Rare Pair of Franco Albini Armchairs for Poggi, Original Velvet, 1960s

An exceptionally rare pair of Italian armchairs designed by Franco Albini and produced by Poggi in the early 1960s. Often mistakenly identified online as the “Luisa” model, these armchairs belong to a distinct production by Poggi, showcasing Albini’s unmistakable balance of structural lightness, refined proportions and meticulous craftsmanship.

The elegant solid wood frames display Albini’s masterful understanding of construction: slender tapered legs, sculptural armrests and finely resolved junctions create a composition that appears almost weightless while remaining remarkably sturdy.

When acquired, the chairs featured a very dark lacquered finish that visually flattened the beauty of the timber. Our restoration followed a conservative approach, carefully removing the later finish and revealing the natural warmth of the wood before completing it entirely by hand with traditional shellac. The result enhances the remarkable grain and restores the luminous quality that perfectly complements Albini’s refined architecture.

One of the most extraordinary aspects of this pair is its completely original mustard velvet upholstery. Judging by its remarkable state of preservation, the chairs appear to have seen extremely limited use throughout their lifetime. The fabric retains its vibrant colour, soft texture and beautiful natural patina, making it an increasingly rare survival for pieces of this period.

The photographs highlight the exceptional quality of the timber, the elegant profile of the armrests, the refined construction details and the untouched original upholstery, including the original decorative upholstery nails on the reverse of the backrests.

The upholstery has been professionally sanitized. As shown in the detailed photographs, one seat presents a tiny localized loss to the original velvet together with minor signs of age consistent with careful preservation over more than sixty years. These small imperfections do not detract from the overall outstanding originality of the pair.

This remarkably authentic pair represents a rare opportunity to acquire an important example of Franco Albini’s work for Poggi, preserved with an exceptional degree of originality while benefiting from a respectful restoration that celebrates the quality of the original materials rather than concealing their history.