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Osvaldo Borsani Furniture

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.

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Color:  Yellow
Creator: Osvaldo Borsani
Chair "Modus" Tecno Design Ovaldo Borsani Eugenio Gerli, 1970s Rare Version
By Eugenio Gerli, Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in taranto, IT
very rare, unique in the world, this original Tecno chair, designed by osvaldo borsani in the 70s probably a prototype that has never entered the market, there is no such trace in...
Category

1970s Italian Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Furniture

Materials

Metal

Italian Midcentury D-70 Sofa / Bed by Osvaldo Borsani & Tecno, New Upholstery
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in New York, NY
An important statement in the history of Modern design: the Italian Mid-Century Modern D 70 sofa, couch or bed by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno. Tecno was one of the ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Osvaldo Borsani Furniture

Materials

Steel, Brass

Related Items
Sculptural form brass day bed by Osvaldo Borsani, Arredamento Borsani, circa 1958
By Arredamenti Borsani, Osvaldo Borsani, Arnaldo Pomodoro
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
Beautiful and important sculpturakl form brass single bed or day bed circa 1958-1963 by Osvaldo Borsani for 'Arredamento Borsani', Varedo , Italy. The small series of Borsani beds designed were produced in several different designs ,each in very limited numbers and all hand made by the Arredamento Borsani in Varedo, italy. This series of beds never went into serial industrial production , a fact confirmed to me by the Arredamento Borsani archives. Beginning in the late 1950s,Osvaldo Borsani went on to collaborate with many great artists such as Lucio Fontana, Fausto Melotti, Agenore Fabbri, Aligi Sassu and Arnaldo Pomodoro, amongst others entrusting each to provide decorative elements to his designs. The brass headboard features a series of heavy cast solid brass interlocking geometric elements each featuring a beautiful organic three dimensional surface finish creating a supremely elegant and timeless repetitive motif . The bed still retains all its original decorative brass nuts ,bolts and finials which feature the same three dimensional decorative finish as the decorative sculptural forms contained in the headboard. We have had a new bespoke mattress and bolster pillow made with a natural latex foam surface as they would have originally had which also has the benefit that latex breathes. The mattress has an opulent decorative buttoned finish . Botht the mattress and pillow have been finished in 100% wool 'PLOEGWOOL' fabric by the high quality Dutch fabric manufacturer DE PLOEG. MATTRESS DIMENSIONS : Width 100cm x length 200cm / 3ft 3.37inch x 6ft 6.74inch BOLSTER PILLOW DIMENSIONS: Width 100cm diameter 24cm / 3ft 3.37inch x 9.45inch The mattress is supported on a 20mm ( 0.75 inch ) thick plywood board ,with breathing holes, which spans across the transverse brass plated steel frame elements. When used as a day bed SEATING...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Furniture

Materials

Brass

Osvaldo Borsani Brass Double Bed, Italy, 1960s
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Brussels, BE
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Furniture

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Osvaldo Borsani Brass Double Bed, Italy, 1960s
Osvaldo Borsani Brass Double Bed, Italy, 1960s
H 47.25 in W 68.9 in D 80.32 in
Italian Midcentury Cherry Parchment Bed by Osvaldo Borsani, 1950s
Located in Traversetolo, IT
Indulge in the timeless beauty of the double bed designed by Osvaldo Borsani in the 1950s - an unparalleled work of art that exudes sophistication and refinement. The original parchm...
Category

1950s Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Furniture

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Osvaldo Borsani Tecno Modus Desk Chair
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Red Osvaldo Borsani Revolving Office Chair Produced by Tecno in Italy circa 1970 Plastic seat on aluminum frame with caster wheels. Perfect for a small desk.  
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Furniture

Materials

Aluminum

1970s Italian Barrel-Back Desk or Cocktail Chair by Eugenio Gerli for Tecno
By Eugenio Gerli, Tecno
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A fully upholstered split barrel-back desk or cocktail chair, model 142, in original vinyl upholstery, on casters. Designed by Eugenio Gerli and Manufactured by Tecno in the 1970s. ...
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Furniture

Materials

Upholstery

Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno "Modus" Office Chair, Italy 1970s
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Naples, IT
Rare yellow Modus office chair with armrests and adjustable height, designed by Osvaldo Borsani and produced for Tecno 1970.
Category

1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Furniture

Materials

Aluminum, Steel

Rare Osvaldo Borsani Single Bed in Brass
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Osvaldo Borsani, single bed, model L79, brass, lacquered wood, fabric, Italy, 1963. This eccentric single bed is designed by Osvaldo Borsani and embodies a splendid construction of...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Furniture

Materials

Brass

Rare Osvaldo Borsani Single Bed in Brass
Rare Osvaldo Borsani Single Bed in Brass
H 37.01 in W 44.1 in D 81.11 in
Modus Office Chair by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Albano Laziale, Rome/Lazio
Off white plastic office swivel chair with orange/red wool fabric resting on an aluminium base with the original castors which functions well. Designed by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno i...
Category

20th Century Italian Modern Osvaldo Borsani Furniture

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Aluminum

Gervasoni Ghost 13 Sofa Bed in White Linen Upholstery by Paola Navone
By Paola Navone, Gervasoni
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Ghost sofa bed family combines functionality, comfort and aesthetics. Available in the armchair-bed and sofa-bed version in multiple sizes, the Ghos...
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21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Osvaldo Borsani Furniture

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Osvaldo Borsani Canada chair Tecno Italy 1965
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Iconic so called 'Canada' lounge chair model P110 designed by Osvaldo Borsani and manufactured by Tecno, Italy 1965. The Canada chair is constructed by 2 moulded plywood side panels, connected with 2 bent wooden cross bars, which holds the frame in balance and a part. The thick leather upholstered cushion structure hangs in the frame and is connected with black plastic caps. The Canada seating series was developed from some rough initial sketches by Valeria Borsani and Marco Fantoni while they were still young...
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Furniture

Materials

Leather, Plastic, Plywood

Osvaldo Borsani Canada chair Tecno Italy 1965
Osvaldo Borsani Canada chair Tecno Italy 1965
H 31.5 in W 31.5 in D 35.44 in
Modus Office by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno 1960s Desk Chair
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Brescia, IT
1968 by Tecno revolving chair White ivory plastic, acrylic seat and aluminum frame H max seat: 52 cm.
Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Furniture

Materials

Aluminum

Pair of two PS142 Chairs Designed By Eugenio Gerli, Italy 1960's
By Eugenio Gerli, Tecno
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of two PS 142 chairs designed by Eugenio Gerli and produced by Tecno. Structure made of solid metal and upholstered with white bouclé wool. Italy 1960s. Tecno Milano label. Mea...
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1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Furniture

Materials

Metal

Previously Available Items
Yellow Leather Loveseat Two-Seat Sofa Osvaldo Borsani Italian Modern
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Yellow leather loveseat two-seat sofa Osvaldo Borsani Italian Modern. Rare leather loveseat designed by the Centro Progetti lead by Osvaldo Borsani for the famed Tecno Company (SPA) ...
Category

Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Osvaldo Borsani Furniture

Materials

Leather

Italian Side Table T1 by Osvaldo Borsani in Brass and Yellow Glass, 1950s
By Osvaldo Borsani, Arredamenti Borsani
Located in Morazzone, Varese
Beautiful iconic and rare side table made in full brass and mirrored glass top. Designed in the 1940s by Osvaldo Borsani and produced in his own company in Northern Italy, Varedo. ...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Furniture

Materials

Brass

Italian Side Table T1 by Osvaldo Borsani in Brass and Yellow Glass, 1950s
By Atelier Borsani Varedo, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Morazzone, Varese
Beautiful iconic and rare side table made in full brass and mirrored glass top. Designed in the 1940s by Osvaldo Borsani and produced in his own company in Northern Italy, Varedo. ...
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1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Furniture

Materials

Brass

Osvaldo Borsani P32 Lounge Chair in Ochre Yellow Velvet for Tecno, Italy, 1956
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Utrecht, NL
The elegant P32 with it’s well proportioned seat, supported by delicate metal rod legs has become a true design Classic over the years. Designed in 1956 by Osvaldo Borsani and produc...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Furniture

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Iron

Osvaldo Borsani P32 Lounge Chairs for Tecno, Italy, 1956
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Rare early edition of the P32 chairs designed by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno, Italy, 1956. These chairs were produced from 1956-1962 and these chairs are from the first production unti...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Furniture

Materials

Brass, Metal

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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