Poltrona Frau: the Italian leather house behind Le Corbusier's seating
Poltrona Frau has been making upholstered furniture in Tolentino, Italy, since 1912. They are the leather house that produces the Vanity Fair, the Chester One, and Cassina's Le Corbusier seating. Here's the short story.
Poltrona Frau listings, particularly the Chester and the Vanity Fair, are evergreen on Whoppah. Our curators check the leather condition closely because Poltrona Frau's specific tanning process makes the leather behave differently from other heritage brands.
Poltrona Frau was founded in 1912 in Turin by Renzo Frau, a Sardinian saddler-turned-furniture-maker. They moved to Tolentino in central Italy in 1962, where they're still based. The company's specialty has always been upholstered seating in vegetable-tanned leather, and their tannery and upholstery workshop in Tolentino is one of the most respected in Europe.
Poltrona Frau's signature is the use of full-grain leather that ages with a deep, characteristic patina. The Chester One sofa (1912), based on the traditional Chesterfield, is the calling card and has been in continuous production for over a century. Vintage 1950s and 60s Poltrona Frau Chesters in cognac or dark brown leather sell on Whoppah at €2,000 to €5,000 depending on size and condition.
The Vanity Fair armchair (1930), Poltrona Frau's deep-tufted bergère, is the second iconic piece. €1,400 to €3,500 in vintage production.
Poltrona Frau also acts as a contract upholsterer for other brands. The Le Corbusier / Perriand / Jeanneret LC series leather work for Cassina is done by Poltrona Frau. The car interiors for Ferrari, Maserati and several other Italian marques are also Poltrona Frau leather work.
What to look for on the secondhand market: every authentic Poltrona Frau piece carries the brand stamp on the leather (look on the back of an unstapled section) and a metal or sewn label inside the upholstery. The leather should feel substantial; Poltrona Frau hides are thicker than mass-market leather, and you can feel the difference.
A genuine 1970s Poltrona Frau Chester One in good condition sits at €2,500 to €4,500 on Whoppah; current Chester One retail is around €9,500, so the vintage piece is dramatically better value.
Re-tanning and reupholstery are accepted on Poltrona Frau pieces older than 30 years. The original Tolentino tannery offers a restoration service that uses period-correct leather and stitching.
