Clayton Armchair
Made by Poltrona Frau
Designed by Jean-Marie Massaud
Jean-Marie Massaud approaches the armchair as a study in controlled generosity. The Clayton is a form that reads as architectural in silhouette yet yields entirely at the point of contact, its backrest and armrest cushions padded in goose down beneath a full envelope of Pelle Frau leather.
The four-spoke steel base carries a Ruthenium galvanic finish, a surface treatment that deepens the tonal relationship between structure and upholstery. The chair rotates a full 360 degrees and returns, without effort, to its resting position. That quiet self-correction is characteristic of Massaud's sensibility: intention made invisible.
Visible metal hinges punctuate the frame, a deliberate detail that sits between the structural and the sartorial. Upholstery can be configured in Pelle Frau leather alone or in combination with Poltrona Frau fabrics, with contrasting tailored stitching offering a further layer of compositional precision.
- Four-spoke swivel base in steel with galvanic Ruthenium finish
- Full 360-degree rotation with self-return mechanism
- Goose-down padding in backrest and armrest cushions
- Pelle Frau leather upholstery, or leather and fabric combinations
- Tailored stitching with contrasting material options
- Visible metal hinges as a deliberate formal accent
Made to order by Poltrona Frau, tailored to you.
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Pairs Well With
Clayton Armchair
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Pelle Frau leather?
Pelle Frau is Poltrona Frau's proprietary leather, produced through a tanning and finishing process developed over more than a century at the brand's facility in Tolentino, Italy. It is available in a wide palette of colors and grades, each selected for consistency of grain, hand feel, and long-term patina.
Can the Clayton be upholstered in fabric instead of leather?
Yes. The Clayton is available fully in Pelle Frau leather or in combinations of Pelle Frau leather with fabric from Poltrona Frau's textile collection, allowing for contrast between seating surfaces and structural elements.
How does the Clayton's swivel mechanism work?
The four-spoke steel base incorporates a 360-degree swivel mechanism with an automatic return function, meaning the chair rotates freely and then repositions itself to its original orientation when released.
Who is Jean-Marie Massaud?
Jean-Marie Massaud is a French designer and architect based in Paris, trained at the École Nationale Supérieure de Création Industrielle. His practice spans furniture, product design, and architecture, with a sensibility that consistently balances formal precision with a strong awareness of the human body and lived experience.
Is the Clayton armchair made to order?
Yes. As a catalog product produced by Poltrona Frau, the Clayton is made to order in the brand's Tolentino atelier, with lead times and configuration options confirmed at the time of inquiry.
