Archibald Collection – Contemporary Italian Furniture by Poltrona Frau
The Archibald armchair is an instantly recognisable work of contemporary Italian furniture — a quietly commanding presence that has become an emblem of craft and refinement. Designed in 2009 by Jean-Marie Massaud for Poltrona Frau, this iconic tub chair unites architectural clarity with human warmth.
From the outset, it was celebrated for its design intelligence, winning the 2009 Wallpaper* Award for Best Domestic Design and, in 2010, further recognition from Wallpaper* for Massaud’s wider body of work. In the hands of a designer who understands restraint, the Archibald becomes more than seating; it is a space-defining gesture, a lasting point of focus in both residential and hospitality interiors.
The Making of an Icon
The Archibald’s form is born of architectural thinking and executed with a tailor’s precision. Its enveloping backrest and flared arms suggest both shelter and openness, the signature folds in its Pelle Frau® leather upholstery catching light like draped fabric. Each piece is hand-upholstered in Poltrona Frau’s workshop in Tolentino, where generations of artisans have refined their techniques over more than a century.
Material choice is central to the Archibald’s identity. Pelle Frau® leather — vegetable-tanned and dyed through — develops a patina that deepens over years of use. Available in over 80 leather colours, the palette ranges from understated neutrals to rich, saturated tones, allowing the chair to adapt seamlessly to its setting. Every element, from stitch length to seam placement, is considered for both function and longevity. It is this synthesis of engineering and handcraft that gives Archibald its rare combination of sculptural presence and tactile warmth.
In 2022, the Archibald 110th-anniversary edition — created to mark Poltrona Frau’s 110 years — received the ADA Archiproducts Design Award for Furniture in Italy, affirming its place as an enduring icon within the world of luxury designer seating.
A Design Language Extended
The original armchair’s success has since evolved into the Archibald collection — a family of forms that carries the same sculptural DNA into dining chairs, bar stools, beds, and sofas. Each variation maintains the balance of proportion, comfort, and silhouette that defines the original, while adapting scale and function to its setting.
In a dining room, the Archibald chair frames the table with architectural clarity; in a bedroom, the Archibald bed brings a sense of enveloping calm; as a sofa, it extends its invitation to conversation and repose. This consistency of design language across forms allows a single designer’s vision to flow through multiple spaces without repetition, reinforcing a sense of coherence and considered luxury.
In Space and Light
The Archibald’s impact is shaped by both its making and its placement. Allowing space around the chair — ideally 75 to 100 centimetres — lets its profile breathe. Positioned to face a focal point such as a fireplace, a window, or an artwork, it becomes part of the room’s narrative.
Lighting is equally critical. Low, angled light from a floor lamp will emphasise the folds of the leather and the sweep of its arms, while natural light reveals the subtle tonal shifts in the hide. The grain of the leather, cool to the touch in the morning and warm by evening, adds to the sensory experience. Pairing it with a side table in marble or timber creates a quiet conversation between materials; a hand-knotted rug beneath can soften its architectural lines without competing for attention.
In every form and setting, Archibald embodies quiet, refined luxury — rooted in craft, resolved in proportion, and alive to its surroundings. More than just an Italian leather armchair, its an iconic masterpiece, designed to live with its owner, and to gather depth, character, and meaning over time.
