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.
Rare Osvaldo Borsani Vanity Table in Maple with Mirrors and Built-in Lights
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Osvaldo Borsani for Arredamenti Borsani Varedo, dressing table, model '6142', maple, brass, mirrored glass, lacquered wood, Italy, 1943 An exquisite and truly exceptional vanity tab...
Brass
Art Deco Vanity , Sculptural Entrance Cabinet, by Osvaldo Borsani , Burl Walnut
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Vigonza, Padua
1930s Art Deco Italian sculptural entry cabinet, Vanity or Dressing Table by Osvaldo Borsani in burl walnut, wax polished. The cabinet can be sold separately from the mirror Excellen...
Walnut
$2,800
H 28 in W 51.75 in D 16 in
Art Deco Art Moderne Streamline Gilbert Rohde Herman Miller Vanity c 1930's
By Herman Miller, Gilbert Rohde
Located in New York, NY
Iconic Art Deco, Art Moderne vanity designed by Gilbert Rohde for Herman Miller, circa 1936. The vanity features a bank of three drawers, which supports a floating glass top surface,...
Glass, Birdseye Maple, Walnut
A Fine French Art Deco Mirrored and Mahogany Vanity
Located in Long Island City, NY
A fine French Art Deco engraved mirrored vanity with a mahogany base and one drawer.
Mirror, Mahogany
Italian Modern Sculptural Table By Osvaldo Borsani
By Paolo Buffa, Gio Ponti, Vittorio Dassi, Osvaldo Borsani, Ico Parisi
Located in Houston, TX
Italian Modern Sculptural Table By Osvaldo Borsani. Offered is a lovely Italian mid century modern coffee table or side table in the manner of Gio Ponti. This versatile round table o...
Fruitwood
French Louis XV Vanity Table with Mirror and Side Drop Leaves
Located in BÉTERA, ES
Elegant French Louis XV–style vanity table, crafted in richly toned wood and distinguished by its refined cabriole legs and serpentine front. The piece features a central lift-up lid...
Brass
French Art Deco Bronze Marble Top Washstand Vanity
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Stylish French Art Deco period washstand or vanity featuring a patinated bronze finish and Carrara marble shelves. Crafted from an iron frame with fitted bronze round sleeves on the ...
Carrara Marble, Bronze, Iron
$8,750 / set
H 25.5 in W 57 in D 24 in
Italian Modernist Maple Wood Vanity Table with Stool and Cabinet, 1950
Located in New York, NY
Italian Modernist Maple Wood Vanity Table with Stool and Cabinet, Italy, circa 1950 A highly unique vanity table with elegant and graceful proportions. Hand-crafted from warm-toned...
Glass, Maple
French Art Deco Vanity or Dressing Table, 1930s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Magnificent and rare Art Deco vanity or dressing table. Design in the style of Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann. Striking French design from the 1930s. Black lacquered walnut and burl base wit...
Granite, Marble, Brass
$1,046
H 67.72 in W 29.53 in D 14.57 in
Bauhaus Czech Green Vanity Table with Mirror and Chrome Frame, 1930
Located in Praha, CZ
Original Bauhaus dressing table combining lacquered beech, plywood construction, chrome-plated tubular steel elements, and a newly fitted mirror...
Metal, Chrome
$2,771
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
Art Deco Mahogany Vanity Dresser With Mirror
By Beautility
Located in Pasadena, TX
An Art Deco vanity made by Beautility featuring beautifully grained mahogany and a stylish flowing design. The dresser comprises of mirror, two large drawers,a jewelery drawer and t...
Mahogany
$2,840Sale Price|20% Off
H 65 in W 46 in D 20 in
Art Deco Vanity by J.B. Van Sciver with Parquetry Inlay Donald Deskey Style
By J.B. Van Sciver Company
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A tour de force of Art Deco styling, this vanity retailed by J.B. Van Sciver, showcasing the geometric refinement and architectural influence of the period. The piece features richly...
Mahogany
Italian Art Deco White Parchment Vanity
Located in Queens, NY
Italian Art Deco white parchment diminutive triangular form lady's vanity /dressing table with a drawer centered by 2 side drawers and 2 doors. Parchment is separating from the piece
Wood, Parchment Paper
Rare Osvaldo Borsani Desk, Italy, 1940s
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
A rare desk by Osvaldo Borsani, Italy, 1940s/50s. Leather, wood, glass top. Fast shipping worldwide.
Leather, Glass, Wood