Skip to main content

Franco Albini Vanities

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.

to
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
187
92
30
18
9
Creator: Franco Albini
Italian Vanity or Console Table in Bamboo and Rattan by Vivai del Sud, 1970s
By Franco Albini
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful Mid-Century vanity or console table fully made in bamboo, rattan, hand-woven wicker, and brass. This stylish and unique piece was designed by Vivai del Sud and produced in ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Franco Albini Vanities

Materials

Brass

Related Items
Midcentury Bamboo and Rattan Console Table with Drawers, Italy 1970s
By Dal Vera
Located in Rome, IT
Midcentury beautiful console table in bamboo and rattan with 2 drawers in the style of Dal Vera. Made in Italy in the 1970s.
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Franco Albini Vanities

Materials

Bamboo, Wood, Rattan, Cane, Wicker

Early 19th Century Walnut Wood Catalan Spanish Console, Desk or Vanity Table
Located in Miami, FL
A 19th century walnut console table with a slab top above a frieze with two drawers with front decorated with and edge in each drawer and a single original iron pull . The table is s...
Category

Early 19th Century Spanish Baroque Antique Franco Albini Vanities

Materials

Iron

Handcrafted Console Vanity Table, English Oak
Located in London, GB
Modernist console or vanity table designed and handmade in England using traditional furniture making techniques. Completely handcrafted from fully quarter-sawn English oak. Hand dov...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary English Modern Franco Albini Vanities

Materials

Oak

Handcrafted Console Vanity Table, English Oak
Handcrafted Console Vanity Table, English Oak
$2,677 / item
H 31.5 in W 31.5 in D 11.82 in
Midcentury Rattan and Bamboo Console Table, Italy 1970s
By Vivai del Sud
Located in Rome, IT
Midcentury beautiful console table in rattan and bamboo. Made in Italy in the 1970s.
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Franco Albini Vanities

Materials

Bamboo, Wicker, Cane, Rattan

Midcentury Rattan and Bamboo Console Table, Italy 1970s
Midcentury Rattan and Bamboo Console Table, Italy 1970s
$1,657
H 31.5 in W 32.68 in D 14.97 in
Mid-Century Modern Italian Rattan and Brass Center Console by Vivai del Sud, 70s
By Vivai del Sud
Located in Puglia, Puglia
This console was designed by Vivai Del Sud in Rome in the early 70s. It can be placed both as a center piece or on the wall, entirely handmade with rattan and brass and quite unique ...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Franco Albini Vanities

Materials

Brass

A 1970s woven green rattan three drawer console table by Vivai Del Sud
By Vivai del Sud
Located in London, GB
A wonderful 1970s woven green rattan three drawer console table by Vivai Del Sud with brass ring handles.
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Franco Albini Vanities

Materials

Rattan, Lacquer

An Italian 1970s Bamboo console dressing table by Vivai Del Sud
By Vivai del Sud
Located in London, GB
An Italian 1970s Bamboo console dressing table by Vivai Del Sud with two drawers and cross stretched legs. Matching Vivai Del Sud mirror is available on Ed Butcher storefront under s...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Franco Albini Vanities

Materials

Bamboo

Bamboo Rattan and Glass Round Dinning Room Table by Vivai Del Sud, Italy, 1970s
By Vivai del Sud
Located in Rome, IT
Amazing round dinning table in bamboo, rattan and glass by Maurizio Mariani and Giusto Purini for Vivai Del Sud. Made in Italy in the 1970s. Vivai del sud, Gabriella Crespi and...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Franco Albini Vanities

Materials

Rattan, Glass, Bamboo

Midcentury Coffee Table Wavy Legs in Rattan by Vivai Del Sud, Italy 1970s
By Vivai del Sud
Located in Rome, IT
Midcentury amazing rectangular coffee table in wood and rattan with wavy legs by Vivai Del Sud. Made in Italy in the 1970s. Vivai del sud, Gabriella Crespi and Arpex were the three...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Franco Albini Vanities

Materials

Bamboo, Rattan, Wood

Midcentury Bamboo and Rattan Desk Writing Table Vivai Del Sud Style, Italy 1970s
By Vivai del Sud
Located in Rome, IT
Midcentury amazing desk writing table in bamboo, rattan and wood with one drawer in the style of Vivai Del Sud. Made in Italy in the 1970s. Vivai del sud, Gabriella Crespi and Arpe...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Franco Albini Vanities

Materials

Metal

Midcentury Coffee Table Bamboo and Rattan Vivai Del Sud Style, Italy 1970s
By Vivai del Sud
Located in Rome, IT
Midcentury beautiful squared coffee table in bamboo, rattan and top glass in the style of Vivai Del Sud. Made in Italy in the 1970s. Vivai del sud, Gabriella Crespi and Arpex wer...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Franco Albini Vanities

Materials

Bamboo, Wicker, Rattan, Glass

Lucite, Nickel and Stainless Steel Vanity or Dressing Table
By Charles Hollis Jones
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful vanity table or hall table in Lucite and nickel designed by Charles Hollis Jones as part of the Metric collection. The table comes with a narrow Lucite top which is 1 1/...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Franco Albini Vanities

Materials

Nickel, Stainless Steel

Lucite, Nickel and Stainless Steel Vanity or Dressing Table
Lucite, Nickel and Stainless Steel Vanity or Dressing Table
$21,950 / set
H 30.5 in W 84 in D 11.5 in

Franco Albini vanities for sale on 1stDibs.

Franco Albini vanities are available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider vanities by and CPRN HOMOOD.

Recently Viewed

View All