Among the most interesting projects to be presented during this year’s upcoming Milan Design Week is the one bringing together Poltrona Frau and Shepard Fairey, an artist we know very well. The result is Archibald “Delicate Balance” Limited Edition, an artistic reinterpretation of one of the most iconic armchairs in Italian design.
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This seat represents something more than a simple special edition. It is an object that connects the graphic imagery of street art with the Italian manufacturing tradition, transforming a design classic into a narrative surface capable of reflecting on the relationship between human beings and nature.
Designed in 2009 by French designer Jean-Marie Massaud, the Archibald Armchair has over the years become one of the most recognizable pieces in Poltrona Frau’s catalogue. Its soft, sculptural lines, together with the perfect balance between elegance and comfort, have made it an object capable of standing the test of time without losing its relevance. With Archibald Delicate Balance, this icon becomes a three-dimensional canvas on which Shepard Fairey builds a new symbolic composition.
The title chosen by the artist – Delicate Balance – immediately suggests the central theme of the work: the fragile balance that binds humanity to nature. The surface of the armchair features some recurring elements from his visual language: allegorical figures, flowers, and small birds intertwine in a layered graphic composition that wraps around the object. At the center of the composition appears a female figure recalling the personification of Mother Nature, around whom a suspended and symbolic scene unfolds.
Alongside its artistic dimension, the project also explores new technical possibilities related to the material itself. The graphic is applied through sophisticated digital printing on leather, preserving chromatic depth and precision of detail. The upholstery is made of Pelle Frau® ColorSphere Impact Less, a leather characterized by a more environmentally responsible tanning process and certified Gold by the Leather Working Group.
The production process involves multiple layers of color applied to specific areas of the graphic, creating an effect rich in depth. In some areas, the surface is enhanced with three-dimensional embossing that turns the design into a tactile experience as well.
The project also includes a concrete dimension of environmental responsibility thanks to the collaboration with Treedom, a platform committed to planting trees and supporting farming communities. For each Archibald Delicate Balance Limited Edition sold, two coffee trees will be planted in the Huehuetenango region of Guatemala, as part of a project involving around eighty Indigenous women and helping create fairer economic conditions along the agricultural supply chain.
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Produced in 200 numbered pieces, the armchair is conceived as a true collector’s item. Each piece is accompanied by a polished brass plaque, a special clutch, a certificate of authenticity signed by Shepard Fairey and Poltrona Frau CEO Nicola Coropulis, as well as a Treedom card to track the growth of the planted trees.
