Mid-century furniture by Franco Albini (Italy)

Franco Albini was an Italian Neo-Rationalist architect and designer who is best known for his elegant and functional furniture designs. He was born in Robbiate, a small town near Milan in 1905, and studied architecture at the Politecnico di Milano, graduating in 1929. After graduating, Albini worked for the renowned Italian architect Gio Ponti for three years. In 1933, he opened his own studio in Milan.

Albini began designing furniture in the early 1930s. His early work was influenced by the Rationalist movement, which emphasized simplicity, functionality, and the use of modern materials. In 1933, Albini designed his iconic Albini Desk, which is still produced today. The desk is made of steel, glass, and wood, and features a minimalist design that is both elegant and functional.

Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, Albini continued to design furniture for a variety of Italian companies, including Cassina, Arflex, and Arteluce. Some of more... his most famous designs from this period include the Cicognino chair (1949), the Margherita table (1950), and the Pipistrello lamp (1956).

In addition to his work as a furniture designer, Albini was also a successful architect. He designed a variety of buildings in Italy, including the Rinascente department store in Milan (1951-1957) and the Palazzo Bianco gallery in Genoa (1951-1953). Albini also taught architecture and design at the Politecnico di Milano and the Venice School of Architecture.

Albini died in Milan in 1977 at the age of 72. He is considered one of the most important Italian designers of the mid-century modern period. less...