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 1960 Rattan Cane & Bamboo Rocking Horse, Animal Sculpture Italy
By Franco Albini
Located in Miami, FL
Original Franco Albini Mid-Century Modern Rattan and Bamboo Rocking Horse, Animal Sculpture. Rattan and bamboo rocking horse core with basket wea...
Bamboo, Cane, Rattan
$535 / set
H 3.83 in Dm 3.35 in
Set of 3 Small Elemental Spinning Tops in Oiled Walnut by Alvaro Uribe for Wooda
By Alvaro Uribe, Wooda
Located in Omro, WI
The initial inspiration for the elemental top collection by Alvaro Uribe for Wooda was wooda’s iconic logo of a tree. We felt it captured the company’s synergy for working with wood ...
Wood, Hardwood, Walnut
$670 / item
H 10 in W 8.5 in D 4.5 in
Hermanos Calavera Conquistador in Oiled Walnut by Miguel & Ilse Silva for Wooda
By Miguel Silva, Wooda, Ilse Silva
Located in Omro, WI
These handsome but quirky brothers designed by Miguel and Ilse Silva for Wooda are the result of an engaging mix of personality, love, fun and mischievousness. Los Hermanos Calavera(...
Hardwood, Maple, Oak, Walnut
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
Midcentury Rattan and Bamboo Basket Franco Albini Style, Italy 1960s
By Franco Albini
Located in Rome, IT
Midcentury beautiful round basket in rattan and bamboo in the style of Franco Albini. Made in Italy in the 1960.
Bamboo, Wicker, Cane, Rattan
$2,450Sale Price|36% Off
H 51.5 in W 60 in D 21 in
Gigantic Original German Steiff Mohair Elk "Studio Animal" c1960s Five Feet Long
Located in BENSENVILLE, IL
Life-sized, mohair Steiff Elk, probably from the 1960s. Steiff referred to these life-size stuffed creatures as, “studio animals” and were very expensive when new. As I child, we wou...
Mohair, Wool
Leather Horse Animal Sculpture
Located in New York, NY
A beautiful all leather horse animal sculpture, in the Ralph Lauren style, circa late-20th century. This hand-crafted piece is clad in a light ...
Leather
Mid-Century Franco Albini Style Round Bamboo Rolling Planter
By Franco Albini
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large round bamboo basket features layers of bent bamboo creating an organically sculpted bowl form. Horizontal bamboo strips build the curved silhouette through careful bending tech...
Bamboo
$5,975
H 40.52 in W 14.49 in D 60.01 in
Swedish Antique Toy Rocking Horse, All Original, Origin: Sweden, circa 1870
Located in New York, NY
Swedish antique toy rocking horse, origin: Sweden, circa 1870 - 1900. Beautiful, untouched, original condition including the paint, ...
Iron
Antique Fireman from a Children's Carousel, Germany 1920s
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique Fireman from a Children's Carousel, Germany 1920s An antique wooden sculpture of a fireman. Formerly used as decoration for the fire engine o...
Wood
$2,200
H 32.75 in W 35 in D 15 in
Early 20th Century Continental Carousel Galloping Horse Mounted on Metal Stand
Located in Atlanta, GA
An exquisite continental foal baby horse from the early 20th century mounted on iron base. This joyful foal is caught in mid leap as it’s possibly just lear...
Metal
Marilyn Neuhart Alexander Girard Doll from Textiles and Objects
By Marilyn Neuhart, Alexander Girard
Located in Atlanta, GA
Rare Hand Made Doll, by Marilyn Neuhart for Textiles & Objects, which was a "pop up shop" conceived by Alexander Girard and sponsored by Herman Miller in May of 1961. See the last tw...
Wool, Linen, Silk
$295
H 4.75 in W 13 in D 8 in
Mid Century Tin Litho Friction Police Highway Patrol Helicopter, C1960, Japan
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous friction helicopter from Japan C 1960. Toy works great, push copter and the blades start spinning. Does not fly, nor was it intended to. Great graph...
Tin
Original Italian Rocking Horse Made of Bamboo and Rattan
By Franco Albini
Located in München, DE
Original 1960s rocking horse made of bamboo and rattan. Design attributed to the well-known architect and designer Franco Albini (1905-1977). Made in Italy. Wonderful decoration fo...
Bamboo, Wicker