Poltrona Frau revisits 1919 chair with Roberto Lazzeroni

In collaboration with Italian architect and designer Roberto Lazzeroni, furniture-producing company, Poltrona Frau, has reinterpreted its classic capitonné leather model armchair, while maintaining its original spirit.

For a hundred years, Poltrona Frau’s armchair has embodied the Italian-founded company. Its quintessential silhouette of large hand padded leather upholstered craftsmanship that reaches its apex in the pleated swirls of the armrests, has left a lasting mark on its consumers.

Photo Courtesy of Poltrona Frau

After an extensive observation of the armchair, Roberto Lazzeroni concluded that the armchair’s proportions were no longer up to date with the modern-day notion of comfort.

To adapt to today’s standard of comfort, the architect and designer lowered the seat, increased the internal width, raised the backrest to achieve a more relaxed and informal position, and added a footrest to create an accommodating lounge chair.

The supporting structure of the 2019 armchair is made from solid seasoned beech, while the seat, backrest and armrest’s system consists of hand-tied steel springs attached to jute belts.

Poltrona Frau‘s seat is padded with rubberised horsehair, whereas the backrest and armrests are developed with hand-shaped vegetable horsehair.

Photo Courtesy of Poltrona Frau

The seat cushion is filled with goose down with a stabilising insert of polyurethane foam. The upholstery has manual capitonné detailing that decorates the front of the backrest in Pelle Frau leather.

A frame with four feet in solid ash, accompanied by a Moka stain, decorates the seat’s bottom. The leg system is available with metal caps, a gold or gunmetal grey finish, or metal caps at the back and swivel castors at the front.

The 2019 capitonné leather model armchair is also available in a version with rotating oval plate in solid ash where you can place an electronic device, a book or other small personal belongings.