Why Tolix bar stool is so popular?

Sources: http://www.cafesolutions.com.au/what-is-a-tolix-bar-stool-and-why-is-it-so-popular/

When the Tolix bar stool first started to grace the café’s and bistros of Paris in the mid 1930’s, no one had any idea that it would still be the epitome of café chic nearly eighty years later. However, strong design bringing together both functionality form has a habit of longevity and this is exactly what the Tolix bar stool had.

Galvanized metal

In the age when most café furniture was made of dark wood, which was in most cases heavy, cumbersome, and let’s face it not very practical, the Tolix Bar Stool was made using galvanized metal. Although the Tolix company weren’t the first to use this process, they were one of the first to pioneer furniture using sheet metal. This meant that it was relatively cheap to produce, lightweight and above all, because it was treated, it could withstand most weather conditions without fear of any damage. In the effect, what you had was a new type of furniture that could be used inside or outside. It was incredibly lightweight and stackable, that result in a piece of furniture where every café, bar, and bistro owner throughout Paris wanted to have for their establishment.

Simply but stylish design

The classic Tolix bar stool has a simple look and feel to it, but a lot of thought has gone into the design process. It has a glorious sweeping ‘A’ frame look with gentle curving legs. Fashioned so that the weight is spread evenly throughout each of the four legs, every detail has been designed for a reason. As a result, the geometric cross struts situated just beneath the seat and the horizontal struts attached closer to the base not only add to the look, they give the chair extra strength without adding a ton of weight. The result is a lightweight versatile bar stool that’s built to last.

So popular today

Even today the Tolix bar stool looks as contemporary and modern as it did back in 1934, so whether you’re looking for a cool and funky vibe or that cutting edge, industrial feel the galvanized metal effect of these stools really works. They also come in a variety of colors to match any design, theme or décor.

Replica Tolix stools

The original Tolix-made bar stools can set you back quite a few dollars, there are companies who now design replicas. What you get is the same Tolix-inspired bar stool, complete with that iconic look and feel, but instead, you’re paying just a fraction of the cost. For this reason, they’re a great statement piece of furniture that are sure to give your establishment the wow factor it deserves.

DO YOU KNOW WHO IS THE INNOVATOR OF TOLIX?

In 1880, Xavier Pauchard was born in Le Morvan, and he is known as the green heart of France. Unsurprisingly wood was the most important construction material but despite that, he and his father and grandfather before him were zinc roofers.

In 1907, Pauchard discovered that he could protect sheet metal from rusting by dipping it in molten zinc, or galvanizing it. Ten years later, he set up a factory making steel household items and eventually registered his trademark symbol as Tolix, by which name the company is still known.

In 1934, the classic chair was designed, a favorite of cafés and retro kitchens all over the world. It was meant to be outside in all weathers, which is why there are holes in the seats – to allow the rain to drain off. But café owners were quick to complain that the chairs wouldn't stack properly and Pauchard had to tweak his design. By 1956, the classic Tolix was finally created. With its slimmer frame, you could now stack 25 chairs to a height of 2.3 meters.
They were immediately popular, not just in cafés, where right up until the 1970s they were often given out by breweries in return for the owner stocking their brand, but also in factories, offices and hospitals.

By the end of the 1950s, the factory had about 80 workers and produced some 60,000 units annually. The company remained in the family until 2004. Now, the chair is part of the collections of the MoMA in New York, the Pompidou Centre in Paris and the Vitra design collection in Weil am Rhein in Germany.

Sir Terence Conran is one of several influential fans of this simple-looking chair, which, nevertheless, takes around 100 manual operations to create. "Over the years, this chair has come to symbolize what I like to term democratic excellence, meaning that it's mass-produced and universally acceptable," he says.