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 Sofa mod. DV33 for Poggi
By Poggi, Franco Albini
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
Cocker leather sofa, Franco Bresciani for Poltrona Frau, 1970s
By Franco Bresciani
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
Cocker model sofa designed by Franco Bresciani for Poltrona Frau in Italy in the late 1970s. Fully upholstered in cognac full-grain leather, it is defined by its low and deeply enve...
Leather
$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
$41,301
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
$19,116 / set
H 30.32 in W 21.86 in D 21.66 in
Set of 6 Franco Albini "Luisa" Chairs, Production Carlo Poggi, 1950s
By Franco Albini, Succ. Carlo Poggi
Located in Wolfurt, AT
Set of 6 Italian wood and fabric chairs armchairs Model "Luisa" designed by the Italian designer Franco Albini and produced by Poggi Pavia 1955. Bibliographie: Italien 1950er Jahre,...
Fabric, Wood
$10,620
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
Franco Albini 832 “Luisa” Chair for Poggi, Italy, 1953
By Poggi, Franco Albini
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Franco Albini 832 “Luisa” chair for Poggi, wood and leather, Italy, 1953 Originally designed in 1939 and refined through multiple iterations, the 832 “Luisa” chair reached its final...
Leather, Wood
$23,600 / 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
$23,600 / set
H 36.23 in W 31.5 in D 36.23 in
Franco Albini Set of Two "Model PL19", Manufactured by Poggi
By Poggi, Franco Albini
Located in Wolfurt, AT
Set of two "Model PL19" chairs, designed by Franco Albini, manufactured by Poggi Pavia, Italy. The chairs have a lacquered metal frame and are upholstered with red velvet. Literat...
Metal
Marco Zanuso Sofa for Arflex Mod. Milord
By Marco Zanuso, Arflex
Located in Milano, IT
This splendid Milord sofa, designed by Marco Zanuso for Arflex in the 1950s, is a masterpiece of mid-century Italian design, perfectly balanced between elegance, innovation, and fun...
Brass
$18,880
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
Franco Albini Luisa arm chairs Poggi Italy 1955
By Poggi, Franco Albini
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
An exceptional and rare set of eight ‘Luisa’ armchairs, designed by Franco Albini and produced by Poggi in 1955. Crafted from solid walnut, these chairs exemplify the depth of Albini...
Linen, Walnut
Luisella dining chairs by Franco Albini, ed.Poggi 1955
By Poggi, Franco Albini
Located in Renens, CH
Rare suite of six “Luisella” chairs by Franco Albini for Carlo Poggi, Pavia, Italy 1955. Teak and cotton fabric. After working for some 15 years on several prototypes of the model, Italian designer, architect and urban planner Franco Albini (1905-77) completed what is considered a masterpiece: the Luisa armchair, with armrests, and Luisella, the chair without armrests. The final teak version was put into production by Carlo Poggi in 1955. The Luisa is often compared to the equally minimal and robust Leggera chair, designed by architect and designer Giò Ponti, with whom Albini apprenticed after graduating in architecture from Milan's Polytechnic University in 1929. Albini's blend of functionalism and style earned him numerous awards, including the 1955 Compasso d'Oro, a prestigious Italian prize for excellence in industrial design. (Award created by Gio Ponti in 1954). It is also in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The Luisa chair, with armrests, is still produced by Cassina. The Luisella chair, without armrests, is no longer produced. The chairs has been bought by the first owner together with a Chelsea Table by Vittorio Introini for Saporiti that we have also in stock at the Galleria...
Fabric, Wood
20th Century, Franco Albini Sofa mod. DV33 for Poggi
By Poggi, Franco Albini
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
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 Poggi, Franco Albini
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 Franco Albini, Poggi
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