Franco Albini Furniture
Italian, 1905-1977
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.
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Creator: Franco Albini
Franco Albini
s Mini Desk for Knoll 1970
s
By Franco Albini, Knoll
Located in Milano, MI
The writing table designed by Franco Albini for Knoll consists of a chromed steel frame, a black-stained oak drawer unit that has two drawers on one side and a compartment on the oth...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Franco Albini Furniture
Materials
Chrome
Franco Albini Split Reed ottoman or pouf
By Franco Albini
Located in Ferndale, MI
Lightweight and airy appearance sturdy and stable . . Split reed ottoman/pouf with solid maple legs that extend from floor to top of seat . Very nice original condition . Recently ac...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Franco Albini Furniture
Materials
Rattan, Reed
Franco Albini Chair "47", 1949
By Franco Albini
Located in Berlin, DE
Elegant chair model "47" with renewed high quality woolen fabric, designed by Franco Albini in 1949 and manufactured by Knoll international, Belgium. Very elegant and rational design...
Category
1940s European Modern Vintage Franco Albini Furniture
Materials
Steel
Table Lamp by Franco Albini
By Sirrah, Franco Albini
Located in Red Lion, PA
1960s Italian Modern Table Lamp by Franco Albini for Sirrah
Chrome frame with a white glass shade
Model ASC1
Needs to be rewired
Category
1960s Vintage Franco Albini Furniture
Materials
Chrome
Franco Albini Split Reed ottoman or pouf collection (6) Classic Mid Century
By Mauro Bonacina 1, Franco Albini
Located in Buffalo, NY
Franco Albini, Large vintage mid-century rattan cane 'Lobster Pot' Ottoman stool ... airy appearance sturdy and stable . . Split reed ottoman/pouf with solid maple legs that extend ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Franco Albini Furniture
Materials
Wicker, Rattan, Reed
Mb 48 Wood Case Piece by Franco Albini for Poggi, Italy, 1960s
By Franco Albini, Poggi
Located in Milan, IT
Mb 48 Case piece by Franco Albini for Poggi.
Capable modular piece to be used standing alone or connected to more elements of the same project.
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Franco Albini Furniture
Materials
Wood
Red Rocking Chair Canapo by Franco Albini for Cassina, Italy
By Franco Albini
Located in Brussels, BE
Red Rocking Chair Canapo by Franco Albini for Cassina, Italy
Category
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Franco Albini Furniture
Materials
Wood
Pair Of Round Rattan And Bamboo Mirrors By Franco Albini
By Franco Albini
Located in Charmes, FR
pair of round mirrors in rattan and bamboo by designer Franco Albini published by Bonacina from the 60s, in very good condition
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Franco Albini Furniture
Materials
Rattan
Franco Albini Cicognino Coffee Table in Teak Wood by Poggi Pavia 1970s Italy
By Franco Albini, Poggi
Located in Cascina, Pisa
Cicognino coffee table entirely made in teak wood designed by Franco Albini in 1952 and firstly produced by the Italian company, Poggi Pavia from the 1950s.
The Cicognino coffee t...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Franco Albini Furniture
Materials
Teak
Pair of AM/AS Franco Albini chandeliers for Sirrah 1960
s chrome version
By Sirrah, Franco Albini
Located in Milano, MI
Pair AM/AS series pendant lamps, with mirror steel shape and inside of lampshade enameled in matte white. Designed in the 1960s by Franco Albini for Sirrah. The lamps are in excellen...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Franco Albini Furniture
Materials
Chrome
Franco Albini 832 “Luisa” Armchair for Poggi, Italy, 1953
By Poggi, Franco Albini
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Franco Albini 832 “Luisa” armchair for Poggi, wood and leather, Italy, 1953
Originally designed in 1939 and refined through multiple iterations, the 832 “Luisa” armchair reached its...
Category
Early 2000s Italian Mid-Century Modern Franco Albini Furniture
Materials
Leather, Wood
Franco Albini Oval Bamboo and Rattan Mirror, Italy, 1950s
By Franco Albini
Located in New York, NY
Franco Albini oval bamboo and rattan wall mirror, Italy, 1950s. This chic and iconic mid-century Italian mirror is intricately hand-woven with bamboo and rattan including a lovely b...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Franco Albini Furniture
Materials
Bamboo, Rattan, Mirror
"AM/AS" Adjustable Ceiling Lamp by Albini, Helg and Piva for Sirrah, Italy, 1960
By Franco Albini
Located in Milan, IT
Adjustable AM/AS ceiling light fixture by Franco Albini, Franca Helg and Antonio Piva for Sirrah. Beautiful opaline glass and chromed frame. Also a pendant lamp available from the sa...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Franco Albini Furniture
Materials
Opaline Glass
FRANCO ALBINI for POGGI Folding chair
By Poggi, Franco Albini
Located in Baranzate, IT
Folding chair with solid wood frame. Seat and backrest made of plywood.
Prod. Poggi, Italy, 1952
Bibliography Exhibition catalog, Franco Albini & Franca Helg Design, April 30, 2009.
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Franco Albini Furniture
Materials
Wood
Rare No. 48 Armchair by Knoll International
By Franco Albini
Located in Munich, DE
Designed by Franco Albini and made by Knoll International.
Category
1950s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage Franco Albini Furniture
Materials
Wood
Italian AM/AS steel chandelier by Franco Albini and Franca Helg, Sirrah 1960
By Franca Helg, Franco Albini and Franca Helg, Sirrah, Franco Albini
Located in MIlano, IT
Chandelier from the AM/AS series, modern and Italian, in chromed steel, designed by Franco Albini and Franca Helg for Sirrah, ca. 1960.
Chandelier from the AM/AS series, with a bell ...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Franco Albini Furniture
Materials
Steel
Oak Side Table by Franco Albini
By Franco Albini
Located in East Hampton, NY
Franco Albini, side table Model TN6 "Cicognino", Italy, 1952
Measures"
Overall height: 31.5"
Height to the tabletop: 16".
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Franco Albini Furniture
Materials
Wool
Franco Albini Oval Bamboo and Rattan Mirror, Italy, 1950s
By Franco Albini
Located in New York, NY
Franco Albini oval bamboo and rattan wall mirror, Italy, 1950s. This chic and iconic Italian mid-century mirror is intricately hand-woven with bamboo and rattan, then stained and lac...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Franco Albini Furniture
Materials
Bamboo, Rattan, Mirror
Franco Albini Oval Bamboo and Rattan Mirror, Italy, 1950s
By Franco Albini
Located in New York, NY
Franco Albini oval bamboo and rattan wall mirror, Italy, 1950s. This chic and iconic Italian mid-century mirror is intricately hand-woven with bamboo and rattan, then stained and lac...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Franco Albini Furniture
Materials
Bamboo, Rattan, Mirror
Franco Albini Franca Helg Table Lamp Model 524 Arteluce, 1963
By Franco Albini, Franca Helg
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Stunning large table lamp model 524 designed by duo Franco Albini and Franca Helg and manufactured by Arteluce, Italy 1963. This beautiful geometric table lamp is made of several lay...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Franco Albini Furniture
Materials
Chrome
Mid-Century Modern Bamboo Coat Hook by Franco Albini, Italy 1950s
By Franco Albini
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find a Mid-Century Modern oval vintage rattan wall coat hook designed by Franco Albini (attr). The coat hook was designed and manufactured in Italy in 1960s. The rattan hooks...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Franco Albini Furniture
Materials
Bamboo
Franco Albini
Franca Helg AM/AS Table Lamp in Steel by Sirrah 1960s Italy
By Franca Helg, Sirrah, Franco Albini
Located in Cascina, Pisa
Table or desk lamp with structure and lampshade entirely realized in chromed steel, it as a part of the AM/AS series designed by the iconic duo Franco Albini and Franca Helg and manu...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Franco Albini Furniture
Materials
Steel
Franco Albini Round Bamboo and Rattan Mirrors, Italy, 1950s
By Franco Albini
Located in New York, NY
Franco Albini oval bamboo and rattan wall mirrors, Italy, 1950s. These chic and iconic Italian mid-century mirrors are intricately hand-woven with bamboo and rattan, then stained and...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Franco Albini Furniture
Materials
Bamboo, Rattan, Mirror
Mid-Century Modern TL2 Cavalletto desk/dining table by Franco Albini for Poggi
By Franco Albini
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern TL2 Cavalletto desk/dining table by Franco Albini for Poggi, 1950s
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Franco Albini Furniture
Materials
Wood
Chrome, Glass Floor Lamp "AM/AS" by Albini, Helg, Piva for Sirrah, Italy 1960s
By Sirrah, Franca Helg, Franco Albini, Antonio Piva
Located in Milan, IT
Imposing floor lamp model "AM/AS" by Franco Albini, Franca Helg, Antonio Piva.
Milky glass shades can be changed with their universal terminal.
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Franco Albini Furniture
Materials
Chrome
Table lamp model “524" by Franco Albini, Italy, 1952
By Franco Albini
Located in Barcelona, ES
Table lamp model “524”
Made in collaboration with Franca Helg
Manufactured by Arteluce
Italy, 1952
Openwork Perspex in a chrome frame
Measurements
41 Ø cm x 47h cm.
16,14 Ø in x 18,5...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Franco Albini Furniture
Materials
Chrome
Franco Albini furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Franco Albini furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Franco Albini furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 173 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 21 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by Franco Albini were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Marco Zanuso, Paolo Buffa, and Arflex. Prices for Franco Albini furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $209 and can go as high as $58,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $5,981.
Creators Similar to Franco Albini
Questions About Franco Albini Furniture
- What is rattan material?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2024Rattan is one of the materials used to make wicker furniture and other furnishings. It comes from a plant that grows in hot, tropical regions of Africa, Asia and Australia. The quick-growing plant has a bamboo-like inner material that gets removed and fashioned into cane. Stalks of rattan (whose name derives from the Malay “rota”) are dense, steamable and bendable, which is why it lends itself to curvaceous designs and infinite creative uses in a way bamboo does not. Pieces of rattan furniture were welcomed indoors in the mid-20th century, and over time the medium has been put to use by giants of modernism such as Josef Hoffmann, Thonet, Jean-Michel Frank and Donald Deskey. Shop a wide variety of rattan furniture on 1stDibs.
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