Franco Albini Style Vintage Rattan & Bamboo Rocking Horse, Italy, C. 1960s

Details

Description

A sculptural tour de force of mid-century Italian design, this rattan and bamboo rocking horse is attributed to the legendary … Read more A sculptural tour de force of mid-century Italian design, this rattan and bamboo rocking horse is attributed to the legendary architect and designer Franco Albini (1905–1977). Handcrafted in Italy circa the 1960s, it exemplifies the organic modernism and artisanal mastery that defined Albini’s celebrated body of work.
The horse is constructed entirely of bent bamboo and rattan, with a beautifully woven herringbone-pattern rattan seat and signature hand-wrapped joints throughout. The gracefully curved neck and looping head — with characteristic twin scroll detail — give this piece its unmistakable sculptural silhouette. The arched bamboo rockers echo the organic lines of the whole, making it as much a work of art as a functional toy.
This piece displays the warm honey-to-amber patina of age, with honest wear consistent with its decades of history. Minor surface losses and darkening to some bamboo segments are visible and add to its authentic vintage character. The woven seat is intact and structurally sound.
Whether displayed in a nursery, a child’s room, a designer living space, or atop an armoire as a decorative accent, this iconic piece commands attention. Comparable examples sell regularly at 1stDibs, Pamono, and major auction houses. See less