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.
Vintage Italian Drinks Cabinet by Eugenio Gerli for Tecno
By Eugenio Gerli, Tecno
Located in London, GB
A very stylish and extremely rare vintage Italian drinks cabinet by Eugenio Gerli for Tecno. It was made in Italy, and dates from the 1960-70’s. ...
Steel
Eugenio Gerli, Trolley bar mod. B106, prod. Techno, 1966
By Tecno, Eugenio Gerli
Located in Rivoli, IT
Mobile-bar mod. B106 in lacquered wood produced by Tecno in 1966. Good condition, small signs of time on the outside
Steel
Mahogany Drinks Cabinet, Dry Bar, Georgian Styling
By Bevan Funnell Ltd.
Located in Toronto, CA
A mahogany dry bar or drinks cabinet crafted in mahogany, Georgian styled with a delicate serpentine curve to the front to give it a classic line...
Wood
1950's Drinks Cabinet
Located in Crowthorne, Surrey
A 1950's drinks cabinet with original internal glass, stands, mirror and drawers. Renovated to the highest standard with a new exterior finish. Width: 83cm / 32.6" Depth: 35cm 13...
Marble
$5,795
H 29.5 in W 33.75 in D 15.75 in
Danish Mid Century Hydraulic Drinks Cabinet or Bar by Kai Kristiansen
By Kai Kristiansen
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Rare Kai Kristiansen Rosewood Hydraulic Bar Cart. With a turn of the key the hydraulic kicks in. First turn the key slightly to the right, push down the top, and the bar will come u...
Wood
$4,079
H 53.55 in W 52.37 in D 17.52 in
Fine Vintage Waring & Gillows Ltd Fully Stamped Flamed Hardwood Drinks Cabinet
By Waring & Gillow
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this very well made flamed mahogany Waring & Gillow drinks cabinet with original stamps to the inside and top of the door A very well made and g...
Hardwood
$5,240Sale Price|20% Off
H 5 in W 35.5 in D 18 in
Vintage MC Rare Bar Cabinet Station by John Keal for Brown Saltman
By Brown Saltman, John Keal
Located in San Diego, CA
Incredible and intelligent design by John Keal for Brown Saltman. This incredible vintage cabinet from the late 1950s transcends decades to amaze with intelligent design and purpose. On the outside, the cabinet is minimal and clean lined with two long sculpted decorative wood bars. Pull the decorative bars up until they lock, carefully let them fall forward and voila! It’s a table and built in bar...
Composition
$2,200
H 52.38 in W 31.5 in D 17.5 in
Vintage Italian Modernist Mahogany and Brass Bar Cabinet by Longato Arredamenti
By Collezioni Longato
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage mahogany highboy bar cabinet with highly stylized anodized aluminum pulls and solid lacquered brass sabots by Longato Arredamenti of Padova (circa 1960s, Italy). Jonathan de ...
Aluminum, Brass
$8,197
H 55.12 in W 46.46 in D 16.93 in
Brutalist Style Italian Dry Bar made of Oak Wood, Hand-carved Drinks Cabinet
Located in Madrid, ES
Italian hand-carved oak wood bar cabinet with four folding doors and central interior shelf. Discover the essence of Italian style with our stunning contemporary oak wood bar cabin...
Wood
20th Century Italian Art Deco Drinks Cabinet
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
20th Century Italian, late Art Deco drinks cabinet. Smart and stylish drinks cabinet on stand; in sycamore and rosewood veneers. Circa 1940.
Rosewood, Sycamore
Art Deco Walnut Cocktail/Drinks Cabinet
Located in Forest Row, East Sussex
Art Deco Cocktail Cabinet. Upper section opens to reveal mirrored glass interior with chrome fittings and pull out mirrored mixing tray. The lower cent...
Walnut
Gallotti & Radice bar trolley
By Gallotti & Radice
Located in Catania, IT
Gallotti & Radice bar trolley, Italian production between the late 80s and early 90s, the trolley is in excellent condition.
Glass, Wood
$5,504Sale Price|20% Off
H 63 in W 31.5 in D 17.8 in
Basa drinks cabinet Luxurious Italian Hand Made Details Unique Furniture
By Gustavo Martini
Located in Roma, IT
The drinks cabinet created by the award winning designer, Gustavo Martini, was conceived with a reference to "Portuguese stones", as are named in Brazil the Portuguese origin basalt ...
Metal
$5,424
H 30.32 in W 20.48 in D 20.48 in
Jamaica Portable Bar Design Eugenio Gerli for Tecno 1965 Style Bar Cart
By Eugenio Gerli
Located in taranto, IT
Wonderful and rare bar and card play openable cart , in all equal to the "jamaica" eugenio gerli one, perhaps more beautuful, if this is possible. Make in wood on wheels, it has bot...
Brass
Mobile Bar "Jamaica" designed by Eugenio Gerli for Tecno
By Tecno, Eugenio Gerli
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Openable bar cabinet on wheels designed in 1966 by Eugenio Gerli and manufactured by Tecno. The cabinet is in excellent condition and possibly needs only polishing of the outer shell...
Laminate, Wood
Sold
H 28.5 in W 35 in D 21.25 in
Jamaica Portable Dry Bar on Casters by Eugenio Gerli for Tecno, 1960s
By Eugenio Gerli, Tecno
Located in Kansas City, MO
"Jamaica" dry bar / bar cart by Eugenio Gerli for Tecno. From what we can tell this may have never been used. The inside looks practically new. No signs of use or wear inside. We had...
Aluminum, Steel
"Jamaica" Dry Bar by Eugenio Gerli for Tecno
By Eugenio Gerli, Tecno
Located in Milan, IT
Jamaica dry bar by Eugenio Gerli for Tecno. Sleek unit on wheels with plywood shells hiding a capable storage area. 4 shelves with steel edges.
Metal
Splendid Eugenio Gerli Mod.B106 Bar Cabinet for Tecno
By Tecno, Eugenio Gerli
Located in Milan, IT
Eugenio Gerli Mod.B106 bar cabinet for Tecno.
Wood, Plywood