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.
Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno 'E22' Wall Unit or Bookcase
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno, bookcase or wall unit, model 'E22', lacquered steel, lacquered aluminum, wood, glass, Italy, design 1957. This sleek, wall-mounted shelving unit, crafted ...
Aluminum, Steel
Osvaldo Borsani Modular Rosewood Bookcase Wall Unit with Removable Panels
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Large modular rosewood bookcase/wall unit by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno (ca. 1960, Italy). Composed of six gold aluminum uprights forming five bays/sections with the five original, re...
Metal, Aluminum, Steel
$2,927
H 61.03 in W 63.78 in D 14.77 in
Poul Cadovius Mid- Century Modern Modular Teak Wall Unit Shelving for Cado, 1960
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in The Hague, NL
Danish modern teak wall unit designed by Poul Cadovius, Denmark, circa 1960s. This piece is contains one cabinet with drawers and 7 shelves This piece is completely adjustable, and...
Teak
$3,584Sale Price|20% Off
H 71.86 in W 70.87 in D 19.69 in
Mid Century Wall Unit Cabinet by Nils Jonsson for Troeds
By Troeds Bjarnum 1, Nils Jonsson
Located in Mortsel, BE
Very nice wall cabinet, some wear and tear see pictures please
Wood, Rosewood
$5,900
H 95.5 in W 65.5 in D 21 in
Mid Century Omni Wood Modular Wall Unit Shelving & Bookcase by George Nelson
By George Nelson
Located in Detroit, MI
This vintage mid century modern Omni wall unit shelving system designed by George Nelson is circa 1960. This ingenious shelving system features spring-loaded floor to ceiling aluminu...
Metal, Aluminum
$4,810
H 90.5 in W 27.5 in D 10 in
Contemporary Asymmetrical Bookcase with Teak Wall Panel and Aluminum Shelving
By Tisettanta
Located in Chicago, IL
Bookcase unit to be horizontally or vertically positioned. Shelves in aluminium varnished folded sheet metal. Back panel in teak wood. Designed by Giuseppe Vigano for Tisettanta ...
Aluminum
50 Piece Barzilay Walnut Wall Unit
By Barzilay
Located in Los Angeles, CA
We have over 50 pieces of this amazing Barzilay walnut wall unit with aluminum accents. Please contact us for custom pricing and visit our L...
Aluminum
$2,927
H 63.78 in W 95.28 in D 15.75 in
Poul Cadovius Mid- Century Modern Modular Teak Wall Unit Shelving for Cado, 1960
By Poul Cadovius, Cado
Located in The Hague, NL
Danish modern teak wall unit designed by Poul Cadovius, Denmark, circa 1960s. This piece is contains one cabinet and 9 shelves This piece is completely adjustable, and any of the c...
Metal
Danish Modern Teak Bookshelf Wall Unit
Located in Atlanta, GA
Danish Modern Teak Bookshelf Wall Unit, Denmark, circa 1960s. This piece is a versatile size and can be used as a bookshelf, bar, media cabinet, vitrine...
Glass, Wood, Teak
Large Mid-Century Modern Bookcase or Wall Unit
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This impressive Mid-Century Modern wall unit boasts natural wood finish and spacious storage options add to the appeal of this stunning piece. This vintage modern sideboard features ...
Wood
$1,611
H 78.75 in W 33.86 in D 13.78 in L 59.06 in
Danish Vintage Reol Shelve Wall Unit by Kai Kristiansen for Fm Møbler, 1960s
By FM Møbler, Kai Kristiansen
Located in Breda, Netherlands
Meet a true icon of Danish modern: the reol (shelving) system by Kai Kristiansen. Clean lines, clever proportions, and that effortless Scandinavian cool—this modular system is everyt...
Rosewood
$9,395 / set
H 95 in W 129.5 in D 18 in
George Nelson for Herman Miller Mid Century Walnut Omni Wall Unit - 4 Bay
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Franklin Park, IL
George Nelson for Herman Miller mid-century walnut omni wall unit - 4 bay This wall unit measures: 129.5 wide x 18 deep x 95 inches high. All piec...
Metal
Space Age Italian Wall Unit
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An Italian Space Age wall unit. Laminate blue faux bois with black lacquer, glass and aluminum details. A diverse storage piece allowing for use as a bookshelf, bar unit or media cab...
Aluminum, Chrome
$8,960 / set
H 43.71 in W 160.64 in D 14.97 in
606 wall unit by Dieter Rams for Vitsoe, 1960s Germany.
By Dieter Rams, Vitsoe
Located in Landgraaf, NL
606 wall unit by Dieter Rams for Vitsoe, 1960s Germany. The 606 is a well-known modular shelving system that became a benchmark of modernist design. The system is based on a simple a...
Aluminum
Osvaldo Borsani Large Italian Walnut Wall Console Table
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Milano, IT
Rare Italian wall console from the 1950s by Osvaldo Borsani. The shelf is totally made of walnut wood and is made of a single slab of wood. The peculiarity of the console shelf is i...
Walnut
Sold
H 8.27 in W 98.43 in D 18.9 in
Large Shelf by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno Vintage, Italy, 1970s-1980s
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Milano, IT
Large wall shelf designed by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno, lacquered wood. Aluminum supports. Manufactured in Italy, 1970s-1980s.
Aluminum
Wall Unit by Osvaldo Borsani
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Elegant wall unit or bookcase by Borsani for Techno, Milano. Rosewood has been newly refinished with a hand rubbed polish. The case features four vertical steel columns which hold th...
Steel
Sold
H 80.32 in W 20.87 in D 1.19 in
Unique Lucio Fontana Pair of Painted White Doors for Borsani, Bronze Handles
By Lucio Fontana, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Rome, IT
Important unique pair of big doors painted by Lucio Fontana in 1952, with sculptured bronze handles produced for Osvaldo Borsani Baroque decoration painted with original bronze han...
Brass
Osvaldo Borsani Glass and Brass Coatrack
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Rare coatrack by Osvaldo Borsani/Tecno. Brass hooks mounted on glass.
Brass