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.
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
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 Model 524 Sculptural Lucite Chrome Lamp Arteluce
By Arteluce, Franco Albini and Franca Helg, Franco Albini
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 'AM1N' Opaline Glass Table Lamp in Chrome for Nemo
By Franca Helg, Nemo Lighting 1, Franco Albini
Located in Glendale, 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 and Franca Helg 'AS1C' Table Lamp for Nemo in Glass & Black Chrome
By Franca Helg, Franco Albini, Nemo Lighting 1
Located in Glendale, 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
Pair of table lamps by Franco Albini for Sirrah, model Colibrì, Italy
By Franco Albini, Franca Helg, Antonio Piva and Franco Albini, Sirrah
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
Franco Albini Franca Helg, Mod. AM/AS table lamp, Sirrah Italy 1969
By Franco Albini, Sirrah, Franca Helg
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
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
$3,351 / item
Table Lamps "AM/AS" by Albini, Helg, Piva for Sirrah
By Antonio Piva, Franca Helg, Franco Albini, Sirrah
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
Chrome, Glass Floor Lamp "AM/AS" by Albini, Helg, Piva for Sirrah, Italy 1960s
By Antonio Piva, Franco Albini, Franca Helg, Sirrah
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
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...
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
$2,650 / item
H 11.65 in Dm 23.2 in
Franco Albini & Franca Helg 'Model 2050' Suspension Lamp in Smoke for Astep
By Franco Albini and Franca Helg, Astep
Located in Glendale, CA
Franco Albini & Franca Helg 'Model 2050' Suspension Lamp in Smoke for Astep. Originally designed in 1963 by Franco Albini and Franca Helg, the re-edition of this iconic pendant is e...
Steel
$1,494Sale Price|20% Off
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
$1,928
H 23.63 in W 16.15 in D 7.88 in
Table Lamp in Brass Faux Bamboo and Rattan Maison Baguès Style, Italy 1960s
By Maison Baguès, Maison Jansen
Located in Rome, IT
Midcentury amazing table lamp in brass faux bamboo and fabric and rattan lampshade in the style of Maison Baguès. Made in Italy in the 1960s. Lampshade: Curved and semi-cylindrica...
Metal, Brass
Franco Albini and Franca Helg for Arteluce 'Ochetta' Wall Light
By Franca Helg, Arteluce, Franco Albini
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Franco Albini and Franca Helg for Arteluce, Ochetta wall light, model '141', metal, frosted glass, Italy, 1962. The Ochetta wall lights, designed by Franco Albini and Franca Helg ...
Metal
$3,495
H 75.2 in W 23.63 in D 23.63 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. A beautiful floo...
Bamboo, Wicker, Cane, Rattan
$6,900
H 11.81 in Dm 23.62 in
Albini & Helg Arteluce Large Pendant Lamp Original Glass Lucite, Italy, 1955
By Arteluce, Franco Albini and Franca Helg
Located in Vienna, AT
Original 1955 pendant light from Arteluce Milano designed by Franco Albini and Franca Helg. Large Midcentury original with a large dark 22.6" lucite shade and an inner opaline glass...
Brass, Chrome
$3,254
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
$1,928
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
$573Sale Price|30% Off
H 14.18 in Dm 7.88 in
Mid Century French Riviera Bamboo and Rattan Table Lamp, Italy, 1960s
By Franco Albini, Louis Sognot
Located in Valencia, VC
Midcentury Bamboo & Rattan Table Lamp — Attributed to Louis Sognot French midcentury bamboo and rattan table lamp, attributed to Louis Sognot and in the style of Franco Albini. ...
Bamboo, Parchment Paper, Rattan
$470Sale Price|25% Off
H 14.57 in Dm 7.49 in
Bamboo and Rattan Table Lamp, Mid-Century Modern, 1960s Style
By Franco Albini, Vivai del Sud, Louis Sognot
Located in Valencia, VC
Handmade bamboo and rattan table lamp, crafted in Spain circa 1960s, in the manner of Louis Sognot, Franco Albini, or Vivai del Sud. This elegant piece embodies the natural materials...
Bamboo, Rattan
$1,054Sale Price / set|30% Off
H 14.57 in Dm 8.27 in
Mid-Century French Riviera Bamboo, Rattan & Cane Pair of Table Lamps, 1960s
By Louis Sognot, Vivai del Sud, Franco Albini
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, Rattan, Cane
$2,652
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
Large Vintage Italian Chrome Table Lamp by Franco Albini
By Franca Helg, Sirrah, Franco Albini
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
Table Lamps by Franco Albini and Franca Helg for Vips Residence
By Franca Helg, Franco Albini
Located in Milano, IT
Beautiful glass table lamps made in the 1960s designed by Franco Albini and Franca Helg for Vips Residence, of fine Italian manufacture. The lamps have...
Steel
Franco Albini "AS1C" Large Table Lamp in Chrome and Glass
By Franco Albini
Located in Long Island City, NY
Franco Albini "AS1C" large table lamp in chrome and glass lamp by Franco Albini, Franca Helg, and Antonio Piva.
Chrome
Franco Albini ASC1 Desk Lamp for Sirrah, Italy, 1970s
By Sirrah, Franco Albini
Located in Greding, DE
ASC1 table lamp on a chromed foot with a white opaline glass lampshade, designed by Franco Albini for Sirrah. For the electrification we assume no liability and no warranty.
Metal
Franco Albini AM/AS Glass and Chrome Table Lamp
By Franco Albini
Located in Geneva, CH
AM / AS serie table lamp by Franco Albini, Franca Helg & Antonio Piva produced by Sirrah, Italy 1969 Chrome plated steel and opaline glass
Steel
Franco Albini "AM/AS" Chrome Table Lamp
By Franco Albini
Located in Geneva, CH
AM / AS serie table lamp by Franco Albini, Franca Helg & Antonio Piva produced by Sirrah, Italy 1969 Chrome plated steel
Steel
Metal and Opaline Table Lamp, Albini for Sirrah
By Franco Albini
Located in Paris, Ile-de-France
an elegant table lamp, with chromed metal support and white opalin glass shade, Franco Albini , for Sirrah .
Metal