Franco Moschini, chairman of Poltrona Frau for more than 50 years and president of Gebrüder Thonet Vienna died on 14 July after a long illness. He was 91.
In 1962, shortly after he was married to Isabella Brandi, he was sent by his father-in-law to examine the finances and prospects for a Turin company Poltrona Frau, which was in debt to the family run Nazareno Gabrielli group (Isabella was the eponymous founder’s granddaughter).
Moschini saw something in Poltrona Frau, marking the beginning of his involvement in the interiors and Made In Italy sectors. Moschini was responsible for the manufacturer’s first collaborations with outside designers, notably Gio Ponti and Luigi Massoni, which saw its change of direction. He was chairman until 2014, when the group became part of Haworth.
‘A visionary entrepreneur, a man of culture and a profound connoisseur of the value of the territory, he always knew how to combine tradition and innovation, promoting beauty in all its forms and leaving a legacy that will continue to inspire future generations,’ says Poltrona Frau.
‘The passing of Franco Moschini represents a profound loss, both personal and collective. I had the honour of working alongside him for several years, learning every day from his lucid, concrete and always forward-looking entrepreneurial vision. Moschini succeeded in transforming Poltrona Frau into a symbol of Italian savoir-faire around the world, holding firmly to his roots in the Marche region and believing in the power of culture, innovation and beauty. His legacy goes far beyond design: it is a lesson in passion, courage and responsibility towards one’s own territory and time,’ says Nicola Coropulis, Poltrona Frau ceo.
In 2013 Moschini bought Gebrüder Thonet Vienna, where he remained president.’ An undisputed icon of Italian design, Franco Moschini was far more than an institutional figure for Gebrüder Thonet Vienna: he was a beacon of elegance, culture, and entrepreneurial vision,’ says the company.
‘Franco Moschini dedicated his life to beauty and quality, shaping one of the most remarkable stories in Italian design. Honoured with prestigious awards — including the title of Cavaliere al Merito del Lavoro, an honorary degree in Business Administration from the University of Macerata, and the Compasso d’Oro for Lifetime Achievement — he left an indelible mark on the world of design and Italian entrepreneurship. Thanks to his enlightened spirit, Franco Moschini shaped an idea of authentic beauty, rooted in craftsmanship, innovation, and excellence — values that will continue to guide Gebrüder Thonet Vienna today and in the future.’
In 2002, Moschini began working with Moschini, his family holding company, in businesses across various sectors, including biotech, aerospace, finance, engineering, innovative agriculture, alternative energy, automotive and other start-ups.
In 2011, he founded the Casale delle Noci Cultural Association, which aims to safeguard, enhance, and promote the skills of excellent craftsmanship. In 2019, the Association became the Design Terrae Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to territorial development in the upper Macerata area through activities and events.
In 2014 he created and financed the Franco Moschini Foundation with the aim of restoring and repurposing the old Politeama Piceno cinema-theatre in Tolentino. He again entrusted the project to designer Michele de Lucchi – who had designed the Poltrona Frau museum in its adopted home town to marks its centenary – to convert it into a cultural exhibition centre, which was inaugurated in 2017.
His funeral will be held on 16 July at the Fiastra Abbey in Tolentino, at 10 am.
