Franco Albini Desks
Italian, 1905-1977
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.
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Creator: Franco Albini
Franco Albini for Knoll Desk Model '1928'
By Knoll, Franco Albini
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Franco Albini for Knoll Desk Model '1928'
Italy, 20th Century
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1950 Desk "Model 80" by Franco Albani for Knoll, 1949-1954
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Minimalist desk Franco Albini for Knoll International, European mid-century modern desk from the 1950s.
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Franco Albini Executive Desk SC23, Italy 1950s
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The SC23 executive desk, designed by the renowned Italian architect and designer Franco Albini, is a striking example of mid-20th-century modern design. Created in the 1950s, this de...
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1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Franco Albini Desks
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Franco Albini desks for sale on 1stDibs.
Franco Albini desks are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Franco Albini desks, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original desks by Franco Albini were created in the modern style in italy during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider desks by Osvaldo Borsani, Harvey Probber, and John Stuart. Prices for Franco Albini desks can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $4,750 and can go as high as $10,818, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $5,770.