Born in Burgundy (France) in 1880, Xavier Pauchard is the son and grandson of a zinc roofer. He founded a factory producing household items that integrated a major innovation in France: the use of hot dip galvanizing. This technique protects iron items from oxidation by dipping them in a bath of molten zinc at 450°C. Passionate about metal, he took years to perfect his mastery of iron then steel, until he could make it into any shape he desired. A visionary, he designed pieces of standard furniture to be practical, modular and marketable. In 1925, he created the iconic Chair A, followed by other pieces such as Chair T37, the KUB table and many more. In 1927, he registered a trademark for his metal furniture company and TOLIX was born. His sons followed him into the business and designed other pieces such as Table 55 and Armchair A56.