Jean Pauchard

Born in 1913 in France, Jean Pauchard was the son of Xavier Pauchard, known as the founder of the Tolix brand. Following their father’s sudden death in 1948, brothers Jean and André took over the reins of the French company, before parting ways a few years later, leaving Jean Pauchard as CEO. He later began creating designs for the family business, but it was in the late 1950s that he incorporated new, fashionable materials into these designs, such as woven plastic wire and moulded plastic, now typical of that period.

It was during his early days as director of Tolix that Jean Pauchard designed his first pieces, including the iconic A56 armchair. Its name is a combination of its year of design, 1956, and a nod to one of his father’s best-known designs: the A Chair, which went on sale in 1935. Tolix had become an icon in industrial design thanks to this first model, but it is the A56 armchair that has left its mark on the brand’s history today. The A56 draws heavily on the A Chair, adding a backrest with tubular armrests. It also features the four tapered, die-cut sheet-metal legs.

Although it proved popular with a more private clientele, it was designed with the specific aim of meeting the needs of the restaurants and cafés of that era. It now fits seamlessly into all kinds of rooms, adding a touch that blends industrial style with design.

This reissue of the iconic chair features a seat that is slightly wider than the original. More than fifty years on, this model remains one of the most famous pieces of furniture of all time.