Osvaldo Borsani Desks and Writing Tables
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.
10
to
6
4
10
10
10
6
2
24
20
4
2
10
4
4
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
10
7
4
3
2
9
9
274
16
15
14
13
Period: 1950s
Creator: Osvaldo Borsani
Italian Midcentury Desk by Osvaldo Borsani
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Italian large executive desk designed by Osvaldo Borsani, manufactured by Tecno Milano in Italy, circa 1950.
This eye-catching desk has a unique design with the integrated drawer t...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Early variant Osvaldo Borsani desk with two drawers for Tecno, Italy 1950s
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Milan, IT
Minimal Osvaldo Borsani 1950s desk for Tecno, Italy
Carries all the original Tecno transfer labels
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal, Brass
Osvaldo Borsani T95 teak and chromed steel desk for Tecno SPA, Italy, 1956
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
This T95 desk is a remarkable creation by the renowned designer Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno, Italy. Conceived in the 1956 and crafted towards the latte...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel
Mid-Century Modern Desk/ Table by Borsani, Italy, 1950s
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Desk/ Table by Borsani, Italy, 1950s
Category
1950s Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Rectangular Dining Table by Osvaldo Borsani
By Arredamenti Borsani, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in New York, NY
Back-painted glass, brass, walnut. Can easily be used as a dining, entry, or writing table. A rare model.
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Exectutive Desk by Osvado Borsani for Tecno, Italy, 1950s
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large executive table desk designed by Oslavdo Borsani for Tecno, Italy, 1950s. Double pedestal base is brushed aluminum and shows minor oxidation...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Desk, Made of Walnut by Osvaldo Borsani, 1954
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Berlin, DE
Chique and minimal, rare desk designed by Osvaldo Borsani in 1956 and manufactured by Tecno Italy.
the plate and the drawers are made of walnut wood, its construction is made of bla...
Category
1950s Italian Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Desk, Elm Wood, Osvaldo Borsani, 1953
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Berlin, DE
Minimal and elegant desk with drawer. Solid wood construction, take top made of solid elm wood, legs with wooden screw thread. Exhibited at Trienale Milano 1954.
Osvaldo Borsan...
Category
1950s Italian Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood, Elm
Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno Desk, circa 1950s
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A classic and rare, circa 1950s Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno desk with teak top.
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel
Tecno Executive Desk in Walnut and Cast Aluminum by Osvaldo Borsani, Italy 1950s
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Hellouw, NL
This Italian 1950s desk, which can also serve as a table, exudes an unprecedented class and elegance. The very solid boat-shaped top is made of walnut wood and shows a beautiful draw...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Aluminum
Related Items
1970's Italian Extendable Wooden Dining Table by Osvaldo Borsani
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Paris, FR
The Osvaldo Borsani by Tecno transformable walnut table manufactured in the 1960s, embodies his signature blend of sleek design and functionality by transitioning from a low coffee t...
Category
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Italian Glass Top on Chrome Executive 'Nomos' Desk by Norman Foster for Tecno
By Tecno, Sir Norman Foster
Located in Llanbrynmair, GB
A Large Executive Desk, designed by Sir Norman Foster and manufactured by Tecno, Italy. This vintage example dates to late 1980s and in superb original condition. A modern and sleek ...
Category
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Chrome, Aluminum
H 28.35 in W 78.75 in D 39.38 in
Executive Desk by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno Milano, Italy, 1950s
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Beautiful large executive desk designed by Osvaldo Borsani, manufactured by Tecno Milano in Italy, circa 1950.
This eye-catching desk has a unique design with the integrated drawe...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Osvaldo Borsani Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal, Chrome
Osvaldo Borsani & Eugenio Gerli for Tecno Oval Dining Table in Marble
By Eugenio Gerli, Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Osvaldo Borsani and Eugenio Gerli for Tecno, dining table 'T102', lady onyx marble, brass-plated steel, Italy, 1964
The designers Borsani and Gerli created an outstanding piece of furniture together that deserves a prominent place in one's living room. Designed for Italian manufacturer Tecno, this dining room table originates from 1964. The tabletop owns its intricate appearance due to the lady onyx marble with its expressive grey veins alternated by pink hues. In addition, the brass base carries a concave construction that gently remind of organic occurring dynamics.
Osvaldo Borsani (1911-1985) was an Italian designer and architect, raised by a family of fine furniture makers in Varedo. At the age of 16, he joined his father’s furniture shop, the Atelier di Varedo, which was fully engaged in designing and furnishing homes inspired by the Italian Art Deco movement. The designer of the atelier was the Italian architect Gino Maggioni (1898-1955) who was known for his Viennese Jugendstil orientation of the early 20th century. In the 1930s, he graduated from the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera and Politecnico di Milano, where he studied Fine Arts and Architecture respectively. In 1932, the family company was renamed ‘Arredamenti Borsani’ and opened its first studio in Milan. During this period, he encountered Avant-Garde artists of various artistic disciplines like Lucio Fontana (1899-1968), Agenore Fabbri (1911-1998), Aligi Sassu (1912-2000), Roberto Crippa (1921-1972), Fausto Melotti (1901-1986), Arnaldo Pomodoro (1926-) and Giò Pomodoro (1930-2002). These collaborations resulted in the creation of furniture and interior design projects with a high-level of craftsmanship and artistry. In 1953, Borsani founded together with his twin brother Fulgenzio Borsani ‘Tecno’, a design and manufacturing company that produced items based on mechanical innovations and refined technicality. The ‘P40’ adjustable lounge chair (1953) has become the ideological manifesto of Borsani's Tecno program, and still remains the best known, exemplary piece in the Tecno catalogue. Other iconic works that were produced by Tecno were created by Gio Ponti (1891-1979), Vico cham...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Marble, Steel, Brass
H 29.34 in W 70.87 in D 43.31 in
Osvaldo Borsani Grey Marble Center/Dining Table, 1960s
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Raleigh, NC
A striking vein pattern to this graphite marble over steel base. An original Stow Davis table base by Osvaldo Borsani retrofitted with a vintage marble top. Top is newly refinished...
Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Osvaldo Borsani Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Marble, Steel
Osvaldo Borsani and Eugenio Gerli for Tecno Round Dining Table
By Eugenio Gerli, Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Osvaldo Borsani and Eugenio Gerli for Tecno, dining table, model T69, wood, enameled steel, Italy, 1964
The designers Borsani and Gerli created together an outstanding piece of fur...
Category
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel
1950s Mid-Century Italian Wood and Brass Floating Executive Writing Desk Table
By Ico & Luisa Parisi, Gianfranco Frattini, Vittorio Dassi, Gio Ponti
Located in Carimate, Como
Very elegant Italian Art Deco Mid-Century Modern executive desk writing table, with hexagonal shaped top and beautiful floating side drawers standing on central legs and junctions co...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Osvaldo Borsani Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
H 30.71 in W 63 in D 29.53 in
20th Century Italian Rosewood Writing Desk by Osvaldo Borsani & Paolo Buffa
By Osvaldo Borsani, Paolo Buffa
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A dark-brown, vintage Mid-Century Modern Italian half-round writing desk with a clear glass top, made of hand crafted polished Rosewood, designed ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Osvaldo Borsani Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
H 30.75 in W 71 in D 33 in
Marcel Breuer Style Desk 1950s Mid-Century Modern
By Thonet, Marcel Breuer
Located in Lucca, IT
Marcel Breuer style desk 1950s Mid-Century Modern.
Category
1940s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
Italian Mid-Century Modern Desk, Style of Gio Ponti, c 1950s, Refinished
By Gio Ponti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautifully refinished Mid-Century Modern desk produced in Italy circa 1950s. Featuring black steel and wood frame with large brass elements and alternating black and white drawer fr...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Desk / Writing Table, Paul McCobb, Walnut, American, 1950s
By Paul McCobb
Located in Stamford, CT
Mid-Century Modern Desk / Writing Table, Paul McCobb, Walnut, American, 1950s
Having a Large kneehole with Three drawers on one side supporting a white laminate table top writing s...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Laminate, Walnut
H 29 in W 50 in D 28 in
Exectutive Desk by Osvado Borsani for Tecno, Italy, 1950s
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Almelo, NL
Executive desk by Osvado Borsani for Tecno, Italy, 1950s
This is an unlimited opportunity to own an original Osvaldo Borsani 1950's executive desk. It is made in a combination of wa...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Osvaldo Borsani Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel
Previously Available Items
Osvaldo Borsani T95 Desk Tecno, Italy, 1956
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Fantastic model T95 office desk designed by Osvaldo Borsani and manufactured by Tecno, Italy 1956. The desk has metal and aluminium legs and rosewood veneer...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Stainless Steel
Tecno Executive Desk in Walnut and Cast Aluminum by Osvaldo Borsani, Italy 1950s
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Hellouw, NL
This Italian 1950s desk, which can also serve as a table, exudes an unprecedented class and elegance. The very solid boat-shaped top is made of walnut wood and shows a beautiful draw...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Aluminum
H 29.14 in W 86.62 in D 37.01 in
20th Century Osvaldo Borsani Tecno T96 Desk Wood with 2 Chests of Drawers, 50s
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Turin, Turin
Osvaldo Borsani in 1953, together with his brother Fulgenzio, realized his most complex project: a company idea named after the "techne" of the Greeks, which means both art and techn...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
H 30.32 in W 70.87 in D 33.47 in
Desk, T95, Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno, 1956
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Desk made of rosewood, steel, polished aluminum, interchangeable drawers applied to the frame. Designed by Osvaldo Borsani, style mod erno Italian style, this desk is large and multi...
Category
1950s Italian Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Steel, Aluminum
20th Century Osvaldo Borsani Set of 10 Dining Chairs in Wood & Skai '50 for ABV
By Osvaldo Borsani, Atelier Borsani Varedo
Located in Turin, Turin
Osvaldo Borsani in 1953, together with his brother Fulgenzio, realized his most complex project: a company idea named after the "techne" of the Greeks, which means both art and technique. Tecno thinking was born: the perfect synthesis between the artisan experience of the atelier and its declination on a larger scale.
Tecno is first and foremost an entrepreneur's project: Italy has begun its process of tertiarization; the office environment does not yet have its unquestionable formal definition, and that is where Osvaldo Borsani wants to get to: to reinvent for workspaces that mix of formal elegance, rigor and rational functionality that the modern movement had developed for domestic living.
Here a set of ten (10) chairs with structure in wood, upholstery in skai (fake leather...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Faux Leather, Wood
H 35.44 in W 16.93 in D 14.97 in
Mid-century Wooden Desk with Drawers by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno - Italy 1958
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-century Wooden Desk with Drawers by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno - Italy 1958
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
H 29.53 in W 74.81 in D 27.17 in
Boomerang T96 Desk by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno, Italy 1950s
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Greding, DE
Large executive desk with curved table top and two drawer elements, the left element can be adjusted in angle. Tecno Milano label on the frame.
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
Mid-Century Modern Osvaldo Borsani Executive Desk for Tecno, Italy, 1950s
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern Osvaldo Borsani executive desk for Tecno, Italy 1950s.
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Wood
H 29.93 in W 86.03 in D 36.82 in
Large Partners Desk by Osvaldo Borsani
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in London, GB
A large Italian walnut partners desk by Osvaldo Borsani, with four tambour fronted drawers with brass fittings and the original green glass top. The opening is 59cm high x 64cm wide.
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Glass, Walnut
Osvaldo Borsani Boomerang Desk
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Fantastic boomerang desk by Osvaldo Borsani with leather blotter insert.
New refinished in french lacquer finish with 2 pedestals that swivel on brush...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Mahogany
20th Century Osvaldo Borsani Desk Mod. T96 for Tecno with 2 Adjustable Drawers
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Turin, Turin
T96 is distinguished by its welcoming corner shape and two swiveling side drawer units. Together with other furnishings, the desk was commissioned by Enrico Mattei to Osvaldo Borsani...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Metal
H 28.75 in W 98.43 in D 39.38 in
Presidential Style Desk Attributed to Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in London, GB
Large Presidential style desk in rosewood veneer. The metal tripod feet have practical castors whilst the left hand drawer unit pivots. There are three drawers on the right and the o...
Category
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Osvaldo Borsani Desks and Writing Tables
Materials
Chrome
Osvaldo Borsani desks and writing tables for sale on 1stDibs.
Osvaldo Borsani desks and writing tables are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Osvaldo Borsani desks and writing tables, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original desks and writing tables 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 desks and writing tables by Gianfranco Frattini, Ico Parisi, and Franco Albini. Prices for Osvaldo Borsani desks and writing tables can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $1,997 and can go as high as $36,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $7,950.
Creators Similar to Osvaldo Borsani
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Osvaldo Borsani Furniture
Osvaldo Borsani Dining Room Tables
Osvaldo Borsani Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Osvaldo Borsani Tables
Osvaldo Borsani Side Tables
Osvaldo Borsani Console Tables
Osvaldo Borsani Center Tables
Osvaldo Borsani Conference Tables
Osvaldo Borsani Seating
Osvaldo Borsani Case Pieces and Storage Cabinets
Osvaldo Borsani Mirrors
Osvaldo Borsani Lighting
Osvaldo Borsani Wall Decorations