While working under the polymath Gio Ponti — arguably the most important figure in 20th-century Italian modernism — furniture designer Franco Albini nurtured a love for modern forms combined with traditional craft techniques.
Albini is widely known for working with organic materials such as rattan and cane for his chairs and other seating, but he also played a pivotal role in the Italian rationalist movement of the early 20th century, which saw architects and furniture makers applying a strict emphasis on geometry in their work. Rationalists drew on Ancient Roman architecture but rejected ornament, much in the way that Le Corbusier and celebrated Bauhaus figures such as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe had in their modernist furniture.
Albini received his degree in architecture from the Polytechnic University of Milan in 1929, and, in 1931, he founded his practice in Milan, where he tackled workers’ housing and other reconstruction projects. A gifted urban planner, he also developed the Palazzo Bianco, Palazzo Rosso and Tesoro di San Lorenzo museums in Genoa. While Albini is revered for his Margherita chair — a Triennale Milano award winner created for Bonacina in 1951 — he also collaborated with manufacturers Poggi and Cassina in the 1940s on seating, tables and more that embodied his artistic vision. Of that mid-century work, the one piece that perhaps best captures this vision is the iconic Luisa chair.
With its cherry red upholstery and sinuous wooden legs that seem to float aboveground, the Luisa is a genuine masterpiece. It is also a testament to Albini’s perfectionism, as it endured several prototypes — including one made by Knoll in the late 1940s — and took approximately 15 years to design. Poggi launched the final version of the armchair in 1955, earning Albini the prestigious Compasso d’Oro from Italy’s Association for Industrial Design. It is produced today by Cassina. Albini named the chair for someone who likely saw the process firsthand: his personal secretary of two decades, Luisa Colombini.
Find vintage Franco Albini furniture on 1stDibs.
Franco Albini Sofa mod. DV33 for Poggi
By Franco Albini, Poggi
Located in Turin, Turin
Franco Albini (1905-1977) lived in Milan where he stuied Architecture at the Politecnico. He started his career at Gio Ponti's studio, with whom he collaborated before getting in tou...
Fabric, Wood
Franco Albini Midcentury Rocking Horse
By Franco Albini
Located in New York, NY
Franco Albini midcentury rocking horse. Midcentury rattan and wicker rocking horse sculpture, Italy, circa 1960. Dimensions: H 24 in. x W 30 in. x...
Rattan
“Fiorenza” Chair by Franco Albini for Arflex 1960's
By Franco Albini
Located in Kampen, NL
Designed by Franco Albini in 1952, the Fiorenza chair is a celebrated icon of Italian mid-century design. Characterized by its sculptural wingback silhouette, plush upholstery, and e...
Velvet, Teak
$34,000
H 30.75 in W 63.75 in D 27.5 in
Franco Albini, Early Rocking "PS16" Chaise Lounge, Sycamore, 1960s, Poggi, Italy
By Franco Albini, Poggi
Located in High Point, NC
A rare and early "PS16", cotton, cord and sycamore rocking chaise lounge designed by Franco Albini and produced by Poggi, Italy, 1950s-1960s. Wear consistent with age and use. Pr...
Cotton, Cord, Sycamore
$18,898 / set
H 30.32 in W 21.86 in D 21.66 in
Set of 6 Franco Albini "Luisa" Chairs, Production Carlo Poggi, 1950s
By Succ. Carlo Poggi, Franco Albini
Located in Wolfurt, AT
Set of 6 Italian wood and fabric chairs armchairs Model "Luisa" designed by the Italian designer Franco Albini and produced by Poggi Pavia 1955. Bibliographie: Italien 1950er Jahre,...
Fabric, Wood
Franco Albini Style Stools
By Franco Albini
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Great rattan and iron circular stools with iron base Priced individually.
Rattan
$23,331 / set
H 36.23 in W 31.5 in D 36.23 in
Franco Albini Set of Two "Model PL19", Manufactured by Poggi
By Poggi, Franco Albini
Located in Wolfurt, AT
Set of two "Model PL19" chairs, designed by Franco Albini, manufactured by Poggi Pavia, Italy. The chairs have a lacquered metal frame and are upholstered with red velvet. Literat...
Metal
$5,716
H 29.93 in W 22.05 in D 20.87 in
Two 'Luisa' Armchairs by Franco Albini in Oak, Metal and Fabric, Italy, 1949
By Franco Albini, Poggi
Located in Uithoorn, NL
Franco Albini, Pair of Luisa Chairs, Italy, 1949 Designed by Franco Albini in 1949 and originally produced by Poggi, the Luisa Chair is one of the most iconic works of Italian postw...
Metal
$18,665
H 35.44 in W 29.14 in D 25.6 in
Franco Albini PL19 or Tre Pezzi Armchair in White Wool by Poggi Pavia, 1950s
By Poggi, Franco Albini and Franca Helg
Located in Cascina, Pisa
PL19 also known as Tre Pezzi armchair with black enameled steel tube structure, upholstered in white Mongolian goat wool. Designed by Franco Albini & Franca Helg for Poggi, Pavia...
Steel
$10,499
H 36.23 in W 31.5 in D 36.23 in
Franco Albini PL19 Tre Pezzi Armchair for Poggi Pavia, Italy, 1960s
By Franco Albini
Located in Paris, IDF
Armchair designed by Franco Albini (1905-1977) and Franca Helg Model n° PL19, 'Tre pezzi' Lacquered metal, brass and recently eupholstered in white sheep wool skin. Early original m...
Metal
Franco Albini 832 “Luisa” Chair for Poggi, Italy, 1953
By Poggi, Franco Albini
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Franco Albini 832 “Luisa” chair for Poggi, wood and leather, Italy, 1953 Originally designed in 1939 and refined through multiple iterations, the 832 “Luisa” chair reached its final...
Leather, Wood
$16,332 / set
H 29.53 in W 33.08 in D 31.5 in
Italian mid-century modern armchairs PL34 Franco Albini Franca Helg Poggi, 1966
By Poggi, Franco Albini and Franca Helg
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian mid-century modern armchairs PL34 Franco Albini Franca Helg Poggi, 1966 Pair of armchairs model PL34 with wooden frame and fabric upholstery. The seat, backrest, and armrests...
Fabric, Wood
Franco Albini for Poggi circa 1950, Folding Chair
By Franco Albini
Located in Wargrave, Berkshire
Franco Albini for Poggi, Italy, circa 1950. A folding chair of wooden construction in completely original untouched vintage condition. Mech...
Wood
20th Century, Franco Albini Sofa mod. DV33 for Poggi
By Poggi, Franco Albini
Located in Turin, Turin
Franco Albini (1905-1977) lived in Milan where he stuied Architecture at the Politecnico. He started his career at Gio Ponti's studio, with whom he collaborated before getting in tou...
Fabric, Wood
Sold
H 33.47 in W 77.17 in D 25.6 in
Art Deco Sofa in Flared Glass in Walnut Root in the style of Franco Albini, 1930
By Franco Albini
Located in Montelabbate, PU
A flared goblet or lyre-shaped sofa in select walnut root. The lines echo the designs of Franco Albini, the fabrics are in the Bauhaus style. The sofa is dated 1925/30 on the back fa...
Fabric, Walnut, Burl
Sold
H 31.5 in W 55.91 in D 33.47 in
Franco Albini Poggi Mod. DV33 Teak Yeti Pierre Frey Fabric Sofa, Italy, 1960s
By Poggi, Franco Albini
Located in Catania, IT
"DV33" sofa designed by Franco Albini for Poggi in Italy, 1960s. It is a padded two-seater sofa reupholstered with a peculiar and superfine white soft furry fabric, pleasing to the ...
Teak, Wool, Alpaca, Mohair
Black Leather DV33 Sofa by Franco Albini for Poggi, 1960 circa
By Poggi, Franco Albini
Located in Milan, IT
This beautiful three-seat sofa DV33 designed by Franco Albini for Poggi features exceptionally refined wooden feet and leather upholstery. Thanks to its lines and shapes, this item i...
Leather, Wood
Woven Rattan Sofa with Cushion, Designed by Franco Albini
By Franco Albini
Located in Houston, TX
Woven rattan sofa, originally designed by Franco Albini in 1951. New construction for indoor use with new upholstered cushion in a dark greyish-black...
Fabric, Rattan
Belladonna Couch by Franco Albini
By Franco Albini
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Belladonna couch by Franco Albini. Current production by Sika Designs, Denmark.
Wicker, Rattan