In the world of American industrial furniture, few names carry the weight of the Toledo Metal Furniture Company and its most celebrated designer, Joseph F. L. Uhl. His 1902 patent — No. 705,488 — laid the foundation for what would become known as the Uhl Art Steel chair, a design that defined early 20th-century industrial seating.
This is the story of that chair, and how its legacy continues today.
The Toledo Metal Furniture Company
Based in Toledo, Ohio, the Toledo Metal Furniture Company was a pioneer in metal furniture construction around the turn of the century. Where others built primarily in wood, Toledo embraced steel — not just for durability, but for the clean, functional aesthetic that would later come to define the industrial style.
Their catalogues from the period show a range of chairs, stools, and office furniture, many designed by Joseph Uhl and his brother. Among them, the Uhl Art Steel chairs stood out for their considered proportions, robust construction, and distinctive metal backrests.
Uhl Patent No. 705,488
Filed in May 1900 and granted in July 1902, Uhl’s patent described a new method for constructing metal furniture. The drawings show a chair with clean lines, a wooden seat, and a metal frame designed for strength without unnecessary ornament.
It was furniture built for workshops, factories, and switchboards — but executed with an attention to form that elevated it beyond pure utility. That balance is what makes the Toledo Uhl chair so recognisable today.
Fabrication: Solid Iron & Mango Wood
True to the industrial spirit of the original, each chair is fabricated from solid iron — chosen for its strength, weight, and authenticity to the period. The frame is constructed to last through decades of daily use, developing character over time.
The seat is crafted from mango wood, a sustainable hardwood with warm grain and natural variation. It provides a comfortable contrast to the iron frame, softening the industrial aesthetic without compromising its integrity.
This combination — iron and mango wood — reflects the original Uhl construction method while using materials suited to contemporary dining environments.
Supplying Industrial Chairs for Restaurants
These chairs are designed for the demands of commercial hospitality. Whether for a busy city restaurant, a neighbourhood bar, or a hotel dining room, they offer:
Durability — solid iron frames withstand constant use
Stackability — easy storage when not in use
Presence — industrial design that stands out without shouting
Custom options — finishes, heights, and seat materials available
For restaurateurs and interior designers, they offer a way to bring authentic industrial character into a space, backed by bespoke craftsmanship.
A Factory Closed, But a Design Remembered
The original Toledo factory has long since closed. Mass production of the Uhl Art Steel line ended decades ago. But the design never truly disappeared — it simply entered the vocabulary of industrial style, referenced and revisited by those who understand its significance.
Our own chairs are an homage to that legacy. They are not copies, but interpretations — made individually, by hand, with respect for Uhl’s original intent. Each one references the 1902 patent in its construction, proportions, and material choices.
From Toledo to Covent Garden
A recent commission for a restaurant in London’s Covent Garden called for seating with presence and backstory. The Toledo Uhl chair offered both. Its clean industrial lines sit comfortably within the district’s Victorian architecture and market heritage, while its robust construction meets the demands of a working dining room.
For the client, it was never about owning an original — it was about carrying that history forward.
Why the Toledo Uhl Chair Endures
The Uhl Art Steel chair endures because it was right the first time. The proportions work. The materials make sense. The construction is honest. A century later, it still looks contemporary — not because it was ahead of its time, but because it was of its time, and that time continues to resonate.
Whether in a restaurant, a bar, or a private interior, the chair brings with it a quiet history: of Toledo workshops, early American manufacturing, and a designer who understood that industrial didn’t have to mean impersonal.
About This Project
These chairs are made bespoke, informed by Uhl Patent No. 705,488 and the design language of the Toledo Metal Furniture Company. Each piece is individually crafted from solid iron and mango wood, with attention to period detail and modern durability. We supply industrial dining chairs for restaurants, bars, and hospitality projects — made to order, built to last.
