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
$6,250
H 108 in W 105 in D 17 in
George Nelson Omni-Style Modular Wall Unit in Walnut with Black Metal Frame
By Herman Miller, George Nelson
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Striking mid-century modern wall unit in the style of George Nelson, featuring a versatile modular shelving system with warm walnut cabinetry and a distinctive black metal framework....
Aluminum
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
Gerald McCabe Barzilay Wall Unit
By Gerald McCabe
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a nine bay Barzilay wall unit by Gerald McCabe of Los Angeles. Oiled walnut with aluminum detail in great condition. We have a variety of ca...
Aluminum
$5,995
H 72 in W 97.5 in D 16.75 in
Mid-Century Modern Modular Walnut Wall Unit by Noral Olson for Kopenhavn
By Noral Olson
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Mid-century modern modular walnut wall unit designed by Noral Olson for Kopenhavn in the United States during the 1950s. A remarkable example of American craftsmanship influenced by ...
Metal
$3,254
H 78.75 in W 64.57 in D 13 in
Poul Cadovius Freestanding Modular Wall Unit System for Royal System, 1960s
By Royal System, Poul Cadovius
Located in The Hague, NL
Original freestanding wall unit designed by Poul Cadovius, model Royal, in the 1960s for Royal System, Denmark. Freestanding wall unit consists 3 black metal uprights, one cabinet an...
Metal
$1,597
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
$3,840Sale Price|20% Off
H 84 in W 75.25 in D 22 in
Rosewood Metal Glass and Formica Wall Unit Baugnman Attributed for John Stuart
By Milo Baughman, John Stuart
Located in New York, NY
Stunning wall unit having rosewood cabinets with white Formica surfaces, brushed metal trim, and tinted glass shelves. Impressive three bay unit, having storage cabinets, drawers and...
Metal
$2,485
H 59.06 in W 68.9 in D 12.6 in
Kai Kristiansen Teak Wall Unit / Modular Shelving System, Denmark, 1960s
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in BERKEL EN RODENRIJS, NL
Danish mid-century wall unit designed by Kai Kristiansen and made in the 1960s. The unit is crafted from teak and consists of wall-mounted metal rails, adjustable 6 open shelves, and...
Metal
$4,023
H 74.81 in W 38.59 in D 7.49 in
Brutalist Oak Asymmetrical Shelving Unit or Bookcase, The Netherlands, 1970s
Located in Antwerp, Antwerp
A Dutch brutalist shelving unit produced in the 1970s, crafted from solid oak. The piece is defined by its open, architectural construction, with ve...
Oak
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
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
$11,266Sale Price|20% Off
H 114.18 in W 94.49 in D 15.75 in L 114.18 in
Elegant wall-mounted shelving unit attributed to Osvaldo Borsani, Italy, 1950s
Located in Berlin, DE
Unique wall unit with matching credenza designed by Elio Monesi (1927–1994), created for his private home in Milan. The system is composed of two rosewood wall panels and three wenge...
Brass
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 Osvaldo Borsani, Lucio Fontana
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