POLTRONA FRAU HISTORY
  • 1912
    Renzo Frau registers the trademark with the Chamber of Commerce of Turin.
  • 1919
    Poltrona Frau “128”. Present in today’s catalogue as armchair model 1919.
  • 1926
    “Manifesto of the Eternal Father” designed by Golia (Eugenio Colmo).
  • 1926
    Poltrona Frau is appointed official supplier to the “Royal House”.
  • 1929
    Poltrona Frau “118”. Present in today’s catalogue as armchair model Fumoir.
  • 1930
    Poltrona Frau “904”. Present in today’s catalogue as armchair model Vanity Fair.
  • 1934
    “Lyra” armchair. Present in today’s catalogue under the name of Lyra.
  • 1939
    Poltrona Frau “900A”. Present in today’s catalogue as armchair model Tabarin.
  • 1945-60
    Frau’s New Line: new shapes, padding and cover options are introduced.
  • 1962
    Poltrona Frau is acquired by the Nazareno Gabrielli Group and Franco Moschini, the current President.
  • 1965
    Dezza, designed by Gio Ponti, is awarded first prize at Genoa’s Tecnhotel.
  • 1968
    Lullaby, designed by Luigi Massoni, recapitulates Frau’s finely crafted details.
  • 1970
    Smoking, designed by Sergio Mazza and Giuliana Gramigna.
  • 1976
    Petronio, by Tito Agnoli, the designer who created many successful Poltrona Frau models.
  • 1982
    Ouverture, designed by Pierluigi Cerri.
  • 1983
    Interlude, designed by Marco Zanuso.
  • 1984
    Thema 8:32, a car powered by a Ferrari engine. Frau Car comes to life.
  • 1984
    Frau Hall, in Spoleto, Poltrona Frau restores and furnishes the former Church of S. Gregoriuccio at the Synagogue of Spoleto, which becomes Frau Hall and marks the beginning of Frau’s Contract operations.
  • 1984
    Antropovarius, designed by Ferdinand A. Porsche.
  • 1987
    I Madrigali 4, designed by Lenci and Giovanna Talocci, it is a four – poster bed. It was shown at the World Expo of Brisbane.
  • 1989
    Intervista, designed by Lella and Massimo Vignelli for the Italian television TG2.
  • 1990
    Franco Moschini, through a leverage buy-out, acquires the entire company shareholding.
  • 1992
    Hydra, designed by Luca Scacchetti.
  • 1996
    West Coast, designed by Richard Meier & Partners for the Getty Museum of Los Angeles.
  • 1996
    Monsieur Pol, designed by Avant Travaux for the halls of the European Parliament.
  • 1997
    Lola, designed by Pierluigi Cerri (selected at the ADI Golden Compass).
  • 1997
    Nuwelle, equipped system of meeting room seats designed by Ferdinand A. Porsche.
  • 1998
    Poltrona Frau is asked to upholster Ferrari’s first standard run car.
  • 1998
    Touch, designed by Jean Nouvel.
  • 1998
    Artù, designed by Michele De Lucchi.
  • 1998
    Wing: the first pieces of furniture to be entirely made of carbon fibres.
  • 1999
    Titano, designed by Pierluigi Cerri, is awarded the ADI Gold Compass.
  • 2001
    Pierluigi Cerri designs Quadra, a modular seat system, doomed to be a best - seller.
  • 2001
    Poltrona Frau acquires Gebrüder Thonet Vienna.
  • 2002
    Poltrona Frau furnishes the new “Music Park” BW complex of Rome, designed by Renzo Piano.
  • 2002
    Poltrona Frau designs the Top Class armchairs for JAL.
  • 2003
    Frank O. Gehry designs for Poltrona Frau the armchairs for the Walt Disney Concert Hall.
  • 2003
    The Charme fund headed by Luca Cordero di Montezemolo acquires 30% of Poltrona Frau’s capital.
  • 2004
    The creation of the “Polo del Bello” Poltrona Frau takes over Cappellini.
  • 2005
    The first flagship stores are opened in Milan, Rome and Naples. Concept by Jean-Marie Massaud.
  • 2005
    Poltrona Frau acquires Cassina S.p.A.: the international design becomes Italian once again.
  • 2005
    Nemo also join the Poltrona Frau Group with Cassina.
  • 2006
    April, a new, highly successful model is born: the Kennedee, designed by Jean-Marie Massaud.
  • 2006
    Poltrona Frau Group is quoted on the Star market segment of Borsa Italiana.
  • 2007
    Poltrona Frau presents Oceano, the closet trunk designed by Andrée Putman
  • 2007
    The new press advertising campaign signed by Armando Testa wins the “Targa d’Oro 2007” award.
  • 2007
    Jockey and Alone win the 'Good Design 2007’ award.
  • 2007
    The newly restored Palazzo delle Esposizioni opens in Rome, furnished with Poltrona Frau Group products.
  • 2008
    Abu Dhabi sees the opening of the first Poltrona Frau Group design centre.
  • 2008
    Poltrona Frau furnishes the new Oslo opera house.
  • 2009
    Poltrona Frau on show at Munich’s BMW Welt.
  • 2009
    Milano Design Village: the Poltrona Frau Group FuoriSalone recorded more than 50.000 visitors.
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An international design brand of ‘Made in Italy’ perfection and excellence.
Since 1912, the general public has always and immediately associated the name Frau with the idea of quality and design furnishing and seating in particular. A name that is so characteristic and instantly linked to German sounds, but which is, in actual fact, simply that of the company’s founder, Sardinian-born Renzo Frau, who, over time, has successfully taken the 'Made in Italy’ style and quality beyond national confines.
There have been a great many important moments in the history of Poltrona Frau, and they have all contributed in some way to creating the legend of this company that was founded in Turin and is today a citizen of the world.