MILAN — Franco Moschini, who expanded Poltrona Frau through an age of globalization, making its Archibald and Vanity Fair chairs well-known all over the world, has died at age 91.
“With deep sorrow and immense gratitude, Poltrona Frau announces the passing of Franco Moschini.
For over 50 years, he was the guiding force and the face of the brand. His loss leaves a profound void in the entire world of design, but he also leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of style,” Poltrona Frau posted on its LinkedIn on Monday.
Over his long career Moschini forged ties between the brand and design forces like Gio Ponti, Gae Aulenti, Ferdinand Porsche and Michele De Lucchi and saw the brand listed on the Milan Stock Exchange in 2006.
Moschini was a native of the Marche region and was born in Macerata in 1934. Poltrona Frau was founded in Turin, Italy, in 1912 by Renzo Frau. In 1962, it was bought by the Nazareno Gabrielli group and was moved to Tolentino, a city in Marche and its current home.
The Poltrona Frau Archibald chairs.
Courtesy of Design Italy
One of Moschini’s last major projects was Interno Marche, a hotel and cultural initiative that narrates the history of Italian and international design through the last 60 years and beyond. It was built by Moschini’s investment vehicle Moschini SpA and unveiled in 2024.
The hotel is situated in Villa Gabrielli, an Art Nouveau-era landmark and spans nearly 39,000 square feet housing 30 rooms, 25 of which are dedicated to 25 different iconic designers throughout history. Five long-stay suites are decorated in the lines, colors and styles of five movements that have shaped the 20th century: Arts and Crafts, Viennese Secession, Radical, Pop and Modernism.
Moschini remained in office until 2014, when Poltrona Frau was acquired by Haworth Lifestyle Group and delisted. Following the acquisition, he remained an institutional figure with the company.
Haworth also owns Cappellini, Cassina, Janus et Cie, Luminaire, Ceccotti Collezioni, Karakter, Luxury Living Group, Interni and Zanotta.
In remembrance, Poltrona Frau posted one of Moschini’s cherished quotes: “Every life has a place, every place a story. My life is my people, the gentle hills of the Marche region, and the objects that hold and transmit emotions. Like an armchair.”