Albero
At the end of the ‘50s Gianfranco Frattini (1953-2004) designed an almost visionary object: the
Albero bookcase. A little-known icon which Poltrona Frau now presents in a faithful re-edition.
Self-supporting, rotating, adjustable to suit all tastes, describing it as a mere bookcase is somewhat
reductive. Rather, it is a sculpture or a spectacular installation for the centre of the room which
expresses its full potential when afforded plenty of space.
Its name - the Italian for tree but also for drive shaft - perhaps has a dual source of inspiration, the
boundary between mechanics and nature. With its adjustable rack and pinions and piston-shelves, this
unconventional bookcase is reminiscent of the structure of an engine drive shaft. But as it is produced
entirely from wood, it also has all the warmth and vitality of a tree.
Material
Canaletto walnut