In a renewed dialogue between two icons of Italian design, Poltrona Frau and Fornasetti unveil the Vanity Fair XC Middle East Limited Edition armchair. Conceived as a tribute to Middle Eastern culture and the spirit of Ramadan, the piece marks 28 years of Poltrona Frau’s presence in the GCC with a strictly limited series of 28 numbered editions, accompanied by two additional display-only creations.
At its heart lies the iconic Vanity Fair silhouette, originally designed in 1930 and reinterpreted in 2020 as the Vanity Fair XC. Its refined proportions and enhanced comfort preserve the timeless elegance of Renzo Frau’s original vision. For this Middle East edition, the armchair becomes a canvas for storytelling, where craftsmanship and imagination converge.
The decoration animating the piece is drawn from the Fornasetti archive. “Mediterranea,” first conceived by Piero Fornasetti in 1949 as wallpaper, depicts a poetic landscape of rooftops, domes and windows. For this exclusive collaboration, Barnaba Fornasetti has enriched the motif with celestial symbols — sun and moon emerging from swirling clouds — marking the beginning and end of Ramadan. A solitary figure drifting skyward in a hot air balloon introduces a note of quiet wonder.
The illustration is digitally printed onto Pelle Frau® ColorSphere Impact Less leather in the Polare shade, set against an ash-black lacquered base. Inspired by silkscreen techniques yet executed with advanced digital precision, the process allows the intricate, hand-drawn details to retain their depth and expressive clarity. The result is a surface that feels both contemporary and deeply artisanal.
Sustainability forms an integral part of the narrative. Pelle Frau® Impact Less leather is crafted through a chromium-free tanning process introduced in 2022, reducing chemical substances and water consumption while earning LWG Gold certification. The armchair thus reflects a conscious approach to luxury, where environmental responsibility aligns with aesthetic excellence.
Each of the 28 numbered armchairs features a polished brass plate on the back bearing its progressive edition number and is accompanied by a signed certificate of authenticity. Produced in highly limited quantities, the series underscores its status as a collector’s object designed to endure beyond the season.
Available exclusively by invitation from February 2026 at Poltrona Frau monobrand stores in Dubai and, from March, in Riyadh, the Vanity Fair XC Middle East Limited Edition embodies a refined dialogue between two creative worlds. It is a celebration of art, heritage and shared cultural resonance — a piece crafted not only to furnish a space, but to narrate a story of imagination and continuity.
