Poltrona Frau is what happened when a Sardinian fell for the English Chesterfield. Renzo Frau founded it in Turin in 1912, refined the deep buttoned armchair into something unmistakably Italian, and built it on leather so good it became its own name: Pelle Frau. The Vanity Fair armchair is the result, an icon of comfort. Every Poltrona Frau piece here is an original, authenticated and restored, then delivered in 1 to 5 days. Originals only.
Poltrona Frau, Italian Leather Since 1912
Renzo Frau, born in Sardinia, founded Poltrona Frau in Turin in 1912. He had worked in Britain and fallen for the English Chesterfield, and he brought it to Italy and refined it into his own style. The name joins poltrona, Italian for armchair, with his surname. Since the early 1960s the company has been based in Tolentino, in the Marche.
Two things define it. The Vanity Fair armchair, first made in the 1930s and now a universal icon of Italian design; and Pelle Frau leather, full-grain hide put through a twenty-one-step tanning process and dyed all the way through, so a scratch never shows a pale lining beneath. That craft is why Poltrona Frau also lines the interiors of cars, yachts and auditoriums, and why it opened the Poltrona Frau Museum in Tolentino, designed by Michele De Lucchi, for its centenary in 2012. Today it works with designers such as Jean-Marie Massaud alongside classics like the Chester sofa.
New, Poltrona Frau is priced as a luxury brand, with leather armchairs and sofas running well into four and five figures and made-to-order waits. Every original at REHAUS is authenticated, restored where needed, and delivered in 1 to 5 days, usually at well under the new price. Design doesn't depreciate, and Pelle Frau leather only deepens with age. The Forever Guarantee and a 30-day home trial mean reduced risk on a piece made to last. Browse the originals.
Poltrona Frau: frequently asked questions
What is Poltrona Frau?
Poltrona Frau is an Italian luxury furniture house founded in Turin in 1912 by Renzo Frau and based in Tolentino since the early 1960s. Its name means “Frau armchair”. It is known for leather seating built on the Chesterfield tradition, the Vanity Fair armchair, and its signature Pelle Frau leather, and it also crafts leather interiors for cars, yachts and auditoriums.
What is the Vanity Fair armchair?
The Vanity Fair is Poltrona Frau's most famous piece, a deep, generously buttoned leather armchair first made in the 1930s. Rooted in the English Chesterfield but softened into something distinctly Italian, it is regarded as a universal icon of Italian design and remains the chair most people picture when they think of the brand.
What is Pelle Frau leather?
Pelle Frau is Poltrona Frau's own full-grain leather, put through a twenty-one-step tanning process, well above the usual twelve to fifteen, and dyed all the way through. Because the colour runs through the hide, a surface scratch will not reveal a pale lining beneath. It is a large part of why the brand is regarded as the benchmark for leather.
Where can I buy pre-owned Poltrona Frau in the UK?
REHAUS sells authenticated, original Poltrona Frau in the UK. Every piece is checked against the real thing, restored where needed, and delivered nationwide in 1 to 5 days. You buy from one company, not a private seller, with the Forever Guarantee and a 30-day home trial behind it. Stock changes often, since each piece is one of one.
Is pre-owned Poltrona Frau worth buying?
Yes. Poltrona Frau is built from Pelle Frau leather that is made to age beautifully, so a well-kept piece deepens in character and restores well. Buying pre-owned also skips the made-to-order wait and the new-price premium. Every Poltrona Frau item at REHAUS is authenticated, restored where needed, and backed by the Forever Guarantee and a 30-day home trial.
How much is Poltrona Frau, new versus pre-owned?
New, Poltrona Frau is priced as a luxury brand, with leather armchairs and sofas running well into four and five figures, often made to order. A pre-owned original at REHAUS, authenticated and restored, typically costs well under that and arrives in 1 to 5 days. The difference reflects buying the original second time around, not a discount on a copy.
How is Poltrona Frau delivered, and can I return it?
Each piece is delivered in 1 to 5 days, with white-glove delivery complimentary on qualifying orders. Every order comes with a 30-day home trial, so you can live with it before committing. If it is not right, returns are straightforward. Because each piece is one of one, it is only truly yours once it has shipped.
Why buy Poltrona Frau from REHAUS?
REHAUS sells originals only, never copies or reproductions. Every Poltrona Frau piece is authenticated, restored to a high standard, and delivered fast across the UK. You get genuine Pelle Frau leather, in stock now, with the Forever Guarantee and a 30-day home trial, from one company that stands behind the piece.
