If an Italian soldier named Renzo Frau had never traveled to Great Britain and set eyes on a Chesterfield armchair, it is unlikely that legendary handcrafted furniture maker Poltrona Frau and its classic sofas, armchairs and vanities would exist today.
Upon completing his service in the Italian army during the early 1900s, the Sardinian-born Frau worked for faux leather manufacturing company Dermoide Patent in Turin. While at the firm, he was sent to England, where he became enamored with leather Chesterfield armchairs. Intrigued and inspired by their rolled arms and tall, imposing profile, Frau returned to Turin, where he started his own leather-upholstered furniture company, Poltrona Frau, in 1912. He began to import the sumptuous Edwardian seating for the high-end domestic market.
Frau made slight modifications to the English seat that he’d so admired, and among Poltrona Frau’s first successful designs was an iconic armchair in 1919 appropriately called the Chester. Believed to have been custom-made for Filiberto Ludovico of Savoy, Duke of Pistoia, the Chester reflected the era’s emerging Art Deco style. Frau’s chair was comfortable and functional, and he implemented the traditional upholstery technique capitonné, which refers to stuffing that is buttoned. The Chester featured a pouf and an arm that was possibly included to hold the Duke’s ashtray. The seat’s high-quality craftsmanship and integration of exquisite full-grain leather made it covetable among Italy’s elite.
When Renzo Frau died in 1926, Poltrona Frau was appointed furniture supplier to Italy’s royal family. The company furnished grand hotels, designed the interiors for Expo Turin 1928 and outfitted an Italian transatlantic ocean liner.
For more than a century, Poltrona Frau has collaborated with hundreds of leading architects and designers from around the world. It issued such iconic mid-century modern pieces as Gio Ponti’s Dezza armchair, the 1960s-era Dilly Dally vanity by Italian designer Luigi Massoni, stackable tubular steel Movie armchairs by Italian architect Mario Marenco and French architect Jean-Marie Massaud’s sleek, angular Kennedee office sofa.
Poltrona Frau has established showrooms all over the world and creates interiors for Italian automotive brands Maserati and Ferrari. The company is owned by Haworth and continues to introduce innovative, handmade home furnishings while occasionally gazing back into time — its Chester line, a modular seating system by Poltrona Frau CEO Nicola Coropulis and Roberto Lazzeroni, is a contemporary interpretation of the founder’s original Chesterfield-style seating.
Find vintage Poltrona Frau club chairs, coffee tables, desks and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Poltrona Frau Model Tabarin Leather Armchair Red Bordeaux
By Poltrona Frau
Located in Munich, Bavaria
This Poltrona Frau Classic armchair model Tabarin is made of red Bordeaux The feet is made of dark beech. A classic timeless design from Italy of the 1930 era.
Leather, Upholstery, Beech
Pair of “Moji” Armchairs by Shigeru Uchida for Poltrona Frau, Italy
By Poltrona Frau
Located in Langemark-Poelkapelle, BE
A rare pair of “Moji” armchairs, designed in the late 1980s by the Japanese architect and designer Shigeru Uchida for Poltrona Frau. Known for his architectural and minimalist approa...
Leather, Wood
Loveseat "Intervista" by Poltrona Frau in Pink Leather, Italy 1989
By Poltrona Frau, Massimo and Lella Vignelli
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find very rare postmodern loveseat, model "Intervista" designed by Massimo and Lella Vignelli for Poltrona Frau. This extremally comfortable piece is done in...
Leather
1 of 8 Club Chairs "Intercista" by Poltrona Frau in Pink Leather, Italy 1989
By Poltrona Frau, Massimo and Lella Vignelli
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find very rare postmodern club chairs model "Intervista" designed by Massimo and Lella Vignelli for Poltrona Frau. ...
Leather
Viking Club Chair by Poltrona Frau in Red Leather, Art Deco Modern
By Poltrona Frau
Located in Roma, Lazio
Comfortable and welcoming, with a truly special design, this red armchair from the Viking series. Refinement and style characterize this armchair, a very charismatic fabric makes the...
Leather, Beech
Viking Club Chair by Poltrona Frau in Red Leather, Mid-Century Modern
By Poltrona Frau
Located in Roma, Lazio
Comfortable and welcoming, with a truly special design, this red armchair from the Viking series. Refinement and style characterize this armchair, a very charismatic fabric makes the...
Leather, Beech
Loveseat "Intervista" by Poltrona Frau in Lime Green Leather, Italy 1989
By Poltrona Frau, Massimo and Lella Vignelli
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find very rare postmodern loveseat, model "Intervista" designed by Massimo and Lella Vignelli for Poltrona Frau. This extremally comfortable piece is done in...
Leather
1 of 5 Club Chairs "Intervista" by Poltrona Frau in Chartreuse Leather, Italy
By Poltrona Frau, Massimo and Lella Vignelli
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find 5 very rare postmodern club chairs model "Intervista" designed by Massimo and Lella Vignelli for Poltrona Frau...
Leather
$3,450 / set
H 27.56 in W 39.38 in D 33.86 in
Tito Agnoli For Poltrona Frau Leather Lounge Chairs by, Italy 1970s
By Poltrona Frau, Tito Agnoli
Located in Almelo, NL
Mid-Century Modern Lounge chairs by Tito Agnoli For Poltrona Frau, Italy 1970s Magnific set of two lounge chairs manufactured by Poltr...
Leather
$2,200
H 36.03 in W 31.5 in D 33.47 in
Gio Ponti for Poltrona Frau Lounge Chair 'Dezza' in Light Blue Leather
By Gio Ponti, Poltrona Frau
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Gio Ponti for Poltrona Frau, lounge chair model ´Dezza´ nr. 48, leather, lacquered beech, metal, Italy, 1965. Stylish lounge chair designed by Gio Ponti for Poltrona Frau. This cha...
Metal
Pair Vintage Poltrona Frau Teal Leather Chairs
By Poltrona Frau
Located in Troy, MI
Found in Italy, this pair of sculptural leather covered chairs by Poltrona Frau date from the 1980s. Chairs have a cubist shape with dramatically flared arms and silver tone metal le...
Metal
$1,400 / set
H 31.5 in W 25.2 in D 24.02 in
Mario Marenco for Poltrona Frau Pair of 'Movie' Armchairs in Saddle Leather
By Poltrona Frau, Mario Marenco
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Mario Marenco for Poltrona Frau, pair of armchairs model 'Movie', lacquered metal, leather, Italy, 1984 Italian furniture designer Mario Marenco drew inspiration from cinema seats, ...
Metal
Italian Period Mid-Century Poltrona Frau Armchairs
By Poltrona Frau
Located in Austin, TX
Italian leather armchairs in the manner of Poltrona Frau, featuring elegant saddle-leather construction with fully wrapped legs and a suspended seat. Architectural winged arms and a ...
Leather
Circular Club Chair in Pink Velvet
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Club chair, pink velvet and chromed metal, Italy, 1970s. This lounge chair has a gorgeous Hollywood Regency feel. The low seat features a circular shape with a thick shell around th...
Chrome
$2,200 / item
H 36.03 in W 31.5 in D 33.47 in
Gio Ponti for Poltrona Frau Set of Four Lounge Chairs in Light Blue Leather
By Gio Ponti, Poltrona Frau
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Gio Ponti for Poltrona Frau, lounge chairs, model ´Dezza´ nr. 48, leather, lacquered wood, metal, Italy, 1965. Set of four stylish lounge chairs designed by Gio Ponti for Poltrona ...
Metal
French Art Deco Style Club Chair
Located in Westwood, NJ
French Art Deco Style club chairs, upholstered with top-grain vintage Havana brown leather with a deep padded upholstered backrest and...
Leather
$10,726 / set
H 35.83 in W 31.11 in D 39.38 in
First Edition Poltrona Frau Metropolis Armchairs, Italy, 1950s
By Gio Ponti, Melchiorre Bega, Guglielmo Ulrich, Poltrona Frau
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
A rare pair of first edition Metropolis armchairs by Poltrona Frau, Italy 1950s. Newly upholstered in a bespoke, premium, soft, pure alpaca wool fabric. Fast shipping worldwide.
Alpaca, Wood
Luxury Post Modern Leather Chairs Poltrona Frau Set of Four
By Poltrona Frau, Roberto Lazzeroni
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Stunning set of four Post-Modern “Ginger” chairs, designed by Roberto Lazzeroni for Poltrona Frau. These elegant dining or side chairs feature a striking combination of saddle brown ...
Leather, Wood
Leather Club Chair
Located in Westwood, NJ
A leather upholstered club chair, in a vintage cigar brown aniline top-grade leather with a deep upholstered cushion backrest and seat cushion with rollover upholstered arms, finishe...
Leather
M. Gold Leather Club Chair
By Mitchell Gold
Located in Napa, CA
Vintage leather club chair by San Francisco Designer M. Gold. The back has a nice piping detail.
Leather
Poltrona Frau Red Leather Lounge Chair
By Poltrona Frau
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Postmodern leather club chair by Poltrona Frau, c.1980's, Italy. The chair features the original oxblood colored leather and a deep seat with curved armrests. Dimensions 36" width x...
Leather
Sold
H 27.5 in W 24.75 in D 22 in
Blue ‘Dilly Dally’ Chair by Luigi Massoni for Poltrona Frau, Italy 1968
By Luigi Massoni, Poltrona Frau
Located in Chicago, IL
An Italian ‘Dilly Dally’ chair designed by Luigi Massoni for Poltrona Frau in 1968. This chair is part of a modular vanity set, in which the chair nests...
Leather, Wood, Lacquer
Sold
H 25.99 in W 30.71 in D 29.53 in
Poltrona Frau by Jean-Marie Massaud Dark Green Leather Archibald Armchairs
By Jean-Marie Massaud, Poltrona Frau
Located in Rochester, England
Designed by French designer and architect Jean-Marie Massaud and manufactured by Poltrona Frau, the Archibald armchair is the perfect balance of co...
Aluminum
Sold
H 28 in W 27 in D 27.25 in
Pair of Italian Vintage Club Chairs in Red Leather ca. 1970's by Poltrona Frau
By Marco Zanuso, Poltrona Frau
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Pair of ultra cool pair of club chairs made by Poltrona Frau of Italy. Supple leather raised on black block legs of black painted beech wood. Very high caliber chairs marked by Poltr...
Leather, Beech
Vanity Fair Leather Sofa by Poltrona Frau, Italy, 1980s
By Renzo Frau, Poltrona Frau
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Leather sofa couch iconic model vanity fair by Renzo Frau for Poltrona Frau. Reinterpretation of a classical club Chesterfield with this particular high back. As a small sofa can be ...
Leather, Wood
Model Dream Lounge Chair from Poltrona Frau, 1970s
By Poltrona Frau
Located in Montelabbate, PU
Beautiful pair of "Dream" lounge armchairs by Poltrona Frau from te 1970s. Very good conditions with padding renewed in 2014 and leather in good conditions with some color fading due...
Leather
Poltrona Frau Dezza Chairs by Gio Ponti
By Gio Ponti, Poltrona Frau
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Elegant chairs by Gio Ponti for Poltrona Frau. A great example of Gio Ponti design from 1965. Original labels on underside of chairs. Beautiful mixture of elegance with its roots in ...
Metal
Sold
H 31.5 in W 32.75 in L 31.5 in
Cream Italian Leather with Gunmetal Grey Frame Armchair, Poltrona Frau
By Jean-Marie Massaud, Poltrona Frau
Located in Tulsa, OK
Archibald chair by Poltrona Frau The Archibald by Jean-Marie Massaud is the perfect combination of substance and form with a comfortable and envelopin...
Leather
Pair of Vanity Fair Leather Sofa by Poltrona Frau, Italy, 1980s
By Renzo Frau, Poltrona Frau
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Pair of leather sofa couch iconic model vanity fair by Renzo Frau for Poltrona Frau. Reinterpretation of a classical club Chesterfield with thi...
Leather, Wood
Poltrona Frau Midnight Blue Leather Edoardo Armchair
By Poltrona Frau
Located in Weesp, NL
Edoardo midnight blue leather Poltrona Frau armchair. Edoardo re-proposes the classical living room furniture of the 20th century. It became part of Poltrona Frau's catalogue in the ...
Leather, Down
Sold
H 38.98 in W 37.01 in D 35.83 in
Renzo Frau Poltrona Frau Model 904 “Vanity Fair” Red Leather Deco Armchair, 1903
By Poltrona Frau, Renzo Frau
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Officially called “model 904” but known, since 1984, as Vanity Fair, over time this seat has become the emblem of both Art Deco and Neo-Deco/ Postmodern Italian design. It is thought that the project, which first went into production in 1930, was developed on the basis of designs from 1903 that Renzo Frau left his wife, Savina. The supporting structure of the Vanity Fair armchair is made from solid seasoned beech. The padding uses both hand-shaped vegetable horsehair and rubberized horsehair and the seat cushion is in goose down. The seat, backrest, and armrest spring system consists of hand-tied steel biconical springs attached to jute belts. A row of leather-covered pins refines the back and sides of the armchair. Each Vanity Fair chair...
Leather
Signed Poltrona Frau Taberin Merlot Leather Chair & Matching Ottoman
By Poltrona Frau
Located in West Hartford, CT
Rare Poltona Frau merlot/burgundy leather armchair and matching ottoman. There are leather nailheads on back and side that matching the color...
Leather