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.
1970s Pair of Poltrona Frau Aster X Side Tables Jean-Marie Massaud
By Poltrona Frau
Located in Buxton, GB
Rare Pair of Poltrona Frau "Aster X" Side Tables – Jean-Marie Massaud Original Poltrona Frau label (Model: Aster X) Ultra-luxury Italian furniture. Designed by the legendary Jean-...
Steel
$1,665Sale Price / set|20% Off
Poltrona Frau Set of 2 Side Tables with Leather Top 1970, Italy
By Poltrona Frau
Located in Oirlo, LI
Poltrona Frau set of 2 side tables with leather top 1970, Italy From the home of Poltrona Frau in Northern Italy comes this timeless Statement Piece in excellent vintage and ori...
Chrome
Dilly Dally Pouf in turquoise Leather by L. Massoni for Poltrona Frau, Italy 60s
By Poltrona Frau, Luigi Massoni
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning and very rare "Dilly Dally" pouf in gorgeous turquoise full-grain leather. Designed by Luigi Massoni and produced by Poltrona Frau in Italy during the late 1960s. Fully ori...
Metal
1970s Ram's Head Iron & Leather Gueridon Side Table with Embossed Top
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Handsome ram's head tripod drinks table with grey leather embossed top.
Iron
$2,581 / item
H 21.66 in Dm 15.75 in
Bombo "T" Pouf/Side Table Designed by Nestor Perkal for Oscar Maschera
By Oscar Maschera, Nestor Perkal
Located in Brooklyn, NY
First, there was an encounter between a designer, Nestor Perkal, and the Oscarmaschera company. Then, there was Argentina, his native land. While working with the company on leather ...
Leather
$419Sale Price / set|40% Off
H 15.16 in W 19.49 in D 15.95 in
Pair of Pierre Vandel Paris side tables, 1970s
By Pierre Vandel
Located in STRASBOURG, FR
Pair of Pierre Vandel Paris side tables circa 1970, black lacquered aluminum structure, gold band inclusion, original beveled glass resting on black rubber glides. All in good condi...
Aluminum
$20,873
H 29.14 in Dm 25.99 in
20th Century Luigi Massoni for Poltrona Frau Dilly Dally Vanitiy Dressing Table
By Poltrona Frau, Luigi Massoni
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Dressing table model Dilly Dally designed by Luigi Massoni for Poltrona Frau in 1960s. The dressing table is composed of two pieces, one round armchair (which alone measures 74 x 66 ...
Metal
$10,780
H 28.55 in Dm 25.79 in
Luigi Massoni Dilly Dally Vanity Table and Chair, Poltrona Frau, Italy, 1960s
By Luigi Massoni, Poltrona Frau
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
A rare Italian "Dilly Dally" vanity by Luigi Massoni and manufactured by Poltrona Frau Italy in the 1960s. Newly upholstered in off white leatherette. Modular vanity fully upholstere...
Faux Leather
$10,436 / set
H 28.75 in Dm 25.99 in
L. Massoni Dilly Dally White Leather Vanity Table by Poltrona Frau, Italy 1960s
By Luigi Massoni, Poltrona Frau
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning white “Dilly Dally” dressing table designed by Luigi Massoni and produced by Poltrona Frau in Italy during the 1960s. Fully origin...
Metal
$700
H 21.66 in W 17.52 in D 12.6 in
Italian Midcentury Rattan & Bamboo Side Table / Magazine Rack, 1950/60s
Located in Skien, NO
Italian Mid-Century Modern Rattan & Bamboo Side Table with Glass Plate and Magazine Rack, 1950s/60s This exquisite Italian Mid-Century Modern side table or magazine rack, crafte...
Rattan, Bamboo, Glass
Luigi Massoni ‘Dilly Dally’ Vanity Set in Cognac Leatherette
By Luigi Massoni, Poltrona Frau
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Luigi Massoni for Poltrona Frau, ‘Dilly Dally’ vanity set, leatherette, mirrored glass, plastic, brass, lacquered wood, metal, Italy, 1968 Outstanding It...
Metal, Brass
$2,897
H 31.5 in W 51.19 in D 51.19 in
Glass Dining Table "CALICE" by Massimo & Lella Vignelli for Poltrona Frau, Italy
By Massimo and Lella Vignelli, Poltrona Frau
Located in DE MEERN, NL
CALICE dining table by Massimo & Lella Vignelli for Poltrona frau, Italy 1980s Introducing the stunning Glass Dining Table "CALICE" by Massimo & Lella Vignelli for Poltrona Frau, Italy. Crafted with precision and elegance, this dining table is a statement piece that will elevate any dining space. The "CALICE" dining table is a masterclass in modern design. Its sleek glass top is supported by a base made of slim yet sturdy leg, creating a minimalist silhouette that exudes sophistication. The table's transparency allows it to seamlessly blend into any interior, while its unique shape adds a touch of character and charm. Poltrona Frau, the renowned Italian furniture brand, has a legacy of crafting high-quality, timeless designs that stand the test of time. The "CALICE" dining table is no exception. It is made with the finest materials and the utmost attention to detail, ensuring its durability and longevity. The table's glass top is made with tempered glass, which is known for its strength and resistance to breakage. Its base is made of metal. Whether you're hosting a dinner party or enjoying a meal with your family, the Glass Dining Table "CALICE" by Massimo & Lella Vignelli for Poltrona Frau, Italy is the perfect centerpiece for your dining room. With its clean lines, impeccable craftsmanship, and timeless appeal, this table is sure to impress for years to come. FASEM P40...
Metal
$10,436
H 29.14 in W 25.99 in D 25.99 in
Luigi Massoni ‘Dilly Dally’ Vanity Set for Poltrona Frau, Italy, 1968
By Luigi Massoni, Poltrona Frau
Located in amstelveen, NL
Rare ‘Dilly Dally’ dressing table and matching chair, designed by Luigi Massoni for Poltrona Frau in 1968. A wonderful example of late 1960s Italian design, the set is characterized...
Leather, Plastic
Pair of Side Tables in Brass and Glass, 1970s
Located in Lejre, DK
Pair of side tables with glass top on a brass frame. Great original condition.
Brass
Pair of 1970s Brass and Smoked Glass Side Tables
Located in New York, NY
A pair of bedside / side tables / nightstands tables in brass with original smoked glass tops from the 1970s.
Brass
Sold
H 22.45 in Dm 22.25 in
Round Bar Cart / Side Table in Maroon Leather by L. Massoni for Frau, Italy 1968
By Luigi Massoni, Poltrona Frau
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning round bar cart or side table with wheels in a gorgeous maroon full grain leather and lacquered wood. This incredibly rare and stylish piece was designed by Luigi Massoni an...
Metal, Chrome
Sold
H 13.78 in W 23.63 in D 24.81 in
"Quadra" Bedside/Small Nesting Tables in Cognac Leather by Poltrona Frau, 1970s
By Poltrona Frau
Located in Brescia, Brescia
Welcome to the epitome of vintage elegance! Presenting the "Quadra" Bedside/Small Nesting Tables by Poltrona Frau, a true gem from the sophisticated era of the 1970s. Crafted with t...
Chrome
Sold
H 18.5 in W 18.25 in D 18.25 in
Set of Saddle Leather + Wood Covered Bedside Tables, Poltrona Frau
By Poltrona Frau
Located in Tulsa, OK
Fidelio Notte night tables by Poltrona Frau Defined by warm, dark tones of the conac saddle-leather and a Canaletto walnut wood exterior, with luminous, natural maple in interior ...
Leather, Wood
Poltrona Frau Leather Saku Table
By Poltrona Frau
Located in San Francisco, CA
Saku leather side table by Poltrona Frau, Made in Italy. The table features a white leather top and leather stem on a polished chrome base. Dimensions 19.5ʺW × 19.5ʺD × 25.0ʺH
Chrome
Pair of Italian Side Tables in Leather and Chrome by Poltrona Frau
By Poltrona Frau
Located in Peabody, MA
Pair of side tables, made in Italy, by Poltrona Frau. Frameworks in highly polished mirrored chrome, and tops covered in genuine leather in vibrant red. Can be used as end tables or ...
Chrome