Poltrona Frau teams up with Felipe Pantone for limited edition armchair

On the glorious occasion of its 110th anniversary, iconic Italian design brand Poltrona Frau added to the elation with an exclusive limited edition partnership launched digitally in April this year. With Felipe Pantone, their iconic brand has teamed up with the dynamic Argentinian-Spanish artist, who has been making waves with his contemporary and transformational kinetic art. The artist has completely revamped the brand’s exemplary Archibald chair, weaving in colours of his idiosyncratic style. “An important purpose of this anniversary collaboration is to shift Poltrona Frau’s perspective towards the future — not only in terms of our first collaboration with an international artist of this nature — but also on the theme of environmental protection. The armchair is made with the innovative Impact Less leather that we have developed to further reduce the toll on the environment,” shares Nicola Coropulis, CEO of Poltrona Frau.

Felipe Pantone’s statement murals, frescoes, paintings and sculptures according to him, are a rare amalgamation of the “analog past and a digitised future,” this extends into his recent work with Poltrona Frau. The Archibald, initially designed by Jean-Marie Massaud, collides with Pantone’s seemingly conflicting futuristic style to mark a new beginning for the heritage brand. “We ended up choosing Archibald as the base for my work because of its minimal frame, but also the unique characteristics like the arms of the chair and the details on the backrest. The idea was to use a very minimal and iconic design and to juxtapose it against my graphics, which are very loud and very dynamic,” explains Pantone.

The leather surface of the Archibald is a vibrant and captivating composition of reds, oranges, yellows, whites and blues, analogous to the gradients on a heat map. The elaborate grids of colour splashed on the leather surface transform the armchair into a piece of modern and digital art. The base and metal legs, finished with multicolor natural chrome, exude a rainbowlike shimmer under the light. This anniversary special showcases Poltrona Frau’s Impact Less leather which is chrome-free and significantly reduces the consumption of water and chemical components, re-establishing the brand’s commitment to sustainability. “This project allows us to push the boundaries of how we communicate to an audience that appreciates truly unique, durable pieces that can be cherished as both a masterpiece of artistic expression and Italian craftsmanship as well as a functional solution for comfortable living meant to last generations,” says Leonardo Allasia, Global Marketing and Communications Director.

There will be 110 pieces produced as part of the limited edition Archibald for the 110th anniversary of Poltrone Frau, available through the brand's online store, flagship stores, and select dealers. Moreover, a miniature model of the armchair in leather will be available for followers of both Felipe Pantone and Poltrona Frau as a souvenir of this momentous alliance. Dedicated installations of the limited edition armchair will find their place in Milan's 2022 Salone del Mobile design week and the Poltrona Frau Museum in Tolentino. The armchair, with its elegant structure and vivid graphic design, is a unique coexistence of the divergent artistic languages of the collaborators.

STIR takes you on a Milanese sojourn! Experience Salone del Mobile and all the design districts - 5vie, Brera, Fuorisalone, Isola, Zona Tortona, and Durini - with us. STIR’s coverage of Milan Design Week 2022, Meanwhile in Milan showcases the best exhibits, moods, studios, events, and folks to look out for. We are also excited to announce our very own STIR press booth at Salone del Mobile - Hall 5/7 S.14, Fiera Milano RHO.