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.
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" Chair by Franco Albini, Italy, c.1955
By Franco Albini
Located in Brussels, BE
Set of 8 " Luisa" Chair by Franco Albini, Italy, c.1955
Fabric, Wood
Franco Albini Luisa Chair by Cassina, Modern Italian Design
By Cassina, Franco Albini
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 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
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
Franco Albini Split Reed ottoman or pouf collection (6) Classic Mid Century
By Mauro Bonacina 1, Franco Albini
Located in Buffalo, NY
Franco Albini, Large vintage mid-century rattan cane 'Lobster Pot' Ottoman stool ... airy appearance sturdy and stable . . Split reed ottoman/pouf with solid maple legs that extend ...
Wicker, Rattan, Reed
Rare No. 48 Armchair by Knoll International
By Franco Albini
Located in Munich, DE
Designed by Franco Albini and made by Knoll International.
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
Franco Albini 832 “Luisa” Armchair for Poggi, Italy, 1953, Set of 8
By Poggi, Franco Albini
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Franco Albini 832 “Luisa” armchair for Poggi, wood and leather, Italy, 1953, set of eight. Originally designed in 1939 and refined through multiple iterations, the 832 “Luisa” armch...
Leather, Wood
$1,452
H 14.57 in Dm 16.15 in
Franco Albini Midcentury Rattan and Bamboo Round Ottoman Stool, Italy 1960s
By Franco Albini
Located in Roma, IT
Gorgeous mid-century round bamboo & wicker stool. Franco Albini designed this piece in Italy during the 1960s. The pouf features a beautiful combination of curved bamboo, rattan a...
Bamboo, Rattan, Wicker
$1,036Sale Price|20% Off
H 16 in Dm 21 in
Franco Albini Style Stained Rattan, Reed & Willow Pouf/ Ottoman
By Franco Albini
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Franco Albini Style Stained Rattan, Reed & Willow Pouf/ Ottoman Italy, circa 1970s A nice variation, beautiful warm earth one stain, with woven re...
Rattan, Reed, Willow
Pair of Vintage Franco Albini Style Rattan Pouf Ottoman Footstools
By Franco Albini
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Franco Albini Vittorio Bonacina (attr.) Rattan Pouf Ottoman Footstools, late 1950s / early 1960s. A striking looking and versatile piece of furniture, a great addition to any room. L...
Rattan
$1,815
H 14.57 in Dm 20.87 in
Franco Albini Pouf Stool in Curved Rattan, Bamboo and Wicker, Italy 1960s
By Franco Albini
Located in Roma, IT
Spectacular Mid-Century French Riviera pouf in curved rattan, bamboo and hand-woven wicker designed by Franco Albini and made in Italy during the 1960s. The pouf is in fabulous co...
Bamboo, Wicker, Rattan
$6,240Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 16 in W 25.5 in D 25.5 in
Pair of Karl Springer Soufflé Ottomans or Poufs
By Karl Springer
Located in Middlesex, NJ
Pair of Karl Springer Soufflé ottomans or poufs Note: Polished steel bases on castors - showing reflection of floor on bases.
Upholstery
$2,624
H 30.32 in W 29.53 in D 24.41 in
Franco Albini Italian Mid Century Rattan, Cane Organic Sunburst Chair, 1950's
By Franco Albini
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Rare Franco Albini Mid Century Bamboo Organic Sunburst Chair By Janine Abraham & Dirk Jan Rol 1950's Franco Albini (17 October 1905 – 1 November 1977)...
Rattan
Bamboo Ottoman or Pouf
By Heywood-Wakefield Co.
Located in New York, NY
Nice circular bamboo footrest, ottoman. Comes with upholstered pad top, in black fabric. Measures: Diameter at top 19" x diameter at bottom 16".
Upholstery, Bamboo
Pair of Luisa Chairs by Franco Albini
Located in San Francisco, CA
Two rosewood Luisa chairs with seats and backs upholstered in a patinated and weathered leather. These examples are the versions for Poggi, rather than the reissued Cassina versio...
Brass
Pr. Franco Albini Bamboo Reed Stools Ottoman Tables
By Franco Albini
Located in New York, NY
Pair of bamboo, willow reed ottomans, stools, tables. designed by Franco Albini. Interestingly, the original owner had glass tops custom made, to use these as end, or side tables, th...
Bamboo, Glass
$1,016
H 31.5 in W 23.63 in D 27.56 in
Italian Wicker Lounge Chair Designed by Franco Albini for Bonacina, Italy 60s
By Franco Albini
Located in Lucija, SI
Boho rattan Lounge Chair designed by Franco Albini in Italy in the '60s. Amazing mid century rattan shell-shaped armchair. These piece were produced in Italy during 60s and the desig...
Bamboo, Wicker, Rattan
Karl Springer Souffle Ottoman or Pouf in Original Condition
By Karl Springer
Located in Minneapolis, MN
Here is an iconic vintage Souffle ottoman by Karl Springer, exemplifying the designer’s signature blend of sculptural form and refined luxury. This piece features Springer’s celebrat...
Brass
Franco Albini Lounge Chair
By Franco Albini
Located in Atlanta, GA
Franco Albini "Fiorenza" lounge chair, Italy, circa 1990s. This chair was originally designed by Albini in the 1950s. This example is an authorized re-edition made by Arflex, circa 1...
Upholstery, Wood
Sold
H 15.75 in Dm 24.41 in
Franco Albini, Large vintage mid-century rattan cane 'Lobster Pot' Ottoman stool
By Bonacina, Franco Albini
Located in London, GB
Franco Albini for Vittorio Bonacina (attr.) Ottoman, late 1950s / early 1960s Rattan cane A striking looking and versatile piece of furniture, a great addition to any room. Lovely or...
Rattan
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 Franco Albini, Poggi
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 Vittorio Bonacina, Franco Albini
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
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
Sold
H 29.93 in W 21.66 in D 16.15 in
Franco Albini Set of Six Luisa Chairs in Wood and Red Fabric Poggi Pavia 1955
By Franco Albini, Poggi
Located in Cascina, Pisa
Set of six Luisa chairs with a wooden structure, seat and back are upholstered with red fabric, designed by Franco Albini and produced by Poggi Pavia, 1950s Italy. Literature: Bos...
Fabric, Wood
Set of 4 Luisa Chair e 2 Luisella Chair, Franco Albini, Poggi
By Franco Albini
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Luisa is a chair with armrests with a sober and minimalist design, the result of a 15-year research path that saw Franco Albini focus on fine-tuning an archetype in which the essenti...
Textile, Wood
