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, Early Rocking "PS16" Chaise Lounge, Sycamore, 1960s, Poggi, Italy
By Poggi, Franco Albini
Located in High Point, NC
A rare and early "PS16", cotton, cord and sycamore rocking chaise lounge designed by Franco Albini and produced by Poggi, Italy, 1950s-1960s. Wear consistent with age and use. Pr...
Cotton, Cord, Sycamore
$640Sale Price|44% Off
H 28 in W 21.25 in D 56 in
1960s Cushman Furniture Rock Maple Chaise Lounge Chair
By H.T. Cushman Manufacturing Company
Located in Elkton, MD
Crafted from durable and high-quality rock maple, this chaise lounge is both sturdy and comfortable. The elegant design, with its sleek lines and smooth curves, makes it a timeless p...
Upholstery, Maple
$3,600Sale Price|20% Off
H 31 in W 36.5 in D 66 in
Wonderful Adrian Pearsall Curved Wave Chaise Lounge Rocker Mid-Century Modern
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Wonderful Adrian Pearsall curved wave chaise lounge rocker. This piece was reupholstered in the 80's and will most certainly need to be redone. Th...
Upholstery, Wood
$992Sale Price|40% Off
H 34.65 in W 47.25 in D 22.45 in
Mid Century Franco Albini Bent Bamboo and Rattan Rocking Chair, Italy 1950's
By Franco Albini
Located in London, GB
This iconic Albini piece has all the aspects of beautiful Italian design sensibility of good taste and great form making the material create a form that is both beautiful and light i...
Bamboo, Cane
$1,015
H 36.62 in W 24.81 in D 44.89 in
Franco Albini Style Mid-Century Bent Bamboo and Rattan Rocking Lounge Chair
By Franco Albini
Located in Landau an der Isar, Bayern
Franco Albini style vintage mid-century bent bamboo & rattan high backed rocking or lounge chair. Beautiful design - very 1960s / 1970s and would make a lovely addition to any home, ...
Bamboo, Rattan
$2,201
H 34.65 in W 47.25 in D 22.45 in
Rocking Chair in Bamboo and Rattan Attributed to Franco Albini, 1950’s
By Franco Albini
Located in Hastings, GB
A wonderful 1950’s bent bamboo and rattan high backed rocking chair, very much in the style of Franco Albini’s ‘Rocking Chaise’ for Poggi, all canework and rattan ties are in good co...
Bamboo, Rattan
$895Sale Price|35% Off
H 34.65 in W 47.25 in D 22.45 in
Franco Albini, Bamboo Rocking Chair, Italy 1950's
By Franco Albini
Located in London, GB
Italian designer Franco Albini specialised in the charming and beautiful in design, his take on bamboo furniture design was innovative and filled with style as in this example of a 1...
Bamboo, Cane
Italian Bamboo Chaise Lounge Chair, 1960s
Located in Chicago, IL
A sculptural 1960s Italian chaise lounge chair, crafted entirely from bamboo. Its sinuous frame cradles the body with effortless ease. The design—a two-piece construction—allows the ...
Bamboo
$11,800Sale Price|20% Off
H 32.5 in W 36 in D 55 in
1960s Reupholstered Adrian Pearsall Rocking Wave Chaise Lounge
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Medina, OH
The Adrian Pearsall rocking "Wave" chaise lounge fully reupholstered in an Ana Elisabeth S5443 Arctic faux fur fabric. The walnut base has been professionally refinished and is in an...
Fabric, Polyester, Wood, Walnut
$41,790
H 29.53 in W 25.6 in D 70.87 in
Franco Albini & Franca Helg for Poggi, Mid-century Rocking Chair Mod. PS16, 1956
By Poggi, Franco Albini and Franca Helg
Located in Milan, IT
Franco Albini & Franca Helg for Poggi, Italian Mid-century Wooden Rocking Lounge Chair Model PS16 Manufactured by Poggi, Pavia, Italy. Together with a certificate of authenticity ...
Fabric, Wood
$33,500Sale Price|20% Off
H 26.5 in W 28.5 in D 73 in
Richard Meier for Knoll International Architectural Rocking Chaise, 1982, Signed
By Knoll, Richard Meier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A striking and exceptionally rare rocking chaise designed by Richard Meier for Knoll International (circa 1982), this sculptural lounge piece beautifully captures Meier’s architectur...
Leather, Wood
$3,479Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 35.44 in W 23.63 in D 35.44 in
Franco Albini style, pair of rattan and bamboo rocking chairs. Italy 1950s
By Franco Albini
Located in Catania, CT
A pair of rocking chairs in the style of Franco Albini, crafted from rattan and bamboo. Designed in Italy during the 1950s, these chairs showcase an elegant and organic design, combi...
Bamboo, Rattan
Franco Albini Style Wicker Bamboo Rocking Chair
Located in Antwerp, BE
A rare Franco Albini style arm rattan rocking chair. This chair features a steam bent bamboo frame. This rare rocking chair was made in the late 1950s-1970s.
Bamboo, Wicker, Rattan
Franco Albini “Canapo” rocking chair for Cassina, Italy
By Franco Albini
Located in Skokie, IL
Franco Albini Canapo rocking chair for Cassina Italy. The Franco Albini “Canapo” rocking chair is a timeless piece designed for Cassina in Italy. This elegant rocking chair showcase...
Upholstery, Nylon, Wood
Sold
H 31.5 in W 66.93 in D 23.63 in
Exclusive Bamboo and Rattan Chaise Lounge Attributed to Franco Albini
By Franco Albini
Located in Oirlo, LI
Chaise lounge chair made of rattan and bamboo designed in the sixties. Great original condition. Design by Franco Albini, 1960 Italy, also purchased there and the information comes from the first owner, unfortunately no invoice anymore. This stylish bamboo sofa / chaise longue from the 1960s. A beautiful bamboo sofa with a beautiful backrest. Considering its age in good vintage condition. Will this lounge sofa soon be on display in your home? Beautiful for the living room, bedroom, but also for use as a lounge sofa under...
Bamboo
Sold
H 28.35 in W 71.07 in D 24.81 in
Mid-century rocking chaise longue by Franco Albini for Ar.Ar Milano, Italy 1940
By Franco Albini
Located in Piacenza, Italy
Rare mid-century rocking chaise longue by Franco Albini. This rare piece was designed for Ar.Ar Milano in 1940 by Franco Albini. Extraordinary shaped wood structure , original fabri...
Fabric, Wood, Rope
Franco Albini Ps16 Rocking Chair Poggi, Italy, 1959
By Franco Albini, Poggi
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Iconic designed rocking chair model PS16 designed by Franco Albini and manufactured by Poggi, Italy 1959. This is a beautiful, comfortable and important piece of mid 20th century modern design designed by one of the biggest designers Italy had in the mid of the 20th century. This super shaped rocking chair has a solid bent walnut structure, with canvas seating area which supports the seating cushion which we reupholstered in cream white alpaca upholstery. The canvas seating part is beautifully attached to the frame with a rope which is almost sculpturally attached to the structure. The structure of the chair is in fully original condition and has a beautiful patina to the wood and canvas where its authenticity is clearly visible. We choose not to fuly restore the piece as we think this brings character to the piece but refinishing can always be done upon request. The chair is super comforatable, and comes with its original wooden weight...
Alpaca, Canvas, Teak
Sold
H 30 in W 64 in D 27.5 in
Franco Albini Rocking Chaise Model PS16 with Kalgan Lamb and Leather Cushions
By Franco Albini, Poggi
Located in New York, NY
Franco Albini for Poggi rocking chair model PS16 with walnut frame and newly upholstered luxurious white Kalgan lambskin cushions with saddle leather ...
Leather, Fabric, Canvas, Rope, Walnut
Franco Albini Bamboo Chaise Lounge
By Franco Albini, Vittorio Bonacina
Located in Pawtucket, RI
Rare Franco Albini rattan and bamboo chaise lounge chair designed in the 1960s for Vittorio Bonacina.
Fur, Bamboo, Cane
Franco Albini PS16 Chaise
By Franco Albini
Located in Wargrave, Berkshire
Franco Albini for Poggi , Italy , 1945 . Early and rare PS16 rocking chaise , this example is different in construction to the later model produced by Poggi from the mid 50's . El...