Category: famous chair

TOLIX A Chair by Xavier Pauchard

TOLIX A

TOLIX Chair Model A

I believe this is one of the most famous French contributions to chair design, the model A TOLIX by Xavier Pauchard.

The Model A chair has become an icon of industrial esthetics. It’s unfailing popularity since 1934 has enabled to enter the Collections of the Vitra Design Museum, MOMA and the Pompidou Center. This mythical chair, crafted of sheet metal, has been assured by «it’s fool-proof solidity, it’s unequalled lightness, it’s easy maintenance» advantages of which can be included «inexpensive».

All merit goes to Xavier Pauchard (1880-1948) who was a pioneer of galvanisation in France. Shortly after World War 1, based in Autun, Burgundy, he found himself (a visionary and inventive entrepreneur) in charge of a flourishing manufacture of galvanised sheet-metal domesic items, which at the time, embodied household comfort. It was in 1927 that he registered the trademark TOLIX, at the same time converting to the «production of chairs, armchairs, stools and metal furnitures».
The different models (rustproof, robust and stackable) conceived by Xavier Pauchard found their place directly inside factories, offices and hospitals, as well as outside, on cafe terraces and in public parks.
…
We owe the revival of the brand Tolix to Chantal Andriot. It was with passion and loyality for the company that this, ex Financial Directrice, launched into the adventure, along with a handful of employees, and bought back Tolix. The only woman in a man’s world and with her knowledge she was able to give back a new vitality, in perpetuating the dual standards of quality and innovation to an industry skilled in the making of functional furniture. Today, half of Tolix’s annual turnover is for export, half of which, is for the United States.

Via Tolix

Anthony Hartley/Frank Gehry Controversy, Solved

Our post on Mr. Smith the Second chair by Anthony Hartley sparked a conversation about the chair’s noticeable resemblance to the iconic Wiggle side chair designed in 1972 by Frank Gehry.

Today the Chair Blog is ready to answer your questions, with the help of Mr. Hartley himself:

“Frank was the first chair I made with a reference to Frank Gehry’s Wiggle from the Easy Edges line. The Mr. Smith and Mr. Smith the Second reference the Paul Smith stripes.”

Big thanks to Anthony for stepping in and helping us out!

Pictured above: 1st row – Frank chair; 2d row – Mr Smith & Mr Smith the Second chairs.

Limited Edition Gold Panton Mini Chair

While we’re at the subject of gold, let me also share this little beauty – a mini version of a timeless classic, Panton chair, in, you guessed it, gold! Limited to only 500 pieces, the chair was made to celebrate the opening of the Panton Chair exhibition at the Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery in 2009. The chair comes in a 1/6th scale to the original.

Via highsnobiety.com

Vitra Factory Sale

Vitra is holding its first Factory Sale this coming September, which is a great chance to get an iconic chair or a few for less. During the sale day on the Vitra Campus, one would also be able to visit the Vitra Design Museum, the VitraHaus (by Herzog and DeMeuron) and see how the design classic, the Lounge Chair by Charles & Ray Eames, is manufactured.

On September 17th, the first ever factory sale is taking place on the Vitra Campus in Weil am Rhein (D) from 9am till 6pm, just 7 km from Basel (CH). Products from the Home Collection and design classics, which have been on display in the VitraHaus or used for photo shoots will be up for sale with reductions of up to 65%!

Via Facebook

Chairs in Words

You have undoubtedly seen these chairs before but it’s unlikely you’ve ever seen them like this: the iconic chairs Barcelona by Mies van der Rohe and LC-2 by Le Corbusier get an artsy makeover in the form of art prints by Etsy user Sarah Schmid.