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. Borsani would be the firm’s lead designer for 30 years, while fostering work by Vico Magistretti, Carlo De 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.
Mid-Century 1930s Art Deco Coffee Table, Gaetano Borsani labeled, by Osvaldo
By Osvaldo Borsani, Arredamenti Borsani
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Code: FI48 1930s Art Deco Italian design Mid-Century modern coffee table by Osvaldo Borsani, top in burl walnut and legs in blond walnut. Wax polished. Measure cm: H 47 Diametro of ...
Walnut, Burl
Osvaldo Borsani T47 Coffee Table 1955
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Rome, IT
a rare coffe table T47 designed by Osvaldo Borsani for TECNO 1955; Zebrawood and black laquared feet; detachable feet Biblio:G.Bosoni "T...
Zebra Wood, Walnut
Osvaldo Borsani Mirrored Glass Table and Walnut Wood, 1940
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Milano, IT
Osvaldo Borsani mirrored glass table and walnut wood, 1940.
Wood, Glass, Mirror
$2,569Sale Price|20% Off
H 19.3 in Dm 25.6 in
Osvaldo Borsani Blond Walnut Center Table, Coffee Table, Italy 1940s
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Roma, IT
Marvellous round coffee table in a fantastic old walnut. This fantastic piece was design by Osvaldo Borsani in the 1940s in Italy. The coffee table, fully made in a gorgeous walnut,...
Wood, Glass, Walnut
$6,500 / item
H 14 in W 36 in D 20 in
Modern Oval Coffee Table in Walnut Wood Cylinder Base and Glass by Ercole Home
By Ercole Home
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Palazzo oval coffee table with green and ivory Japaneese glass sits on 4 Walnut Wood pedestal by Ercole Home. This new bespoke coffee table design by Ercole Home is available today for your living space. A sleek table with high craftsmanship and flowing mosaic patterns. The ivory and green glass is embedded into carved out refined walnut wood. Skillfully executed by Ercole's team of mosaic artists. Part of the Palazzo collection...
Art Glass, Cut Glass, Walnut
Art Deco Coffee Table by Josef Frank, Cuban Mahogany, Sweden, 1920s
By Svenskt Tenn, Josef Frank
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A dark-brown, vintage Art Deco Swedish coffee, sofa table made of hand crafted polished cuban mahogany wood, designed by Josef Frank and produced by Svensk Tenn in good condition. Th...
Mahogany
$4,200Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 23.75 in Dm 19.75 in
Pair of Steel and Ebonized Wood Circular Tables, Style of Osvaldo Borsani
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in New York City, NY
A Minimalist pair of tulip design, splay leg end tables in steel and lacquered wood. The austere and streamline design make this pair appealing...
Steel
$2,474Sale Price|20% Off
H 30.32 in Dm 47.25 in
Osvaldo Borsani round dining table, walnut, four feet, circa 1951
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Rome, IT
Osvaldo Borsani round dining or center table, circa 1951 produced by Arredamento Borsani Varedo 1951 the table is one of a series od table designed as prototype of model T40 walnut...
Walnut
Osvaldo Borsani Dining Table
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Highland, IN
This elegant pedestal table by Borsani has a sexy curved base in chromed and black lacquered steel which supports a walnut top with a beveled edge.
Steel
Exceptional Rare Osvaldo Borsani Console, Italy, 1940s
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
An exceptional wall-mounted console by Osvaldo Borsani, Italy, 1940s. Maple wood, gilded wood and marble, with wall bracket. Produced by Atalier Borsani Varedo. Some signs of age a...
Marble
Osvaldo Borsani, Coffee Table, Mahogany, Glass, Italy, 1940s
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in High Point, NC
A mahogany, glass, metal and gold-leaf coffee table or side table designed and produced by Osvaldo Borsani, Italy, c. 1940s. Recognized by Archivio Osvaldo Borsani under reference n...
Glass, Mahogany
On Hold|$2,417
H 15.95 in W 48.04 in D 26.78 in
Art Deco Sofa Table, Amboyna Roots Veneer, France, Circa 1930
Located in Regensburg, DE
Low rectangular art deco sofa of coffee table from France about 1930. Amboyna roots wood veneered and lacquered. Black lacquered at the edges. Dimensions: H 40, 5 cm x W 122 cm x D...
Lacquer, Amboyna
$3,773
H 17.72 in W 39.38 in D 25.6 in
Italian Coffee Table in Walnut Wood by Osvaldo Borsani, c.1950s
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in London, GB
Coffee table in walnut wood by Osvaldo Borsani, c.1950s. Walnut wood, cut and coloured glass Dimensions: W100 x D65 x H45 cm.
Wood
Peniche Coffee Table
By Project 213A
Located in Macieira de Sarnes, PT
Peniche Coffee Table Designed by Project 213A in 2023 Circular coffee table in solid oak joint together with different width elements. Bespoke dimensions upon request. Handmade in ...
Oak
$24,000 / set
H 17.5 in W 36.25 in D 8.5 in
Osvaldo Borsani for ABV Wall Mounted Console and Mirror, circa 1940
By Osvaldo Borsani, Atelier Borsani Varedo
Located in New York, NY
An Osvaldo Borsani Varedo finely carved walnut wall-mounted console table with mirrored surface and accompanying circular walnut wall mirror with elegant scalloped edge. The rectang...
Glass, Walnut, Mirror
Osvaldo Borsani Elegant Coffee Table in Wood Walnut
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Milano, IT
Italian vintage round table from the 1950s, attributed to Osvaldo Borsani. The Italian Vintage Round Table is foldable in its side parts. In fact we find under the table top two lock...
Wood
Osvaldo Borsani Side Table Italian Walnut and Glass
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Milano, IT
Elegant 1950s living room coffee table by Osvaldo Borsani. The coffee table is totally made of walnut wood cin beautiful wood grain. The table has three legs in a single trunk at the...
Glass, Wood
Sold
H 16.15 in Dm 35.44 in
Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno Italian Round White Marble Coffee Table "T61", 1957
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Italian Mid-Century Modern design “T61c” round big side table, sofa table or coffee table designed by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno with white marble top (Carrara marble) and bent sheet ...
Carrara Marble, Metal
Osvaldo Borsani Wood Dining or Sofa Table for Tecno Model T41, 1950s
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Italian circle dining table or sofa table model T41 designed by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno with teak wood top and painted metal structure, 1950s Please note that the item is origina...
Metal
Osvaldo Borsani Console
By Atelier Borsani Varedo, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in New York, NY
Rare 3-drawer console table #7103 by Osvaldo Borsani for ABV. Rosewood, mahogany, bronze, brass and back-painted glass. Wood has been refinished, and metal cleaned. Provenance: Bors...
Brass, Bronze
Osvaldo Borsani Nesting Tables T61E Tecno Italy, 1957
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Nesting table set model T61E designed by Osvaldo Borsani and manufactured by Tecno, Italy 1957. The 3 tables have a v shaped black painted metal frame that slides in each other and t...
Metal
Sold
H 24.81 in W 18.9 in L 24.81 in
Pair of Midcentury Coffee Table by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno Model T44, 1950s
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Milano, IT
Pair of tables by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno Model 744. The seat is in mahogany lacquered curved plywood on a painted iron tripod base that ends with brass feet. The pair of coffee ta...
Brass, Iron
Valabrega Coffee Table, circa 1940, Italy
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Brussels, BE
Rare Valabrega coffee table, circa 1940, Italy. Three stained wood slat legs, dark carved wood stretcher, original glass top. Good original condition. D...
Glass, Wood