool (low models). 45 and 65 cm variants without back, stackable.

Coherent chair and stool sets. For terraces, industrial dining rooms, bar-restaurants. Frequent demand for sets of four, six or eight pieces in a coherent colour.

Authenticating an original

Four points support authentication of a vintage Tolix. Marking: Tolix stamp under the seat, sometimes with Made in France mention. Logo style has evolved and helps approximate dating. Steel and welds: an authentic Chair A presents stamped steel of even thickness, visible spot welds, a single-piece rigid shell. Copies use thinner steel and continuous welds. Galvanisation: original zinc develops a specific grey patina over decades, sometimes iridescent or stained. Copies show a thinner galvanic coating that oxidises faster. Weight: an authentic Chair A weighs around 4-5 kg. A lighter chair is likely a copy.

LAPIERRE process for this brand

The Tolix protocol at LAPIERRE evaluates galvanisation or lacquer condition, shell integrity (chips, deformation, detached welds), and pad wear. Raw galvanised pieces are preserved as-is, without chromatic intervention: the zinc patina is their signature. Lacquered pieces in an original colour can be retouched by a qualified re-lacquer workshop, respecting the factory RAL. Tolix also offers a factory re-lacquering service for clients wishing to change colour. Worn rubber pads are systematically replaced.

Request a search

Looking for a coherent set of vintage Chair A in raw galvanised or original colour, H stools for a kitchen counter, or an A56 armchair? Write to LAPIERRE with your brief: model, colour, count, target condition. Our team activates its sourcing network in France and returns within a few days.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is the origin of Tolix?

Tolix was founded in 1927 in Autun, Burgundy, by Xavier Pauchard, an ironworker and industrial sheet-metal engineer. Pauchard was among the first in France to master hot-dip galvanisation applied to furniture — a technique that immerses steel in a molten zinc bath to protect it against corrosion. The first Tolix chairs were produced for professional outdoor use: café terraces, public gardens, ocean liners. Production has remained centralised in Autun ever since.

How do you authenticate a vintage Pauchard Chair A?

An authentic Chair A features a single-piece stamped galvanised steel shell, spot-welded according to the proprietary Tolix process. The Tolix marking is stamped under the seat. 1930s-60s pieces often carry a specific zinc patina, characteristic metal grain and visible spot welds. Copies use thinner steel, continuous welds and a thinner galvanic coating that oxidises faster. An authentic Chair A weighs about 4 to 5 kg.

Which vintage Tolix pieces do you source?

Our sourcing prioritises vintage pieces in raw galvanised or lacquered steel: Chair A (1934), Chair T, A56 armchair (1956), high bar stool (model H), garden stool, low stool. Factory colours (red, blue, moss green, white, black) from the 1950s-70s are particularly sought after. Raw galvanised pieces without lacquering retain a unique zinc patina and remain the most emblematic.

What is the difference between vintage and current Tolix?

Tolix has continuously edited the Chair A and its variants since 1934 using the same hot-dip galvanisation process in Autun. Differences between a 1950s Chair A and a current one come from steel thickness, zinc patina, spot welds and lacquer. A vintage piece in raw galvanised finish carries a zinc patina no factory output can reproduce. Tolix also runs a re-lacquering and restoration service for older chairs.

How much does a vintage Tolix Chair A cost?

Price depends on estimated year, zinc or lacquer condition, colour and set consistency. A 1950s-60s vintage raw galvanised Chair A in good condition often prices below an equivalent new Chair A. Coherent sets of four to eight chairs in an original colour hold a stable value. A56 armchairs and H bar stools are rarer in arrivals and therefore higher-priced.

How is a Tolix chair delivered to Paris?

Tolix chairs stack, simplifying transport. For Paris and Île-de-France, delivery via in-house van or cargo bike depending on volume. For mainland France and Europe, transport via Cocolis for sets or a dedicated carrier. Chairs are cleaned, dust-removed and protected with tissue paper before packaging. H bar stools ship independently.