Marvelous Makeover for Poltrona Frau’s Iconic Archibald Armchair

Marvelous Makeover for Poltrona Frau’s Iconic Archibald Armchair

What do you get when you combine a seminal piece from Jean-Marie Massaud with a milestone for an esteemed brand and the electric aesthetic of a visionary artist?

Archibald Chair side view with art on wall behind

The answer is Archibald Limited Edition, a contemporary re-working of Massaud’s classic leather chair, with the purpose and panache of Felipe Pantone, an Argentine-Spanish artist known for frescoes, murals, paintings, and sculptures that “blend an analog past and a digitized future.”

Archibald chair side view with curtains in background

The result is Pantone-esque indeed. The limited edition chair (Poltrona Frau is releasing 110 of them in line with the brand’s 110th anniversary) is multi-hued and multifarious, the intense coloration and digitized design cohering into a strange, fascinating, and luminous piece: “a mesmerizing pattern with a gradient grid of reds, oranges, yellows, whites, and blues resembling the cool and warm temperatures of a heat map.”

Archibald chair rear view

Archibald Limited Edition also showcases Poltrona Frau’s efforts towards sustainability. The chair’s upholstery is the brand’s patented Colorsphere Impact Less Leather, a chromium-free formulation that uses cleaner water (and less of it) as well as fewer chemical components in its manufacture.

Archibald chair armrest and leather detail

The limited-edition chairs will be offered via Poltrona Frau’s e-commerce channel, flagship stores, and select dealers beginning now through Milan Design Week, June 7-12. Archibald Limited Edition will also be onsite at the show alongside a digital installation and mural display by artist Pantone.

Archibald chair commemorative plaque view

Read the whole press release here and find out more at Poltrona Frau.

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