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 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
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 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
$2,727
H 20.08 in W 47.25 in D 23.63 in
Osvaldo Borsani Maple and Glass Occasional Table, Italy, 1940s
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in London, GB
An elegant occasional table designed by Osvaldo Borsani, produced in Italy during the 1940s. Showcasing Borsani's exceptional eye for proportion and materiality, the table combines a...
Glass, Maple
Mid-Century Modern Coffee Table by Osvaldo Borsani, Italy, 1940s
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Piacenza, Italy
Wood and glass coffee table attributed to Osvaldo Borsani. Elegant low table with peculiar shape composed by a circular top and a unique base all realized in glass and finely decora...
Glass, Wood
$3,750
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
Osvaldo Borsani Attributed Walnut Side Table, circa 1940
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in New York, NY
Osvaldo Borsani Att. walnut petite side table or drinks table with a circular top, carved center spindle design and circular base support. Italy, circa 1940's Size: 23" high x 15 1...
Walnut
$2,437Sale 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
$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 Atelier Borsani Varedo, Osvaldo Borsani
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, Mirror, Walnut
$3,800
H 13.5 in W 35.5 in D 35.5 in
Osvaldo Borsani Square Coffee Table in Leather and Mirror, Italy, 1970s
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Designed by Osvaldo Borsani, circa 1970. Elegant details throughout. Glass top and leather base is in original condition. Ref: Osvaldo Borsani (Leonardo de...
Leather, Glass, Mirror
Osvaldo Borsani Cocktail Table, Hand-Carved Wood & Glass, Italy, 1940
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in New York, NY
A unique and visually captivating Osvaldo Borsani cocktail table. The very thick circular crystal glass top is supported by three canted legs interconnected by an undulating exubera...
Cut Glass, Wood
Osvaldo Borsani, Side Table, Walnut, Italy, 1930s
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in High Point, NC
A walnut side table designed and produced by Osvaldo Borsani, Italy, c. 1930s. Wear consistent with age and use, including some natural wood cracking. Overall Dimensions (inches): ...
Walnut
Very Rare Dining or Coffee Table T41 by Osvaldo Borsani
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Munich, DE
For tecno/ Italy. Wonderful height adjustable table. Can be used in every high between 50 and 77cm. Remarkable table top with amazing veneer.
Wood
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 Osvaldo Borsani, Atelier Borsani Varedo
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