Set of three “Nicolle Nicolle Draftsmans” stools, France, 1960s.

Set of three “Nicolle Nicolle Draftsmans” stools, France, 1960s.
Steel.
Original design: Paul-Henry Nicolle, 1930.
Measurements: 45/60 x 36 x 36 cm.
The design of these chairs is attributed to Paul-Henry Nicolle, founder of the French company Nicolle, who patented this model in 1928 to meet the needs of industrial furniture. Originally conceived for workshops, factories, laboratories, and technical studios, Nicolle chairs and stools soon became an icon of French utilitarian design thanks to their extraordinary durability, functionality, and refined aesthetics.They feature a highly sturdy frame reinforced with crossbars and a central spindle mechanism that allows for seat height adjustment. Their most distinctive feature is the curved backrest, popularly known as the “whale tail,” whose shape provides ergonomic support while also becoming one of the model’s hallmarks. The combination of clean lines, robust construction, and effective mechanical solutions encapsulates the principles of interwar industrial design, where form directly responds to function.
From the 1930s to the 1960s, Nicolle chairs were found in numerous workshops, factories, laboratories, and design studios in France and other European countries. Their extraordinary durability under intensive use meant that many remained in service for decades, later becoming highly prized pieces among architects, designers, and collectors of industrial furniture.