Cover Poltrona Frau celebrates 60 years of the Dezza armchair by Gio Ponti
Poltrona Frau celebrates 60 years of the Dezza armchair by Gio Ponti
1 / 1
The anniversary edition features sustainable leather upholstery and Ponti’s previously unpublished hand illustrations
In a celebration of Italian design excellence, Poltrona Frau has unveiled a limited edition of the iconic Dezza armchair to mark the 60th anniversary of Gio Ponti’s masterpiece.
Originally designed for the Turin-based furniture maker in 1965, the Dezza armchair occupies a special place in the company’s heritage, as it was the first product to represent the brand’s new direction following its relocation to Tolentino in 1962, where the company remains headquartered today.
Read more: Gio Ponti’s iconic D.154.2 armchair wins the prestigious Compasso d’Oro award
What makes the Dezza so distinctive is its perfect balance of modernist principles and dynamic form, featuring characteristic squared lines that contrast elegantly with the curved armrests outlining the entire profile down to the feet—a sense of momentum and dynamism that has kept the Dezza in continuous production since its debut.
Above The limited edition Poltrona Frau Dezza armchair
The limited edition Poltrona Frau Dezza armchair
1 / 1
The limited edition Dezza is upholstered in Pelle Frau ColorSphere Impact Less leather, reflecting Poltrona Frau’s commitment to sustainability—an initiative adopted by the brand in 2022.
The chosen colour palette of Panna and Iris evokes the airy, joyful interiors that Gio Ponti created for the Hotel Parco dei Principi in Sorrento, famous for its iconic white and blue majolica floors also designed by the master.
Above Upholstered in Pelle Frau ColorSphere Impact Less leather
Above Squared lines that contrast elegantly with the curved armrests
Upholstered in Pelle Frau ColorSphere Impact Less leather
1 / 2
Upon the upholstery of the anniversary edition is a reproduction of a previously unpublished illustration by Ponti, reflecting the designer’s fascination with “the intelligence of hands.”
The sophisticated yet playful design consists of 26 stylised hands, each with its own name and identity, such as “the gloved hand,” “the starry hand,” “the pierced hand,” and “the fortune teller’s hand.”
Don’t miss: Comme des Garçons reintroduces 1980s Chairs by Rei Kawakubo
Above The hand was a keystone of Gio Ponti’s diverse creative output
The hand was a keystone of Gio Ponti’s diverse creative output
1 / 1
Above Some of Ponti’s unpublished illustration acquired at auction
Above The illustations reflect the designer’s fascination with “the intelligence of hands”
Some of Ponti’s unpublished illustration acquired at auction
1 / 2
Discovered through meticulous research and acquired at auction, the hand was a keystone of Ponti’s diverse creative output, representing human imagination and the ability to transcend the mundane world of objects, entering instead the realms of theater, poetry, and playfulness.
According to Salvatore Licitra, curator of the Gio Ponti Archives, ceramic hands appeared in Ponti’s work as early as the 1920s when, as a young artist recently returned from service in World War I, he reimagined the ceramic hand as a symbol that could revitalise Richard Ginori’s Ginori 1735.
Though impractical as functional objects, these hands served as powerful visual symbols that shifted perception “from alertness to functionality... to the pure and theatrical play of symbols.”
Read more: Fritz Hansen revives a classic: Arne Jacobsen’s Grand Prix chair gets a sustainable makeover
Above The sophisticated yet playful design consists of 26 stylised hands
Above Individually numbered metal tag affixed to the back of the armchair
The sophisticated yet playful design consists of 26 stylised hands
1 / 2
This exclusive release, limited to just 60 numbered pieces, is available as online exclusives through Poltrona Frau e-shops in select European markets until April 1.
Following this period, the remaining pieces will be available at select Poltrona Frau stores worldwide.
Each of the 60 pieces has an individually numbered metal tag affixed to the back of the armchair and a signed certificate of authenticity, ensuring the provenance and value of these collector’s items.
NOW READ
‘Sad beige’ kids furniture: 7 timeless pieces worth the investment
What's the story behind the peacock chair?
Mid-Century Danish Rattan: How iconic designs became Southeast Asia’s everyday furniture
Credits
Photography: Poltrona Frau
Celeste Goh is a senior writer covering architecture and design. Based in Malaysia, she reports on emerging architectural and home design trends, as well as insights by local and international architects and interior designers.
Previously, she covered men’s lifestyle, fashion, music and entertainment.
