Vanity Fair Armchair

Overview

Vanity Fair is credited to Renzo Frau. Poltrona Frau says it was officially called "model 904" and has been known as Vanity Fair since 1984, and dates its production to 1930. The page calls its deliberately volumetric configuration one of the universal icons of Italian design.

Image source: Poltrona Frau — Vanity Fair Armchair · © Poltrona Frau and the respective rights holders. Quoted to accompany INTEBEE's independent design commentary and research. · View official product page ↗ · Image use & copyright policy

Construction

Solid seasoned beech structure, hand-tied biconical steel springs on jute belts, hand-shaped vegetable and rubberised horsehair padding and a goose down seat cushion. A row of leather-covered tacks runs along the back and sides, the supports are dark walnut-stained beech (05), and the cover is not removable. The sheet lists a numbered series with a 24 kt galvanic gold plate.

Specifications

• Armchair 5163111: W 94 cm, D 91 cm, H 99 cm (the largest of the drawing's unlabelled vertical values)
• Upholstery: Pelle Frau® leather, fabric categories A, B and C, or C.O.M. (6.00 m plain or 7.00 m with repeat for the armchair)
• Other versions: matching ottoman; "baby" armchair 5163511 at two thirds of the size

Model 904

The page's concept text says the chair is officially "model 904", known as Vanity Fair since 1984, and that over time it has become the emblem of Poltrona Frau. It adds that the project, first put into production in 1930, is thought to have been developed from designs that Renzo Frau left to his wife.

1930

Poltrona Frau's company timeline places the birth of Vanity Fair in 1930, the same year it names for the furnishing of the ocean liners Rex and Conte Grande, and calls it a symbol of handcrafted elegance loved worldwide.