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Franco Albini Credenzas

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 Italian Midcentury Dark Wood Sideboard for Poggi, 1950s
Franco Albini Italian Midcentury Dark Wood Sideboard for Poggi, 1950s

Franco Albini Italian Midcentury Dark Wood Sideboard for Poggi, 1950s

By Franco Albini, Poggi

Located in Reggio Emilia, IT

Italian Mid-Century Modern design credenza sideboard designed by Franco Albini and produced by Poggi Pavia from 1958, four doors with sliding shelves and a pull-out shelf / tray, sol...

Category

1850s Italian Mid-Century Modern Antique Franco Albini Credenzas

Materials

Wood

Franco Albini MB15 Sideboard for Poggi, Mid-Century Modern, 1957
Franco Albini MB15 Sideboard for Poggi, Mid-Century Modern, 1957

Franco Albini MB15 Sideboard for Poggi, Mid-Century Modern, 1957

By Franco Albini

Located in Piacenza, Italy

Franco Albini for Poggi sideboards model MB 15, Italy, 1957. Well-designed sideboard by Franco Albini for Poggi, which features a simplistic design with sharp lines. This elegant sid...

Category

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

Materials

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Bamboo and Rattan Sideboard – 1970s
Bamboo and Rattan Sideboard – 1970s

Bamboo and Rattan Sideboard – 1970s

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Bamboo and Rattan Sideboard – 1970s Product details Bamboo structure with three drawers and three doors. Entirely covered in woven rattan. Rush bindings. Dimensions: 153 W x 98 H x 5...

Category

1970s Italian Vintage Franco Albini Credenzas

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Franco Albini MB15 Sideboard Buffet for Poggi, Italy, 1957

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Sideboard designed by Franco Albini for Poggi in 1957. Albini was a very important Italian designer, while Poggi was an important manufacturer company. This credenza is the model MB1...

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Franco Albini Italian Midcentury Dark Wood Sideboard Model MB15 for Poggi, 1950s
Franco Albini Italian Midcentury Dark Wood Sideboard Model MB15 for Poggi, 1950s

Franco Albini Italian Midcentury Dark Wood Sideboard Model MB15 for Poggi, 1950s

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Located in Reggio Emilia, IT

Italian rare and famous dark wood sideboard model MB15 designed by Franco Albini and produced by Poggi Pavia from 1950. Wood veneer; feet, door frames and details in solid wood, 195...

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1850s Italian Mid-Century Modern Antique Franco Albini Credenzas

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Franco Albini credenzas for sale on 1stDibs.

Franco Albini credenzas are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. Many of the original credenzas by Franco Albini were created in the mid-century modern style in italy during the 1950s. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider credenzas by Saporiti Italia, Silvio Coppola, and Osvaldo Borsani. Prices for Franco Albini credenzas can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $10,601 and can go as high as $12,800, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $11,700.