After working for approximately 15 years through several prototypes of the design (one of which was manufactured by Knoll in the late 1940s), the Italian designer, architect and urban planner Franco Albini (1905–77) finished what is considered to be a masterpiece: the Luisa chair. The dignified armchair is upholstered in warm red fabric and named after Luisa Colombini, Albini’s personal assistant and secretary of two decades. Lightweight and initially available in teak, mahogany and beech, the definitive version of the Luisa chair was put into production by Poggi in 1955.
The Luisa is often compared to the similarly minimal and sturdy Leggera chair conceived by like-minded rationalist architect and designer Giò Ponti, under whom Albini apprenticed after receiving his degree in architecture from the Polytechnic University of Milan in 1929.
Not unlike Ponti’s work, Albini’s designs often merged traditional Italian craftsmanship with the modernist flourishes that had occupied Italian rationalists. It was this blend of functionalism and style that earned Albini numerous awards, including several Compasso d’Oro prizes, a prestigious Italian award for excellence in industrial design. His first Compasso d’Oro was for the Luisa chair, which is part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New York and is still manufactured by Cassina.
Franco Albini Luisa Chair by Cassina, Modern Italian Design
By Franco Albini, Cassina
Located in Berlin, DE
Chair designed by Franco Albini in 1953. Relaunched in 2013. Manufactured by Cassina in Italy. Prices vary dependent on the chosen material/color.
Fabric, Wood, Leather
Set of 6 Franco Albini "Luisa" Chairs, Production Carlo Poggi, 1950s
By Succ. Carlo Poggi, Franco Albini
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
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
Set of 8 " Luisa" Chairs by Franco Albini, Italy, c.1955
By Franco Albini
Located in Brussels, BE
Set of 8 " Luisa" Chairs by Franco Albini, Italy, c.1955
Fabric, Wood
Rare No. 48 Armchair by Knoll International
By Franco Albini
Located in Munich, DE
Designed by Franco Albini and made by Knoll International.
Wood
Franco Albini 832 “Luisa” Chairs for Poggi, Italy, 1953, Set of 8
By Franco Albini, Poggi
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Franco Albini 832 “Luisa” chairs for Poggi, wood and leather, Italy, 1953, set of eight. Originally designed in 1939 and refined through multiple iterations, the 832 “Luisa” chairs ...
Leather, Wood
$4,250Sale Price / set|50% Off
Early Franco Albini Pair of Oak "Luisa"/ N°48 Dining Chair by Knoll, ca. 1949
By Franco Albini
Located in Geneva, CH
Early pair of black naugahyde and oak N°48 chair by Franco Albini produced by Knoll between 1948 and 1952. Good condition, 2 little damages on corners of the seat cushion ( picture ...
Naugahyde, Oak
$4,176Sale Price|20% Off
H 38 in W 28 in D 28 in
Vintage Italian "Margherita" Rattan Armchair by Franco Albini for Bonacina
By Franco Albini
Located in Oceanside, US
A sculptural icon of Italian modernism, the Margherita chair was designed by Franco Albini in 1950 and produced by Vittorio Bonacina. Handwoven from rattan over a finely crafted cane...
Cane, Rattan
$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 Franco Albini, Poggi
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
$12,407
H 40.56 in W 28.75 in D 31.5 in
Armchair "Fiorenza" designed by Franco Albini in 1952 for Arflex, Italy.
By Arflex, Franco Albini
Located in Wolfurt, AT
Armchair "Fiorenza," designed by Franco Albini in 1952 for Arflex, Italy. A highly collectible model produced for only one year by Arflex. This stunning pair of armchairs features sc...
Fabric, Wood
$2,481
H 28.75 in W 31.11 in D 27.17 in
Knoll International Wassily Chair by Marcel Breuer Black Leather
By Knoll, Marcel Breuer
Located in Munich, Bavaria
This Wassily chair, in chromed tubular steel and black leather, was designed by Marcel Breuer and produced by Knoll International. Knoll International production with the Marcel Breu...
Stainless Steel, Chrome
Margerita Rattan Chair by Franco Albini, Bonacina, 1950s
By Franco Albini
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Iconic Italian mid-century design by Franco Albini, crafted for Bonacina in the 1950s. The Margherita chair features a sculptural woven rattan frame with a flaring pedestal base and ...
Rattan
$6,500
H 30.5 in W 31.5 in D 30.5 in
Florence Knoll for Knoll International Mid-Century Upholstered Lounge Armchair
By Florence Knoll
Located in San Francisco, CA
an early 1950s production Florence Knoll for Knoll International lounge chair with loose back and seat cushions all resting on four turned tapering legs
Upholstery
$5,671Sale Price|43% Off
H 32.68 in W 32.29 in D 30.32 in
1990, Frank Gehry Powerplay by Knoll International
By Frank Gehry, Knoll
Located in Amsterdam IJMuiden, NL
This chair is part of the private collection of Casey Godrie and is situated in his private house. Ask him for competitive shipping quotes. His incredible Dune Villa, Amsterdam Beac...
Wood, Plywood
$15,124
H 39.38 in W 33.08 in D 35.44 in
Midcentury italian bamboo Gala armchair by Franco Albini for Bonacina
By Franco Albini, Bonacina
Located in Piacenza, Italy
Gala armchair designed by Franco Albini for Bonacina, Italy, 1950s. Designed during Franco Albini's celebrated collaboration with Bonacina, the Gala armchair is one of the most refin...
Bamboo, Rattan
“Fiorenza” Chair by Franco Albini for Arflex 1960's
By Franco Albini
Located in Kampen, NL
Designed by Franco Albini in 1952, the Fiorenza chair is a celebrated icon of Italian mid-century design. Characterized by its sculptural wingback silhouette, plush upholstery, and e...
Velvet, Teak
$9,452 / set
H 38.98 in W 31.5 in D 29.53 in
Midcentury Italian "Margherita" Rattan Armchairs by Franco Albini for Bonacina
By Franco Albini, Bonacina
Located in Piacenza, Italy
Iconic Franco Albini pair of armchairs model "Margherita" 1951, manufactured by Bonacina. Margherita is considered the first "legless" armchair of Italian design. The piece pays hom...
Rattan
$4,608
H 35.44 in W 26.38 in D 33.08 in
Grasshopper Lounge Chair designed by Eero Saarinen for Knoll International
By Eero Saarinen
Located in Offenburg, Baden Wurthemberg
Knoll International Grasshopper Lounge chair, Modell No. 61 designed by Eero Saarinen in 1946. Seat upholstered in grey wool fabric, with birch plywood base. Manufactured by Knoll...
Fabric, Plywood, Birch
$5,908 / set
H 37.01 in W 29.53 in D 32.29 in
Pair of Franco Albini “Margherita” Armchairs, Italy 1950's
By Franco Albini
Located in Argelato, BO
This elegant pair of Margherita armchairs, designed by Franco Albini for the Bonacina company in the 1950s, represents a true icon of mid-century Italian design. Each seat is masterf...
Bamboo, Rattan
Sold
H 30.12 in W 21.66 in D 22.05 in
Franco Albini Luisa Chair, Walnut Wood, Italian Design, Circa 1950
By Poggi, Franco Albini
Located in Milano, IT
Sedia “Luisa” disegnata da Franco Albini negli anni ’30, icona del design italiano modernista. Questo modello unisce eleganza minimalista e proporzioni armoniche, con struttura in le...
Wood, Nutwood
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
Luisa chair by Franco Albini for Poggi 1960s
By Poggi, Franco Albini
Located in Milano, IT
Chair, model 'Luisa' designed by Franco Albini and produced by Poggi from 1955. Oak wood frame, seat and back with foam padding and fabric upholstery. Fully restored.
Fabric, Oak
Sold
H 30.32 in W 22.05 in D 13.78 in
Set of six Luisa chairs mod. PT1 designed by Franco Albini for Poggi Pavia
By Poggi, Franco Albini
Located in Piacenza, Italy
Midcentury set composed by six chairs model PT1 "Luisa" designed by Franco Albini for Poggi Pavia. Original wooden frame, with black faux leather.. The Luisa model chair won the Com...
Wood
Pair of Franco Albini "Luisa" teak chairs for Poggi, Italy 1955
By Poggi, Franco Albini
Located in Renens, CH
Pair of Franco Albini "Luisa" teak chairs for Poggi, Italy 1955 These timeless and minimalist dining chairs with armrests feature a structure in teak wood with stunning details and ...
Teak
Set of 6 italian midcentury chairs "Luisa" by Franco Albini
By Franco Albini
Located in Piacenza, Italy
Set of six Luisa chairs with a wooden structure reupholstered in beige fabric, designed by Franco Albini and manufactured by Poggi Pavia, c. 1950. Luisa chair won the Compasso d'oro...
Wood
Set of 2 Franco Albini, "Luisa" chairs, Production Poggi, Pavia
By Poggi, Franco Albini
Located in Wolfurt, AT
This set of two Italian chairs was designed by Franco Albini for Poggi in the 1950s. The "Luisa" model is a simple, timeless design and is made of walnut wood and red fabric on the b...
Fabric, Wood
Iconic Franco Albini Woven Rattan Ottoman, 1960s
By Franco Albini, Vittorio Bonacina
Located in Miami, FL
A vintage rattan round pouf designed by Franco Albini in the 1950s and manufactured by Vittorio Bonacina in the 1960s. An ingeniously designed stool that's composed solely of bent-ra...
Rattan
Franco Albini Split Reed ottoman or pouf
By Franco Albini
Located in Ferndale, MI
Lightweight and airy appearance sturdy and stable . . Split reed ottoman/pouf with solid maple legs that extend from floor to top of seat . Very nice original condition . Recently ac...
Rattan, Reed
Set of 2 Luisella chair, Franco Albini, 1950 circa
By Franco Albini
Located in Milano, Lombardia
The Luisella chair, designed by Franco Albini, is a true icon of mid-century modern furniture. The Luisella chairs by Franco Albini, now reupholstered in a luscious white bouclé fabr...
Textile, Wood
Set of 4 Luisa chair, Franco Albini, 1950 circa
By Franco Albini
Located in Milano, Lombardia
The Luisa chair, designed by Franco Albini, is another classic piece of mid-century modern furniture. When reupholstered in white bouclé fabric, it imparts a sense of timeless elegan...
Bouclé, Wood
Set of 6 Italian Midcentury Chairs "Luisa" by Franco Albini
By Franco Albini
Located in Piacenza, Italy
Set of six Luisa chairs with a wooden structure upholstered in beige fabric, designed by Franco Albini and manufactured by Poggi Pavia, c. 1950. Luisa chair won the Compasso d'oro ...
Wood
