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
$986Sale Price|40% Off
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
$890Sale Price|35% Off
Franco Albini Bamboo Rocking Chair, Hand-Woven, Mid-Century Italy
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
Red Rocking Chair Canapo by Franco Albini for Cassina, Italy
By Franco Albini
Located in Brussels, BE
Red Rocking Chair Canapo by Franco Albini for Cassina, Italy
Wood
$689
H 20.87 in W 14.18 in D 26.38 in
Midcentury Riviera Rattan and Bamboo Italian Rocking Chair for Children, 1950s
Located in Roma, IT
Elegant rocking chair for children, manufactured in Italy during the 1950s. The chair is in folded rattan, with beautiful details and in very good c...
Bamboo, Rattan, Cane
$1,028
H 42.13 in W 23.23 in D 29.93 in
Midcentury French Riviera Rattan and Bamboo Italian Rocking Chair, 1960s
Located in Roma, IT
Elegant midcentury French Riviera rattan, bamboo and hand-woven wicker rocking chair. This fantastic piece was designed and manufactured in Italy during the 1960s. This armchair has...
Bamboo, Rattan
$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
$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
$39,980
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
Italian Rocking Chair Model 572 By Cassina
By Cassina
Located in London, GB
An incredible and very rare rocking chair (has been attributed to Gio Ponti in the past and shows a strong and striking resemblance to his designs) in walnut, rubber and fabric for C...
Steel
$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
Margherita Chair by Franco Albini for v. Bonacina, Italy, 1951
By Franco Albini, Bonacina
Located in Berlin, DE
Margherita Armchair by Franco Albini for Vittorio Bonacina. Iconic mid-century armchair with a handwoven rattan frame. Designed by Franco Albini and awarded the Gold Medal at the IX ...
Rattan, Glass
$22,846 / set
H 36.62 in W 32.68 in D 30.71 in
Pair of Armchairs PL19 by Franco Albini for Poggi, Italy, 1960s
By Poggi, Franco Albini
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Mid-Century Modern space age Italian design pair of armchairs or lounge chairs model PL19 by Franco Albini for the editor Poggi. Famous design like Gio Ponti, Gianfranco Frattini, Ca...
Metal
$20,100 / set
H 30.52 in W 21.86 in D 21.46 in L 30.52 in
Franco Albini 832 “Luisa” Chairs for Poggi, Italy, 1953, Set of 6
By Poggi, Franco Albini
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Franco Albini 832 “Luisa” chairs for Poggi, wood and leather, Italy, 1953, set of six. Originally designed in 1939 and refined through multiple iterations, the 832 “Luisa” chairs re...
Leather, Wood
Studio Tecnico Cassina Rocking chair Italy 1955
By Cassina, Studio Tecnico
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
The Model 572 rocking chair stands as a rare and refined example of Italian furniture design from the mid-1950s, embodying the quiet sophistication and technical mastery for which Ca...
Upholstery, Rubber, Walnut
$19,419
H 34.65 in W 45.28 in D 51.19 in
Rocking Chair Yeti by Mario Scheichenbauer for Elam, Italy, 1960s
By Elam
Located in SAINT-OUEN, FR
Rare Iconic Mid-Century Modern space age design armchair lounge rocking chair model Yeti in wood and white goat hair fur by the designer Mario Scheichenbauer for the italian editor m...
Wood, Fur, Goat Hair
Mid 20th Century American Snocraft Snowshoe Woven Rocking Chair
By SnoCraft
Located in Memphis, TN
A Snocraft snowshoe rocking chair crafted in Norway, Maine, likely dating to the 1960s or 70s. The chair was crafted using traditional snowshoe...
Bentwood
Cassina “Luisa” Chair by Franco Albini
By Franco Albini
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Beautifully constructed chair with floating back design. Signed by Cassina. Two available. Priced individually.
Leather
Gebruder Thonet Bentwood Rocking Chaise Lounge Chair
By Gebrüder Thonet Vienna GmbH
Located in Chicago, IL
Gebruder Thonet bentwood rocking chaise lounge chair Scarcely seen model no. 7500. Designed 1880-1883. This model appears to be stamped JJ...
Wood
Italian Mid Century Franco Albini Curvy Bamboo Rocking Chair
By Franco Albini
Located in Troy, MI
Circa 1960s rocking chair in bent bamboo by Italian designer Franco Albini. Compelling curvy lines with oversized, arms and rocker. Sits comfortab...
Bamboo
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 35 in W 22 in D 41 in
1960s Franco Albini Rocker Lounge Chair Cool Curves Bamboo & Rattan ITALY
By Franco Albini
Located in Chula Vista, CA
AMBIANIC presents Italy 1960s relaxing Rocker Rocking Lounge Chair by Franco Albini designer architect. Crafted in bentwood bamboo rattan. Unmarked. 35 tall x 22 w x 41 d Seat h 17 ...
Bamboo, Rattan, Bentwood
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
Rocking Chaise Longue by Ico Parisi for Albini
By Franco Albini, Ico Parisi
Located in Brussels, BE
Rocking chaise longue by Ico Parisi for Albini.
Metal
Italian Bamboo Rocker by Franco Albini, 1960s, Italy
By Franco Albini
Located in Miami, FL
Beautiful bamboo rocker by Franco Albini...1960s Italy
Bamboo, Rattan