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.
Table Lamp by Franco Albini
By Franco Albini, Sirrah
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
Chrome
Franco Albini, Franca Helg and Antonio Piva ‘AM/AS’ Pendant Lamp in Metal
By Franco Albini, Franca Helg
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Franco Albini, Franc Helg and Antonio Piva for Sirrah, pendant lamp, chrome-plated metal, nickel-plated brass, Italy, 1969 This well-constructed pendant lamp is part of a series nam...
Metal
$6,589Sale Price|20% Off
Vintage Floor Lamp Attributed to Franco Albini, 1950s
By Franco Albini
Located in Milano, IT
The vintage Italian floor lamp is attributed to the great Designer Franco Albini. The lamp is from the 1950s. The vintage floor lamp has a wooden frame with V-shaped feet to make it more stable. The vintage floor lamp has a brass tube where its light cap...
Aluminum
Mid-Century Franco Albini Table Lamp in Bamboo and Rattan, Italy, 1960s
By Franco Albini
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning Mid-Century table lamp entirely crafted from curved bamboo and hand-woven rattan wicker. This stylish and unique organic lamp was designed by Franco Albini and produced in I...
Metal
Set of 2 wall lights AM/AS by F.Albini, F.Helg & A.Piva for Sirrah, Italy, 1960s
By Sirrah, Franco Albini, Franca Helg, Antonio Piva and Franco Albini
Located in Milano, IT
Set of 2 wall lights AM/AS designed by Franco Albini, Franca Helg & Antonio Piva for Sirrah, Italy, 1960s Designed in the late 1960s by Franco Albini, Franca Helg, and Antonio Piva...
Metal, Steel, Chrome
Franco Albini and Franca Helg AM2C Opaline Glass & Chrome Floor Lamp for Nemo
By Franco Albini, Nemo Lighting 1, Franca Helg
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Franco Albini and Franca Helg AM2C opaline glass and chrome floor lamp for Nemo. Franco Albini and Franca Helg were Italian architects and designers, famous for combining modern des...
Metal, Chrome
Franco Albini Franca Helg, Mod. AM/AS table lamp, Sirrah Italy 1969
By Franco Albini, Franca Helg, Sirrah
Located in Firenze, IT
Mod. AM/AS table lamp designed by Franco Albini and Franca Helg in 1969 Sirrah, Italy 1970s Structure and lampshade entirely made of chrome-plated aluminum Bibliografia: P. Cortop...
Aluminum
Franco Albini and Franca Helg 'AS41Z' Pendant Lamp in Handblown Glass for Nemo
By Franco Albini, Franca Helg, Nemo Lighting 1
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Franco Albini and Franca Helg 'AS41Z' pendant lamp in handblown glass for Nemo Franco Albini and Franca Helg were Italian architects and designers, famous for combining modern desig...
Aluminum, Steel, Chrome
Franco Albini and Franca Helg 'AM1N' Opaline Glass Table Lamp in Chrome for Nemo
By Nemo Lighting 1, Franca Helg, Franco Albini
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Franco Albini and Franca Helg 'AM1N' Opaline Glass Table Lamp in Chrome for Nemo Inspired by organic shapes, this table lamp features an onion-shaped diffuser executed in opal white...
Metal
Franco Albini & Franca Helg Model 524 Sculptural Lucite Chrome Lamp Arteluce
By Arteluce, Franco Albini, Franco Albini and Franca Helg
Located in Troy, MI
A sculptural Lucite and chrome lamp designed by Franco Albini and Franca Helg for Arteluce Italy circa 1952 Sunburst design of eight acrylic pane...
Chrome
Franco Albini and Franca Helg 'AS1C' Table Lamp for Nemo in Glass & Black Chrome
By Nemo Lighting 1, Franca Helg, Franco Albini
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Franco Albini and Franca Helg 'AS1C' table lamp for Nemo in Glass and Black Chrome. Franco Albini and Franca Helg were Milanese architects, famous for combining modern design with t...
Metal
Chrome, Glass Floor Lamp "AM/AS" by Albini, Helg, Piva for Sirrah, Italy 1960s
By Antonio Piva, Franca Helg, Sirrah, Franco Albini
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.
Chrome
Pair of table lamps by Franco Albini for Sirrah, model Colibrì, Italy
By Sirrah, Franca Helg, Antonio Piva and Franco Albini, Franco Albini
Located in Argelato, BO
Rare pair of "Colibrì" model table lamps, designed by the famous Italian architect and designer Franco Albini together with Franca Helg and Paolo Piva for Sirrah, Italy, 1983. This ...
Plastic
Rare Albini Chromed Floor Lamp AM/AS, 1969
By Sirrah, Franca Helg, Antonio Piva, Franco Albini
Located in Barcelona, ES
Rare floor lamp designed by italian architects Franco Albini, Franca Helg and Antonio Piva as part of the AM/AS lamps series for the italian company Sirrah in 1969. Chromed steel str...
Chrome
Franco Albini & Franca Helg AM/AS Table Lamp in Steel by Sirrah 1960s Italy
By Sirrah, Franca Helg, 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...
Steel
Suspension lamp AM/AS series Franco Albini Sirrah 1969 brass mid century
By Franco Albini
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Suspension lamp, AM/AS series, designed by Franco Albini for Sirrah in 1969. Part of an extremely innovative modular system for its time, the AM/AS series includes floor, table and p...
Metal, Gold Plate
Chromed AS/AM Series Table Lamp by Franco Albini for Sirrah 1960s
By Franco Albini
Located in Cascina, Pisa
Table lamp with structure and lampshade entirely realized in chromed steel, from the AM/AS series designed by the iconic duo Franco Albini and Franca Helg and manufactured by Sirrah ...
Steel
Franco Albini wall lamp for Sirrah. Made in Italy 1960
By Franco Albini
Located in Genève, GE
Franco Albini for the Sirrah AM/AS wall lamp. Designed and manufactured in Italy in the 1960s. Chrome-plated and enameled metal. Takes 1 medium-base bulb. (See picture) The lamp is ...
Metal
Table Lamp Series AM.AS. by Franco Albini and Franca Helg, 1960s
By Franca Helg, Franco Albini
Located in Roma, IT
Vintage Table Lamp Series AM.AS. realized by Franco Albini and Franca Helg for Sirrah in 1960s. Composed of a T-shaped base and a curved neck that supports a frosted glass lampshade...
Metal
$3,271 / item
Table Lamps "AM/AS" by Albini, Helg, Piva for Sirrah
By Franco Albini, Franca Helg, Sirrah, Antonio Piva
Located in Milan, IT
Beautiful table lamps model "AM/AS" by Franco Albini, Franca Helg, Antonio Piva. Opaline glass and chrome frams can be changed with their universal terminal. Two pieces available, p...
Opaline Glass
"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...
Opaline Glass
Italian AM/AS steel chandelier by Franco Albini and Franca Helg, Sirrah 1960
By Franco Albini, Sirrah, Franco Albini and Franca Helg, Franca Helg
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 ...
Steel
Midcentury AM/AS Table Lamp by Franco Albini for Sirrah, 1969
By Franco Albini
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Midcentury AM/AS table lamp by Franco Albini for Sirrah, 1969.
Metal, Chrome
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...
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...
Chrome
Franco Albini for Sirrah swivel wall lamp, Italy circa 1960s
By Sirrah, Franco Albini and Franca Helg
Located in Long Island City, NY
Franco Albini for Sirrah AM/AS wall lamp. Designed and made in Italy, 1960s. Chrome plated metal and enameled metal. Takes 1 medium base bulb....
Metal
$2,518
H 9.85 in Dm 17.72 in
Ceiling Lamp AS41Z by Franco Albini, Franca Helg & Antonio Piva for Sirrah, 1970
By Sirrah, Franca Helg, Antonio Piva and Franco Albini
Located in Rotterdam, NL
Ceiling lamp No. designed by Franco Albini, Franca Helg and Antonio Piva and manufactured by Sirrah in 1969. The model is a part of the AM/AS series that includes table lamps, wall ...
Metal
$3,177
H 61.03 in Dm 20.67 in
Midcentury Bamboo and Rattan Floor Lamp Franco Albini Style, Italy 1960s
By Franco Albini
Located in Rome, IT
Midcentury amazing floor lamp in bamboo and rattan in the style of Franco Albini. Made in Italy in the 1960s. It uses 1 bulbs. ...
Bamboo, Wicker, Cane, Rattan
$1,882
H 47.25 in Dm 17.33 in
Midcentury Floor Lamp Rattan, Bamboo and Fabric Franco Albini Style, Italy 1960s
By Janine Abraham and Dirk Jan Rol, Franco Albini
Located in Rome, IT
Midcentury amazing floor lsamp un Bamboo, rattan and fabric in the style of Franco Albini. Made in Italy in the 1960s. A beautiful floor lamp that is perfectly working but most of ...
Metal
$1,176Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 14.57 in Dm 8.27 in
Mid-Century French Riviera Bamboo and Rattan Table Lamps, 1960s
By Franco Albini, Vivai del Sud, Louis Sognot
Located in Valencia, VC
Pair of 1960s Italian Handmade Bamboo & Rattan Table Lamps, in the Style of Franco Albini An absolutely gorgeous pair of handmade Italian bamboo, rattan and woven cane table lam...
Bamboo, Cane, Rattan
$2,588
H 57.68 in W 18.9 in D 18.9 in
Midcentury Rattan and Bamboo Floor Lamp Franco Albini Style, Italy, 1960s
By Franco Albini, Louis Sognot
Located in Rome, IT
Midcentury amazing one lights floor lamp in bamboo and rattan in the style of the Italian designer Franco Albini. Made in Italy in the 1960s. The rattan material provides an ea...
Bamboo, Wicker, Cane, Rattan
Mid-Century Rattan Table Lamp, France 1960s
Located in NUEMBRECHT, NRW
This mid-century table lamp was designed and manufactured in Franke in the 1960s. The light features a sculptural rattan base in a classic mid-century hourglass form, skillfully con...
Rattan, Bamboo
$4,400
H 21.26 in W 12.21 in D 15.36 in
Franco Albini, Franca Helg & Antonio Piva "AM/AS" Table Lamp, Italy 1960s
By Franca Helg, Antonio Piva and Franco Albini, Sirrah
Located in Utrecht, NL
Minimal in form from concept to design, this historical lamp emerged from a traditional Italian craftsmanship practice. Using modern, artisanal materials for the design the designers...
Metal
$1,412
H 47.25 in Dm 17.72 in
Midcentury Bamboo and Rattan Italian Floor Lamp after Franco Albini, 1960s
By Franco Albini
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful midcentury floor lamp in the style of Franco Albini. It is made of bamboo and rattan and it has the shape of two cones narrowing in the centre. It is a marvellous pie...
Bamboo, Rattan
1950s Maison Lunel Floor Lamp Attributed to Jean Boris Lacroix
By Royal Lumière, Jean Boris Lacroix, Maison Lunel
Located in London, GB
The Maison Lunel floor lamp from the 1950s created by Royal Lumière and attributed to Jean Boris Lacroix ... Floor lamp with cylindrical base in black lacquered metal comprising thr...
Metal
$1,212
H 14.57 in W 8.27 in D 7.29 in
Midcentury Bamboo & Rattan Table Lamp Louis Sognot Style, Italy 1960s
By Louis Sognot
Located in Rome, IT
Midcentury beautiful table lamp in bamboo, rattan and wicker in the style of Louis Sognot. Made in Italy in the 1960s. It uses 1 bulbs. Louis Sognot was a French designer...
Bamboo, Wicker, Rattan
Model 524 Table Lamp by Franco Albini & Franca Helg for Arteluce, 1960s
By Arteluce, Franco Albini and Franca Helg
Located in Rotterdam, NL
Model 524 table lamp designed by Franco Albini and Franca Helg and manufactured by Arteluce. The model consists of eight rectangular transparent Perspex panels that are placed in ...
Metal
Pendant Lamp by Franco Albini for Sirrah
By Franco Albini, Sirrah
Located in Vlimmeren, BE
The beautifully constructed AM/AS pendant lamp was designed by Franco Albini, Franca Helg and Antonio Piva for Sirrah in 1969. This pendant lamp has a spherical shaped diffuser exec...
Metal, Chrome
Pair of AM/AS Wall Lamps - Franco Albini for Sirrah, Italy, 1970s
By Franco Albini, Sirrah
Located in Milano, IT
Pair of AM/AS Wall Lamps - Franco Albini for Sirrah, Italy, 1970s Pair of wall lamps from the AM/AS series, designed by Franco Albini and produced by Sirrah. Featuring a steel wall b...
Aluminum
Sold
H 27.56 in W 15.75 in D 15.75 in
Midcentury Floor Lamp Rattan, Bamboo and Fabric Franco Albini, Italy 1960s
By Franco Albini
Located in Oirlo, LI
Exceptional midcentury floor lamp in bamboo, rattan and fabric, attributed to Franco Albini Crafted in Italy in the 1960s, showcasing a perfect balance between natural materials an...
Fabric, Bamboo
Sold
H 60.63 in Dm 20.87 in
Franco Albini Pair of Floor Lamps in Bamboo, Rattan and Wicker, Italy 1960s
By Franco Albini
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning mid-century pair of floor lamps made entirely in curved bamboo and hand-woven wicker. These elegant organic floor lamps were designed by the master craftsman Franco Albini a...
Fabric, Canvas, Bamboo, Wicker, Rattan
Sold
H 16.15 in W 11.82 in D 15.75 in
Franco Albini for Sirrah Italian Gold Glass Sconces Wall Lamps 19702
By Franco Albini, Sirrah
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Couple of 3500Italian sconces wall lamps designed by Franco Albini and produced by Sirrah with 24-karat gold-plated metal frame and white opaline glass spherical diffusers, Italy in ...
Gold Plate
Pair of Sconces Model AM/AS by Franco Albini, Italy, 1969
By Sirrah, Franca Helg, Antonio Piva and Franco Albini, Franco Albini
Located in Barcelona, ES
Pair of sconces in chromed steel designed by Italian architects Franco Albini, Franca Helg and Antonio Piva as part of the AM/AS lamps series for the Italian company Sirrah in 1969. ...
Metal, Steel, Chrome
Franco Albini & Franca Helg for Sirrah Italy 'AM/AS' Floor Lamp 1969
By Franco Albini, Franca Helg, Sirrah
Located in Torquay, GB
Mid-century Italian design tall floor lamp. The AM/AS Floor Lamp, designed in 1969 by Franco Albini and Franca Helg for Sirrah Italy. Substantial sized opaline glass diffuser, set on...
Steel, Chrome
Large Vintage Italian Chrome Table Lamp by Franco Albini
By Franco Albini, Sirrah, Franca Helg
Located in London, GB
A stunning and very large vintage Italian chrome table lamp by Franco Albini and Franca Helg. This was manufactured in Italy by Sirrah, it dates from the 1970’s. This is the very ra...
Chrome
Ufo Design Mid-century Modern Pendant Lamp by Franco Albini, 1960s, Italy
By Franco Albini
Located in Hagenbach, DE
Ufo Design Mid-century Modern Pendant Lamp by Franco Albini, 1960s, Italy Lampshade is in very good vintage condition. No crack, no missed piece. Original canopy. This lamp works w...
Wicker
Pair of Franco Albini trumpet wall lamps
By Franco Albini, Sirrah
Located in BE
Beautiful wall lamps designed by renowned Italian designer Fanco Albini. Albini designed the AM/AS series for well-known manufacturer Sirrah. This series was one of the best selling ...
Chrome
Five AM/AS Sconces by Franco Albini for Sirrah, Italy, 1969
By Franca Helg, Antonio Piva and Franco Albini, Franco Albini
Located in Barcelona, ES
Five sconces in chrome steel designed by italian architects Franco Albini, Franca Helg and Antonio Piva as part of the AM/AS lamps series for the italian company Sirrah in 1969. They...
Metal, Chrome
French 1960s Hanging Lamp Made of Bamboo
By Franco Albini
Located in Oirlo, LI
French 1960s hanging lamp made of bamboo. Beautiful hanging lamp in the style of Franco Albini, made in France in 1960. Beautiful model and the patina and color of the lamp g...
Bamboo