GamFratesi’s first collection for Poltrona Frau at Salone

‘Soffi’ pedant lamps, by GamFratesi, for Poltrona Frau

Poltrona Frau debuts the inaugural GamFratesi collection at Salone del Mobile 2018. Pictured, ‘Soffi’ lights, by GamFratesi, for Poltrona Frau

(Image credit: Poltrona Frau)

By Ali Morris

last updated 25 October 2022

in Features

For Danish Italian designers GamFratesi, a chance to collaborate with Italian furniture giant Poltrona Frau provided the perfect opportunity to get creative with the Italian manufacturer’s main material – leather.

The Copenhagen-based studio – a collaboration between Danish architect and designer Stine Gam, and Italian architect Enrico Fratesi – is renowned for their material and technique-driven approach, so the decision to draw upon Poltrona Frau’s rich heritage in the production of leather was a natural one.

‘With this collection we aim to reach an aesthetic that is embracing the design values of Poltrona Frau as well as the contemporary needs of an everyday functional environment,’ explain the designers.

&lsquo;Cestlavie&rsquo; coffee table, by GamFratesi, for Poltrona Frau — *The Cestlavie table aesthetically embraces the design values of Poltrona Frau*

The studio was keen to experiment and explore new ways in which it could take the traditional material and techniques and create something unexpected. The result is a rotund coffee table with a handwoven basket-like base made from saddle leather straps with tone-on-tone-dyed edges.

Named Cestlavie, the table’s upside down dome doubles as a storage container hanging neatly from a tubular aluminium frame, and a Pelle Frau® leather table top folds open to reveal generous storage inside.

In addition to Cestlavie, the brand also created Soffi – a series of pendant lamps that pair blown glass with elegant buckled leather collars.

Available in three sizes, the lamps are made up of two globes – an outer globe in milky-white or smokey-grey glass and a smaller inner globe in an opaque white etched finish that houses the light source. When lit, the result is an even and diffused light that highlights its curious layered form.

A camel or taupe Cuoio Saddle leather band with contrasting stitching and a dyed tone-on-tone trim wraps each lamp’s stem. A leather buckle hides the join and all internal metal parts feature a warm natural brass finish.

‘We were inspired by the beautiful glass vessels created in the Fifties, where different layers of glass are blown into a single form – almost like a jewel inside the shape,’ say the Copenhagen studio. ‘The form of Soffi is held surreally by a leather band communicating a suspended atmosphere.’

&lsquo;Soffi&rsquo; pedant lamps, by GamFratesi, for Poltrona Frau — The ‘Soffi’ pendant lamps pair blown glas with elegant buckled leather collars

INFORMATION

For more information, visit the GamFratesi website and the Poltrona Frau website

Ali Morris is a UK-based editor, writer and creative consultant specialising in design, interiors and architecture. In her 16 years as a design writer, Ali has travelled the world, crafting articles about creative projects, products, places and people for titles such as Dezeen, Wallpaper* and Kinfolk.