Poltrona Frau presents the Albero Limited Edition

27/08/2015

Poltrona Frau has made 55 limited edition pieces of its iconic and hugely innovative Albero bookcase, whose design was completed in 1960 by Gianfranco Frattini and now reinvented in a special new Olive veneer variety.

Olive wood is clearly no random choice but rather a deliberate effort, driven by the knowledge that as well as holding its own as a fine and noble veneer, it is also one of the most representative symbols of Italy and its unique landscape.

The Olive Tree also expresses the particular soul of the place that binds Poltrona Frau, a company firmly rooted in its birthplace, with its own homeland.

Albero was originally born from the genius and the hand of Gianfranco Frattini at the end of the 50s, conceived as a bookcase that, going beyond the traditional idea of mere container, would evolve into a new kind of centerpiece for the room, where the floor meets the ceiling.

In keeping with the name, the Albero strongly resembles a tree with its branches and fruits. It is formally associated with the Neo-liberty period and stands out both for its complex cabinet work and for its sculpted nature, hitherto only available in solid Canaletto walnut veneer.

Today, marking the celebrations for this iconic object's 55 years, Albero stands tall once again in a new Olive veneer, for a total of 55 unique pieces. Naturally, they all feature the natural grain typical of this centuries-old wood variety and the distinctive veneer obtained by a special technique known as "folding".

This ensures that every piece is different, and thus unique: the supporting frame of every bookcase is marked with an incision bearing the signature of the designer, the wording "Limited Edition" and a progressive number ranging from 1 to 55.

A special user-friendly mounting kit for a speedy and hassle-free installation of the bookcase and its many parts is also included in every Albero package.