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.
$13,007 / item
20th Century, Franco Albini Sofa mod. DV33 for Poggi
By Franco Albini, Poggi
Located in Turin, Turin
Franco Albini (1905-1977) lived in Milan where he stuied Architecture at the Politecnico. He started his career at Gio Ponti's studio, with whom he collaborated before getting in tou...
Fabric, Wood
Franco Albini Sofa mod. DV33 for Poggi
By Franco Albini, Poggi
Located in Turin, Turin
Franco Albini (1905-1977) lived in Milan where he stuied Architecture at the Politecnico. He started his career at Gio Ponti's studio, with whom he collaborated before getting in tou...
Fabric, Wood
$14,189 / set
H 36.23 in W 31.5 in D 31.5 in
Franco Albini PL19 Pair of Three Piece Armchairs for Poggi Pavia Italy Circa 1959
By Franco Albini
Located in Rovereta, Repubblica di San Marino
The "Modello PL19" or "I tre Pezzi" armchairs, designed by Franco Albini and Franca Helg, manufactured by Poggi Pavia, Italy. The chairs have a lacquered metal frame and are upholste...
Iron
$1,702Sale Price|20% Off
H 32.68 in W 78.75 in D 23.63 in
Three-Seat Sofa Attributed to Franco Albini, 1940s
By Franco Albini
Located in Milano, IT
Beautiful three-seat sofa from 1940 attributed to Franco Albini in rosewood. The fabric used for the padding of the sofa Franco Albini is original of t...
Fabric, Walnut
$34,000
H 30.75 in W 63.75 in D 27.5 in
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
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
Early 20th Century Danish Curved Sofa
By Fritz Hansen
Located in Allerum, SE
Early 20th century Danish curved sofa upholstered in velvet. Most likely made by Fritz Hansen. Ca 1930s Denmark.
Velvet
$19,064
H 35.44 in W 29.14 in D 25.6 in
Franco Albini PL19 or Tre Pezzi Armchair in White Wool by Poggi Pavia, 1950s
By Poggi, Franco Albini and Franca Helg
Located in Cascina, Pisa
PL19 also known as Tre Pezzi armchair with black enameled steel tube structure, upholstered in white Mongolian goat wool. Designed by Franco Albini & Franca Helg for Poggi, Pavia...
Steel
Vico Magistretti, sofa mod. Sinbad for Cassina, 1980
By Vico Magistretti, Cassina
Located in Saarbrücken, SL
The sofa mod. Sinbad by Vico Magistretti has a throw blanket in leather that extends far over the backrest . Base in black lacquered wood. In all the sofa is in excellent condition. This was one of the sofas that Vico Magistretti appreciated the most and that he also had privately in his Milan apartment. His idea was to design a piece of seating furniture in which the fabric did not conform to the given shape. When he designed it, he was thinking more of an English horse blanket that you throw over...
Leather, Fabric, Wood
20th Century Swedish Sofa
Located in Atlanta, GA
This 20th-century Swedish sofa is a stunning example of Gustavian Revival design, blending timeless elegance with neoclassical sophistication. Its hand-painted frame features a soft ...
Pine
$41,386
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
20th Century French Sofa
Located in Atlanta, GA
This elegant 20th-century French sofa exemplifies the Louis XVI style, combining neoclassical design elements with timeless sophistication. The solid beech wood frame is hand-carved ...
Upholstery, Beech
Franco Albini for Poggi circa 1950, Folding Chair
By Franco Albini
Located in Wargrave, Berkshire
Franco Albini for Poggi, Italy, circa 1950. A folding chair of wooden construction in completely original untouched vintage condition. Mech...
Wood
$10,642
H 36.23 in W 31.5 in D 36.23 in
Franco Albini PL19 Tre Pezzi Armchair for Poggi Pavia, Italy, 1960s
By Franco Albini
Located in Paris, IDF
Armchair designed by Franco Albini (1905-1977) and Franca Helg Model n° PL19, 'Tre pezzi' Lacquered metal, brass and recently eupholstered in white sheep wool skin. Early original m...
Metal
Sold
H 33.47 in W 77.17 in D 25.6 in
Art Deco Sofa in Flared Glass in Walnut Root in the style of Franco Albini, 1930
By Franco Albini
Located in Montelabbate, PU
A flared goblet or lyre-shaped sofa in select walnut root. The lines echo the designs of Franco Albini, the fabrics are in the Bauhaus style. The sofa is dated 1925/30 on the back fa...
Fabric, Walnut, Burl
Sold
H 31.5 in W 55.91 in D 33.47 in
Franco Albini Poggi Mod. DV33 Teak Yeti Pierre Frey Fabric Sofa, Italy, 1960s
By Franco Albini, Poggi
Located in Catania, IT
"DV33" sofa designed by Franco Albini for Poggi in Italy, 1960s. It is a padded two-seater sofa reupholstered with a peculiar and superfine white soft furry fabric, pleasing to the ...
Teak, Wool, Alpaca, Mohair
Black Leather DV33 Sofa by Franco Albini for Poggi, 1960 circa
By Poggi, Franco Albini
Located in Milan, IT
This beautiful three-seat sofa DV33 designed by Franco Albini for Poggi features exceptionally refined wooden feet and leather upholstery. Thanks to its lines and shapes, this item i...
Leather, Wood
Woven Rattan Sofa with Cushion, Designed by Franco Albini
By Franco Albini
Located in Houston, TX
Woven rattan sofa, originally designed by Franco Albini in 1951. New construction for indoor use with new upholstered cushion in a dark greyish-black...
Fabric, Rattan
Belladonna Couch by Franco Albini
By Franco Albini
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Belladonna couch by Franco Albini. Current production by Sika Designs, Denmark.
Wicker, Rattan