Poltrona Frau, Over 110 Years of Handcrafted Italian Leather Sofa Making and an Exclusive Legacy with EUDS

In Tolentino, Italy, Poltrona Frau’s leather craftsmanship has been preserved and passed down through generations of artisans. Years of working with leather have taught them to sense every stitch, the tension of each surface, and even the finest details through their hands and experience. As a result, every sofa and armchair is crafted not only from carefully selected materials, but also reflects the meticulous attention to detail of an artisanal tradition refined over more than a century.

Through EUDS, the official exclusive distributor of Poltrona Frau in Vietnam, customers have the opportunity to experience firsthand the distinctive designs of this renowned Italian brand.

From a Craft Workshop to an Icon of Italian Furniture

Poltrona Frau was founded in 1912 by Renzo Frau. From the very beginning, the brand chose leather as its signature material and embraced artisanal craftsmanship as a core value. The combination of master craftsmanship and a timeless design language has established Poltrona Frau as one of the icons of Italian furniture.

When the First World War broke out, Renzo Frau enlisted in the army, and the management of the company was entrusted to his wife, Savina Pisati. Under her leadership, Poltrona Frau not only weathered a period of great uncertainty but also gradually established its reputation through a series of prestigious projects across Italy.

Renzo Frau Founds the Company in Turin

In 1926, Renzo Frau passed away, leaving behind his design sketches and craftsmanship philosophy as the foundation for the brand’s continued development. Building on this legacy, a number of iconic designs were created, including the Vanity Fair armchair in 1930. More than a century later, Poltrona Frau continues to preserve the values established in its early days, standing as one of the most distinguished names in Italy’s luxury furniture industry.

The Evolution of Poltrona Frau and Its Deep Connection to Tolentino

Under the leadership of Savina Pisati, Poltrona Frau gradually established its position in Italy through a number of notable projects, including supplying furnishings for the Italian Parliament in 1932 and the ocean liner Rex in 1939. In the early 1960s, the brand moved its headquarters to Tolentino, a town in the Marche region long renowned for its tradition of leather tanning and artisanal leather craftsmanship.

Today, Tolentino remains Poltrona Frau’s production hub. Here, artisanal craftsmanship has been passed down through generations of skilled artisans and combined with modern technology to create products that meet the brand’s exacting quality standards. This enduring connection to the region has helped shape Poltrona Frau’s identity for more than a century, and these are the values that EUDS seeks to introduce to Vietnamese customers through the brand’s authentic products.

The Poltrona Frau Museum celebrates the brand’s design heritage and its iconic furniture masterpieces.

Pelle Frau® – Where Quality Is Expressed in Every Detail

One of the defining elements of Poltrona Frau is its exclusive Pelle Frau® leather tanning process. While conventional leather tanning typically involves around 12 to 15 stages, Pelle Frau® is refined through 21 carefully controlled steps to preserve the natural beauty, softness, and durability of full-grain leather.

The key difference lies in the through-dyeing technique, which allows the color to penetrate deep into the entire structure of the leather rather than simply coating the surface. As a result, even after years of use, minor scratches are less likely to reveal a differently colored layer beneath, as can happen with conventional leather products, helping the surface maintain a consistent appearance over time.

Poltrona Frau Reinforces Its Leadership Through In-House Leather Research and Rigorous Tanning Processes

Each year, the Tolentino factory uses approximately 340,000 square meters of premium leather to craft Poltrona Frau products. Before leaving the workshop, every piece is branded with the signature heat stamp, known as the marchio a fuoco. This hallmark has been associated with Poltrona Frau since 1912, serving as a mark of authenticity and reflecting the brand’s commitment to quality and provenance.

21 Hours of Handcraftsmanship for an Iconic Design

To recreate the original design of the Vanity Fair armchair, Poltrona Frau artisans dedicate approximately 21 hours of craftsmanship to each piece. Each armchair uses around 9 square meters of leather, 50 steel springs, and 5 kg of natural duck feathers. Most of the production process is carried out by hand, requiring meticulous attention to detail and years of accumulated expertise.

To this day, approximately 95% of Poltrona Frau’s products are still finished by hand. To mark its centenary in 2012, the brand opened the Poltrona Frau Museum in Tolentino, designed by architect Michele De Lucchi. Under the theme L’intelligenza delle mani (The Intelligence of the Hands), the museum celebrates the role of the artisans who have preserved and carried forward Poltrona Frau’s craftsmanship for more than a century.

The Choice of the World’s Leading Architects

Poltrona Frau has long been featured in some of the world’s most significant architectural projects, chosen by leading architects for iconic spaces. Frank Gehry selected the brand’s seating system for the auditorium of Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. The choice by an architect renowned for his exacting standards in form and structure reflects the confidence placed in Poltrona Frau’s quality and durability for projects that demand exceptional performance over the long term.

Walt Disney Concert Hall, One of Poltrona Frau’s Iconic Projects

In addition, major projects such as the European Parliament in Strasbourg, the Fondation Louis Vuitton, and the Oslo Opera House by Snøhetta have incorporated Poltrona Frau products into their interiors, where a careful balance of functionality, aesthetics, and long-term durability is essential.

After more than a century, every piece bearing the Poltrona Frau logo represents far more than a piece of furniture. It embodies exceptional craftsmanship, a legacy of artisanal tradition, and the enduring spirit of Italian design.

In Vietnam, EUDS is the exclusive distributor of Poltrona Frau, offering customers the opportunity to discover and experience authentic Italian leather sofa collections in a carefully curated environment that meets international standards. Customers can contact EUDS for expert consultation and to explore interior solutions tailored to their living spaces.

Contact EUDS to Discover More About Our Collections of Luxury European Furniture
▪️Showroom Hà Nội: Tầng 1, Tòa MHDI, 60 Hoàng Quốc Việt, Cầu Giấy, Hà Nội
▪️Showroom Tp. Hồ Chí Minh: Tầng 1, Tòa B2 Sarimi, 72 Nguyễn Cơ Thạch, phường An Khánh, Tp Hồ Chí Minh
▪️Phone Number: (+84) 948 69 1919 | (+84) 948 90 1818
▪️Website: euds.com.vn