Vanity Fair Armchair
Made by Poltrona Frau
First produced in 1930 under the designation Model 904, the Vanity Fair armchair stands as one of the most enduring objects in Italian design history. Renzo Frau conceived it as a chair that would hold its presence across decades, drawing from the formal vocabulary of the period while insisting on deep, genuine comfort.
The construction is deliberate at every stage. A solid seasoned beech frame provides the structural foundation, while hand-shaped padding builds the chair's characteristic rounded volume from the inside out. Beneath the seat, steel biconical springs offer a responsive, calibrated support that sustains both posture and proportion over years of use.
Available in Poltrona Frau's full range of leathers and upholstery options, the Vanity Fair can be configured to suit the particular sensibility of a space without altering what makes it recognizable. Its silhouette reads with equal authority in a minimal interior or alongside richer, more layered surroundings.
- Solid seasoned beech structure
- Hand-shaped padding over steel biconical springs
- Available in the full Poltrona Frau leather and fabric range
- Made to order in Tolentino, Italy
Made to order by Poltrona Frau, tailored to you.
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Vanity Fair Armchair
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the Vanity Fair armchair first designed?
The Vanity Fair was first produced in 1930 by Renzo Frau, originally designated as Model 904. It has remained in continuous production since, with its form largely unchanged.
What leathers are available for the Vanity Fair?
Poltrona Frau offers the Vanity Fair in their full range of Pelle Frau leathers, which include dozens of colors and finishes across multiple grades, from the supple Cuoio to the full-aniline Scozia.
How is the Vanity Fair armchair constructed?
The frame is built from solid seasoned beech, and the padding is shaped by hand before upholstery is applied. The seat is supported by steel biconical springs, a traditional construction method that gives the chair its characteristically resilient, even support.
Where is the Vanity Fair armchair manufactured?
Each piece is made to order at Poltrona Frau's atelier in Tolentino, in the Marche region of Italy, where the company has produced upholstered furniture since 1912.
Is the Vanity Fair considered a design classic?
It is widely regarded as one of the canonical pieces of twentieth-century Italian furniture design. The chair appears in the permanent collections of several design museums and is frequently referenced in discussions of Italian modernism and craft heritage.