From his early start at his father’s boutique furniture and cabinetry atelier — Arredamenti Borsani (ABV) — Italian designer Osvaldo Borsani began to steadily dream to life the movement-inducing pieces that would eventually lead to him founding his innovative furniture company, Tecno, with his twin brother, Fulgenzio.
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. He first worked for the family furniture-making firm, ABV, an atelier influenced by the more expressive and curvaceous wing of Art Deco design. Borsani took over Arredamenti Borsani in 1937.
With his stylish and technically innovative furniture, 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.
While he is today recognized as a master of mid-century modernist Italian furniture, Borsani is most famous these days for cofounding Tecno. (He and Fulgenzio also created Villa Borsani, a visionary mid-century estate cherished for its modern lines and exquisite custom furnishings.)
When Borsani opened Tecno, an office-focused maker of industrial design, his design sensibilities had evolved toward furnishings with strong, simple forms enhanced by mechanical innovations, as with the P40 adjustable armchair.
When they were originally released, Tecno pieces like the P40 and the award-winning D70 sofa bed were acclaimed as cutting-edge, and they are still considered groundbreaking in their adaptability and functionality. The firm quickly garnered widespread acclaim for its tech-forward designs and quality craftsmanship.
Borsani would be Tecno’s lead designer for 30 years, while partnering on projects with the likes of architect Eugenio Gerli and fostering work by Vico Magistretti, Carlo De Carli, Robin Day and others.
Borsani designed pieces for Tecno until shortly before his death in 1985, when his daughter Valeria and her husband, Marco Fantoni, took over the creative work.
Today, the family’s legacy is preserved by Borsani’s architect grandson Tommaso Fantoni, who, along with Norman Foster, curated a blockbuster retrospective of Osvaldo Borsani’s work at Milan’s Triennale Design Museum in 2018.
Find vintage Tecno chairs, tables, desks and other furniture on 1stDibs.
$1,224Sale Price|20% Off
Art Design Chair - Stand Alone chair - Artistic Chair by Milanese Studio
By Spinzi, Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Milano, IT
Art Chair - Mid Century Office Chair - Osvaldo Borsani Seating customized by Spinzi Milano - One off piece - Art Design- Hand made - Osvaldo Borsani was an influential designer of ...
Stainless Steel
Set of Eight Leather Office Chairs by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Barcelona, ES
Set of eight office chair designed in 1966-1976 by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno, Italy. Cast aluminum with chrome-plated bases and original black leather upholstery. Swivel base with ad...
Metal, Aluminum
Swivel - Armchair "P32", Design: Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno, Italy 1956
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Wolfurt, AT
The rotating armchair "P32" was designed by Osvaldo Borsani and manufactured by Tecno in Italy in 1956. It is in its original condition and brings the original label of the manufactu...
Brass, Metal
Italian modern leather and metal armchair by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno, 1970s
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern leather and metal armchair by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno, 1970s Black leather armchair or office chair. The backrest and seat are padded and feature fine vertical stitc...
Metal
$469
H 29.14 in W 22.45 in D 20.87 in
Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno Green "Modus" Office Chair, Italy 1970s
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Naples, IT
Designed by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno in the 1970s, this swivel office chair consists of a green plastic shell covered in green fabric on the seat and back, together with an aluminiu...
Aluminum, Steel
$12,449Sale Price|20% Off
H 37.41 in W 43.31 in D 68.9 in
Leather 'Joe' Chair Designed by De Pas, D'Urbino, Lomazzi for Poltronova, Italy
By Gionathan de Pas & Donato D’Urbino & Paolo Lomazzi
Located in London, GB
This super sized, super cool, leather 'Joe' chair has now become a design classic. Designed by Jonathan De Pas, Donato D'Urbino and Paolo Lomazzi in 1970, this contemporary re-editio...
Metal
Modus Office by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno 1960s Desk Chair
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Brescia, IT
1968 by Tecno revolving chair White ivory plastic, acrylic seat and aluminum frame H max seat: 52 cm.
Aluminum
Swivel Lounge Chairs Designed by Phillip Enfield
By Phillip Enfield
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A pair of swivel lounge chairs by Phillip Enfield. Stainless steel base with newly reupholstered Shagreen leather. These gorgeous chairs swivel 360°, circa 1960s
Stainless Steel
Osvaldo Borsani P 40 For Tecno 1960's
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Brussels, BE
The versatile and comfortable P40 lounge chair was designed by Osvaldo Borsani in 1955 for Tecno. The chair can be adjusted into over 400 positions; the back can be reclined in diffe...
Metal, Brass
$4,522
H 33.47 in W 28.35 in D 50.4 in
P40 Lounge Chair By Osvaldo Borsani For Tecno In Original Leather, Italy 1960s
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in ABCOUDE, UT
Stunning P40 lounge chair in original black/greenish leather by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno, Italy 1960s. Both comfortable as appealing is what this iconic design can be described as....
Metal, Brass
$34,063 / set
H 33.86 in W 26.38 in D 31.11 in
Important Pair of Osvaldo Borsani P71 Armchairs in Walnut, Tecno, Italy, 1954
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in The Hague, NL
This important pair of armchairs was designed by Osvaldo Borsani and produced by Tecno in Como, Italy in 1954. The very rare P71 was one of the first designs produced by Tecno after ...
Fabric, Chenille, Upholstery, Walnut
Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno D70 Reclining Sofa
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Norwalk, CT
An iconic example of Italian mid-century design, continually reproduced for its highly renowned marriage of style and functionality, this fully adjustable reclining sofa...
Leather
1956, Osvaldo Borsani, for Tecno, P40 Lounge Chair
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Amsterdam IJMuiden, NL
This chair is part of the private collection of Casey Godrie and is situated in his private house. Ask him for competitive shipping quotes. His incredible Dune Villa, Amsterdam Beac...
Metal
$347Sale Price|50% Off
H 29 in W 19 in D 19 in
Osvaldo Borsani Modus Desk Chair, Red Plastic & Aluminum, Italy 1970
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Red Osvaldo Borsani Revolving Office Chair Produced by Tecno in Italy circa 1970 Plastic seat on aluminum frame with caster wheels. Perfect for a small desk.
Aluminum
Osvaldo Borsani Canada chair Tecno Italy 1965
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Iconic so called 'Canada' lounge chair model P110 designed by Osvaldo Borsani and manufactured by Tecno, Italy 1965. The Canada chair is constructed by 2 moulded plywood side panels, connected with 2 bent wooden cross bars, which holds the frame in balance and a part. The thick leather upholstered cushion structure hangs in the frame and is connected with black plastic caps. The Canada seating series was developed from some rough initial sketches by Valeria Borsani and Marco Fantoni while they were still young...
Leather, Plastic, Plywood
$3,400
H 42.5 in W 36 in D 32 in
George Mulhauser Designed Plycraft Walnut Black Leather Lounge Chair Ottoman
By Plycraft
Located in Essex, MA
George Mulhauser designed Plycraft walnut and Italian leather lounge chairs and ottomans, bent stacked laminated plywood swivel tilting walnut lounge chairs, and ottomans in the style of Eames. They are in excellent condition and professionally restored circa 1960 - 1970. Beautiful patina to the walnut wood frame, reclining black leather...
Leather, Wood
Sold
H 29.93 in W 22.05 in D 21.26 in
Italian Modern Modus Chair by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno, Italy 60s
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Lucija, SI
Grey plastic Chair, model Modus, was designed by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno in '60, in Italy. The Chair is made of grey ABS plastic, silver aluminum swivel star base on black plastic ...
Metal
Sold
H 44.89 in W 27.56 in D 24.02 in
Executive Office High Back Chair by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno, Italy, 1972
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Almelo, NL
Executive office high back chair by Osvaldo Borsani for the Italian manufacturer Tecno features a maroon brown leather body with a generously proportioned button-tufted leather seat and back and floating on a five-pronged rolling adjustable cast aluminum base. Super Italian shaped chair...
Aluminum
Osvaldo Borsani Swivel Chair "P32", Tecno, Italy
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Wolfurt, AT
The rotating armchair "P32" was designed by Osvaldo Borsani and manufactured by Tecno in Italy in 1956. It is in its original condition and brings the original la...
Metal, Brass
Swivel Lounge Chair by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno, Italy
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Utrecht, NL
P32 armchair by Osvaldo Borsani, designed in 1956. Unlike other models that appeared in the same period, it boasted an innovative combination of seat movements. The chair is not only...
Steel
Sold
H 32 in W 34 in D 29 in
P32 Memory Swivel Armchair by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno, circa 1958, Signed
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Such a collectible and rare piece of 1950s Italian design, this P32 Memory Swivel Armchair by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno is in its original red felt wool fabric upholstery. Signed wit...
Fabric
Eugenio Gerli PS142 Easy Chairs Tecno, Italy, 1966
By Eugenio Gerli, Tecno
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Very nice pair of low easy chairs designed by Eugenio Gerli and manufactured by Tecno, Italy, 1966. These chairs are made of black leather upholstered structure and they are on caste...
Leather
P32 Swivel Armchair by Osvaldo Borsani, Italy, 1956
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in New York, NY
Timeless swivel lounge chair designed by Osvaldo Borsani for Techno in 1956. Has been re-upholstered in a blue velvet. The legs are lacquered black with brass feet. The flexible back...
Sold
H 44.49 in W 25.99 in D 24.81 in
Mid-Century Italian Osvaldo Borsani Office Chair for Tecno, 1960's
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Paris, FR
Vibrant Osvaldo Borsani adjustable swivel office desk chairs manufactured by Tecno in the 1960s. Restored with a Lelièvre Paris wool type an...
Aluminum
Osvaldo Borsani P32 Lounge Chair
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in New York, NY
P32 lounge chair by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno. Architectural chair with swivel base. Black painted metal legs with brass tips, and vintage Tecno fabric. Signed on...
Swivel chair S88 by Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno Milano 1957
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Berlin, DE
Swivel chair S88 by Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno Milano 1957 renewed upholstery and cover: original >Tecno wool cover
Metal
Swivel Chair by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno Milano, 1954
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Berlin, DE
Swivel Chair by Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno Milano 1954
Metal
Lowchair P32 by Osvaldo Bosani, Tecno Italy, 1956/1962
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Berlin, DE
Lowchair P32 by Osvaldo Bosani, Tecno Italy, 1956/1962