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 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 Tre Pezzi Armchair by Cassina, Modern Fabric & Metal
By Franco Albini, Cassina
Located in Berlin, DE
Prices vary dependent on the material. In 1959, working with Franca Helg, his long-time assistant, Franco Albini designed Tre Pezzi, a contemporary restatem...
Metal
Franco Albini Tre Pezzi Armchair for Cassina, Mid-Century Modern
By Franco Albini
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Franco Albini Tre Pezzi Armchari For Cassina In 1959, working with Franca Helg, his long-time assistant, Franco Albini designed Tre Pezzi, a c...
Steel
Franco Albini Tre Pezzi Armchair for Cassina, Mid-Century Modern
By Franco Albini
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Franco Albini Tre Pezzi Armchari For Cassina LEATHER Y : Softness and durability blend in these high-quality leathers, providing a distinctive...
Steel
Franco Albini Tre Pezzi Armchair for Cassina, Mid-Century Modern
By Franco Albini
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Franco Albini Tre Pezzi Armchari For Cassina LEATHER Y : Softness and durability blend in these high-quality leathers, providing a distinctive...
Steel
Franco Albini Tre Pezzi Armchair for Cassina, Mid-Century Modern
By Franco Albini
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Franco Albini Tre Pezzi Armchari For Cassina In 1959, working with Franca Helg, his long-time assistant, Franco Albini designed Tre Pezzi, a c...
Steel
Set of Two Franco Albini Tre Pezzi Armchairs by Cassina
By Franco Albini, Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Armchair designed by Franco Albini in 1959. Relaunched in 2009. Manufactured by Cassina in Italy. In 1952, working with Franca Helg, his long-time assistant, Franco Albini designed ...
Metal
Franco Albini Tre Pezzi Armchair by Cassina, Modern Italian Design
By Franco Albini, Cassina
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Armchair designed by Franco Albini in 1959. Relaunched in 2009. Manufactured by Cassina in Italy. In 1952, working with Franca Helg, his long-time assistant, Franco Albini designed Tre Pezzi...
Metal
Franco Albini Tre Pezzi Armchair by Cassina, Modern Italian Design
By Cassina, Franco Albini
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Armchair designed by Franco Albini in 1959. Relaunched in 2009. Manufactured by Cassina in Italy. In 1952, working with Franca Helg, his long-time assistant, Franco Albini designed Tre Pezzi...
Metal
Franco Albini Tre Pezzi Armchair by Cassina, Modern Italian Design
By Cassina, Franco Albini
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Armchair designed by Franco Albini in 1959. Relaunched in 2009. Manufactured by Cassina in Italy. In 1952, working with Franca Helg, his long-time assistant, Franco Albini designed Tre Pezzi...
Metal
Franco Albini Tre Pezzi Armchair by Cassina, Modern Italian Design
By Cassina, Franco Albini
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Armchair designed by Franco Albini in 1959. Relaunched in 2009. Manufactured by Cassina in Italy. In 1952, working with Franca Helg, his long-time assistant, Franco Albini design...
Metal
Set of Two Franco Albini Tre Pezzi Armchairs by Cassina
By Cassina, Franco Albini
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Armchair designed by Franco Albini in 1959. Relaunched in 2009. Manufactured by Cassina in Italy. In 1952, working with Franca Helg, his long-time assistant, Franco Albini design...
Metal
Set of Two Franco Albini Tre Pezzi Armchairs by Cassina
By Cassina, Franco Albini
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Armchair designed by Franco Albini in 1959. Relaunched in 2009. Manufactured by Cassina in Italy. In 1952, working with Franca Helg, his long-time assistant, Franco Albini design...
Metal
Franco Albini Tre Pezzi Armchair by Cassina, Modern Italian Design
By Cassina, Franco Albini
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Armchair designed by Franco Albini in 1959. Relaunched in 2009. Manufactured by Cassina in Italy. In 1952, working with Franca Helg, his long-time assistant, Franco Albini designed Tre Pezzi...
Metal
Franco Albini Tre Pezzi Armchair by Cassina, Modern Italian Design
By Cassina, Franco Albini
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Armchair designed by Franco Albini in 1959. Relaunched in 2009. Manufactured by Cassina in Italy. In 1952, working with Franca Helg, his long-time assistant, Franco Albini designed ...
Metal
Franco Albini, Lounge Chair, Fabric, Steel, Fabric, Italy, 1960s
By Franco Albini
Located in High Point, NC
A grey-enameled steel and red fabric lounge chair, model Tre Pezzi, designed by Franco Albini and produced by Poggi, Pavia, Italy, c. 1960s. Wear consistent with age and use. Fabri...
Steel
Franco Albini, Lounge Chair, Fabric, Steel, Fabric, Italy, 1960s
By Franco Albini
Located in High Point, NC
A grey-enameled steel and red fabric lounge chair, model Tre Pezzi, designed by Franco Albini and produced by Poggi, Pavia, Italy, c. 1960s. Wear consistent with age and use. Fabri...
Steel
Franco Albini for Knoll 'Albini' Desk
By Florence Knoll, Franco Albini
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Franco Albini for Knoll International, 'Albini' desk, lacquered ash, glass, chromed steel, United States, design 1928, later production Franco Albini’s desk is defined by a restrain...
Steel, Chrome
Franco Albini and Franca Helg for Poggi 'TL30' Round Table in Walnut and Steel
By Franca Helg, Poggi, Franco Albini
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Franco Albini and Franca Helg for Poggi, pedestal table, model 'TL30', walnut, lacquered steel, Italy, 1961 The TL30 pedestal table, designed by Franco Albini and Franca Helg for Po...
Steel
$12,365
H 40.56 in W 28.75 in D 31.5 in
Armchair "Fiorenza" designed by Franco Albini in 1952 for Arflex, Italy.
By Arflex, Franco Albini
Located in Wolfurt, AT
Armchair "Fiorenza," designed by Franco Albini in 1952 for Arflex, Italy. A highly collectible model produced for only one year by Arflex. This stunning pair of armchairs features sc...
Fabric, Wood
$8,881
H 36.62 in W 31.5 in D 31.5 in
"Tre Pezzi" Special Edition Armchair in Mohair by Franco Albini for Cassina
By Franco Albini and Franca Helg, Cassina
Located in Morazzone, Varese
"Tre Pezzi" Special Edition Armchair in Mohair by Franco Albini for Cassina Gorgeous iconic piece of design in a new interpretation of Limited Edition. Designed by Franco Albini tog...
Metal
Mid-Century Modern Armchair 877 by Gianfranco Frattini for Cassina
By Gianfranco Frattini
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Armchair 877 by Gianfranco Frattini for Cassina, New Beige Upholstery
Fabric, Wood
$9,450
H 36.2 in W 31.5 in D 31.5 in
Franco Albini "Tre Pezzi" Special Edition Raf Simons, Gold Frame, Cassina Italy
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Franco Albini and Franca Helg Tre Prezzi, Special Edition, limited production of 100 (2019) by Cassina in Raf Simons "Argo" Mohair and Gold-Plated frame. Signed and Numbered on Frame...
Gold Plate
$5,770
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 Poggi, Franco Albini
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
$22,963
H 42.92 in W 33.08 in D 35.44 in
Extraordinary Pair of 'Gala' armchairs by Franco Albini for Bonacina, Italy 1951
By Bonacina, Franco Albini
Located in Argelato, BO
This pair of armchairs represents an iconic testament to postwar Italian design, designed by renowned architect and designer Franco Albini in 1951 and produced by the historic Vittor...
Rattan, Reed
$8,832
H 41.34 in W 28.35 in D 33.86 in
Mid-Century Franco Albini Fiorenza Graphite-blue Wool Ash Italian 1950 Armchair
By Franco Albini
Located in Madrid, ES
The Fiorenza armchair, designed by Franco Albini in the early 1950s, is a hallmark of post-war Italian design and was first produced by Arflex in 1952. The chair’s elegant frame is...
Wool, Wood, Ash
$3,050 / item
H 30.32 in W 22.05 in D 22.45 in
Franco Albini Luisa Chair by Cassina, Modern Italian Design
By Franco Albini, Cassina
Located in Berlin, DE
Chair designed by Franco Albini in 1953. Relaunched in 2013. Manufactured by Cassina in Italy. Prices vary dependent on the chosen material/color.
Fabric, Wood, Leather
$5,888 / set
H 37.01 in W 29.53 in D 32.29 in
Pair of Franco Albini “Margherita” Armchairs, Italy 1950's
By Franco Albini
Located in Argelato, BO
This elegant pair of Margherita armchairs, designed by Franco Albini for the Bonacina company in the 1950s, represents a true icon of mid-century Italian design. Each seat is masterf...
Bamboo, Rattan
$11,481 / set
H 37.01 in W 33.08 in D 32.29 in
Pair of Armchairs " Tre Pezzi" Mod. PL19 by Franco Albini and Franca Helg, 1950s
By Franco Albini and Franca Helg
Located in Brussels, BE
Pair of Armchairs " Tre Pezzi" Mod. PL19 by Franco Albini and Franca Helg, 1950s
Metal
Set of Two Franco Albini Tre Pezzi Armchairs by Cassina
By Cassina, Franco Albini
Located in Barcelona, Barcelona
Armchair designed by Franco Albini in 1959. Relaunched in 2009. Manufactured by Cassina in Italy. In 1952, working with Franca Helg, his long-time assistant, Franco Albini design...
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
"Tre Pezzi" Armchairs by Franco Albini
By Franco Albini, Poggi
Located in Montclair, NY
A pair of circa 1960 armchairs designed by famous Italian designer Franco Albini and manufactured by Poggi. Featured in Domus Magazine 373 in December 1960 on page 99. "Tre Pezzi...
Iron
Franco Albini "Tre Pezzi" Lounge Chair for Cassina
By Franco Albini
Located in Dallas, TX
A leather "Tre Pezzi" lounge chair designed by Franco Albini for Cassina. This is a newer production in perfect condition.
Franco Albini for Poggi Pair of 'Tre pezzi PL19' Armchairs
By Poggi, Franco Albini
Located in New York, NY
A pair of rare and icononic 'Tre Pezzi' lounge chairs designed by Franco Albini for Poggi Pavia edition, Italy, 1964-1970. "Tre Pezzi" refers to the three forms composed together ont...
Metal
Sold
H 36.23 in W 31.5 in D 36.23 in
Franco Albini & Franca Helg PL19 Tre Pezzi Armchair by Poggi Pavia, 1960s
By Franco Albini, Poggi, Franca Helg
Located in Cascina, Pisa
PL19 or 'Tre Pezzi' armchair designed by Franco Albini and Franca Helg in 1952, Poggi production, Pavia, 1960s. This is a special piece, made of a structure in black tubular lacquer...
Metal
Sold
H 36.23 in W 31.5 in D 31.5 in
Franco Albini & Franca Helg Limited Edition of 100 Tre Pezzi Armchair by Cassina
By Franco Albini, Cassina
Located in Cascina, Pisa
836 or 'Tre Pezzi' armchair designed by Franco Albini and Franca Helg in 1952 for Cassina. This is a special limited re-released available in 100 pieces, made of a structure in red...
Metal
Sold
H 36.23 in W 26.78 in D 32.68 in
Franco Albini, Pair of "Tre Pezzi" Lounge Chairs, Black Leather, 1959 Italian
By Franca Helg, Franco Albini
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of beautiful and comfortable lounge chairs by famous Italian modernist Franco Albini and Franca Helg "Tre Pezzi" referes to the three forms composed toghether onto a Minimali...
Metal
Sold
H 36.23 in W 26.78 in D 32.68 in
Franco Albini, Pair of "Tre Pezzi" Lounge Chairs, Grey Leather, 1959 Italian
By Franca Helg, Franco Albini
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of beautiful and comfortable lounge chairs by famous Italian modernist Franco Albini and Franca Helg "Tre Pezzi" refers to the three forms composed together onto a Minimali...
Metal
Armchairs “Tre pezzi PL19” by Franco Albini and Franca Helg
By Franco Albini
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Chic, groovy, pazzezca! Need we say more? OK, here's more, the description...These examples have been manufactured by Poggi in 1964-1970 for Nuove terme “Luigi Zoja.” Exhibited at t...
Sold
H 36.23 in W 31.5 in D 36.23 in
Franco Albini Armchair PL19 Tre Pezzi for Poggi Pavia Italy Circa 1959
By Franco Albini
Located in Paris, IDF
"Model PL19" chairs or "The Pezzi" , designed by Franco Albini and Franca Helg, manufactured by Poggi Pavia, Italy. The chairs have a lacquered metal frame and are upholstered with ...
Metal
Pair of 1957 Armchairs by Franco Albini
By Franco Albini
Located in Bois-Colombes, FR
Pair of "tre pezzi" lounge chairs. Upholstery and enameled steel. Literature: repertorio 50-80, graminga page 107. Or Italianisches Mobeldesign: Klassiker von 1945 bis 1...
Steel