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Osvaldo Borsani

Italian, 1911-1985

With his stylish and technically innovative furniture, Osvaldo Borsani helped change the face of Italian design in the 1950s and ’60s. His sofas and chairs, featuring deeply upholstered seating and adjustable position settings, have an aura of optimism and efficiency that still seems fresh and lively today.

Born in the commune of Varedo in northern Italy’s Lombardy region, Borsani studied at the Brera Academy in Milan — the same school attended by such luminaries as designer Piero Fornasetti and artist Lucio Fontana — as well as the Polytechnic University of Milan. Borsani first worked for his father’s furniture-making firm, Arredamenti Borsani, an atelier influenced by the more expressive and curvaceous wing of Art Deco design. By 1953, when, along with his twin brother, Fulgenzio — the pair also created this visionary mid-century villa — Borsani opened the furniture company Tecno, his design sensibilities had evolved toward furnishings with strong, simple forms enhanced by mechanical innovations, as with the P40 adjustable armchair (1953). Borsani would be the firm’s lead designer for 30 years, while fostering work by Vico Magistretti, Carlo di Carli, Robin Day and others.

Similar to Gio Ponti in the earliest years of his career, Borsani first created designs marked by lush and buoyant lines: tables with voluptuous curved legs, sofas with undulating backrests. But Borsani’s best-known and most novel pieces date from Tecno’s initial furniture lines: the adjustable D70 sofa, which folds open to make a daybed, and the P40 recliner. The latter — now included in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art and the Victoria & Albert Museum — is an articulated lounger with a back, seat and leg rest that can be moved into 486 different positions. Not only is it extremely comfortable, it is also enduringly chic.

Find a collection of vintage Osvaldo Borsani tables, dining chairs and other furniture on 1stDibs.

Average Sold Price
$4,678
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Materials
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Iconic Designs from Osvaldo Borsani
Explore timeless pieces that have earned their place in history.
Osvaldo Borsani P40 Chair
Osvaldo Borsani P40 Chair
Osvaldo Borsani D70 Sofa
Osvaldo Borsani D70 Sofa
Osvaldo Borsani P31 Chair
Osvaldo Borsani P31 Chair
Osvaldo Borsani P32 Chair
Osvaldo Borsani P32 Chair
Osvaldo Borsani Pair of Mid-Century P71 Walnut Armchairs for Tecno, 1954
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Madrid, ES
An original pair of P71 walnut armchairs designed by Osvaldo Borsani and one of the first editions of Tecno.,founded in 1953 by Osvaldo Borsani and his brother Fulgencio Borsani. W...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani

Materials

Fabric, Walnut

1961 Osvaldo Borsani-Armchairs with armrests mod. P24 green upholstery
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Milan, IT
“Design was a word used only by us, the insiders. (…) Today we no longer use this word, it has been so vulgarized, so purposefully and inappropriately used. " Osvaldo Borsani always...
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Osvaldo Borsani

Materials

Metal

Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno "P110 Canada" Armchair, Italy 1965
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Naples, IT
Lounge chair Mod. P110 Canada" by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno. An iconic design by one of the most important Italian designers, the so-called 'Canada' lounge chair was designed by Osva...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Set of Two Reclining Chairs
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno Design Centre
Located in Wolfurt, AT
Set of two reclining chairs - very early design by Osvaldo Borsani, Italy, 1950s. The reclining chairs are in original condition and feature a fol...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani

Materials

Steel

Set of Two Reclining Chairs
Set of Two Reclining Chairs
H 30.71 in W 27.56 in D 34.65 in
Coffee table by Osvaldo Borsani, 1940s
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Bastia Umbra, IT
Coffee table by Osvaldo Borsani, 1940s, Made in Italy.  Osvaldo Borsani walnut coffee table, fully restored with the patina of the period.  The product is in very good condition, may...
Category

1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani

Materials

Walnut

Oval Dining Conference designed by Osvaldo Borsani for Stow Davis c 1970's
By Stow Davis, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in New York, NY
Voguish, sophisticated, and chic conference dining table designed by Osvaldo Borsani, for Stow Davis. The table has a large oval top with a radiating starburst pattern, of matching ...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani

Materials

Chrome, Iron

Italian Cabinet Attributed to Osvaldo Borsani, 1950s
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Palermo, PA
Italian cabinet attributed to Osvaldo Borsani, 1950s. Dimensions: H= 89 cm; W= 109 cm; D= 42 cm.
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani

Materials

Brass

Pair Night Stands Table Coffe Osvaldo Borsani Arredameti Borsani Varedo 1955
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Pair Night Stands Table Coffe Osvaldo Borsani Arredameti Borsani Varedo 1955. Expertise of Originality Written by Osvaldo Borsani Historical Archive
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani

Materials

Brass

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Creators Similar to Osvaldo Borsani

More Osvaldo Borsani Designs
Osvaldo Borsani P40 Chair
Osvaldo Borsani P40 Chair
Average Price
$8,126
Number Available
16
Osvaldo Borsani P40 Chair
By Osvaldo Borsani
Materials
Metal, Fabric, Brass, Steel, Animal Skin, Leather, Plastic
Styles
Mid Century Modern
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Osvaldo Borsani D70 Sofa
Osvaldo Borsani D70 Sofa
Average Price
$8,580
Number Available
15
Osvaldo Borsani D70 Sofa
By Osvaldo Borsani
Materials
Fabric, Metal, Brass
Styles
Mid Century Modern
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Osvaldo Borsani P31 Chair
Osvaldo Borsani P31 Chair
Average Price
$7,116
Number Available
5
Osvaldo Borsani P31 Chair
By Osvaldo Borsani
Materials
Wood, Metal, Plywood
Styles
Mid Century Modern
Shop All
Osvaldo Borsani P32 Chair
Osvaldo Borsani P32 Chair
Average Price
$5,010
Number Available
3
Osvaldo Borsani P32 Chair
By Osvaldo Borsani
Materials
Fabric, Metal, Upholstery, Wood
Styles
Mid Century Modern
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Osvaldo Borsani furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Osvaldo Borsani furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Osvaldo Borsani furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by Osvaldo Borsani were created in the mid-century modern style in europe during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Ico Parisi, Gianfranco Frattini, and B&B Italia. Prices for Osvaldo Borsani furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $330 and can go as high as $397,156, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $7,205.

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