How a Little Stork Table Became a Modern Design Icon
I found myself in a quiet, cabin-style living room—wooden walls glowing under soft lighting, and the gentle scent of old books lingering in the air. My eyes drifted around the room until they paused on a small side table unlike any I’d seen. It had a round top, three slender legs, and a single vertical piece rising like a crane holding its head high. Curiosity got the best of me, and I asked, “What is that?” That’s when I was introduced to the Franco Albini Cicognino table, born in 1954.
“Cicognino” means “little stork” in Italian, and suddenly its design made sense. The elegant handle was no longer just a handle—it was a bird’s neck mid-step, full of grace and quiet motion. Albini, a master of modernist simplicity, avoided excess, choosing form that always served function. This table reflects that philosophy perfectly—portable with just one hand, charming without trying too hard. It isn’t just furniture; it’s an object with character.
