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.
Osvaldo Borsani Dining Set by Tecno with Red Chairs, 1970 Design
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in London, England
This majestic set from the 1970s, designed by Osvaldo Borsani, for Tecno is distinguished by its table measuring 85 cm x 120 cm and a height of 70 cm, accompanied by integrated swive...
Metal
Norman Foster Black Aluminium and Glass Nomos Round Table for Tecno, 1988
By Sir Norman Foster, Tecno
Located in Vicenza, IT
Nomos round table, designed in 1986 by Sir Norman Foster and produced in 1988 by Tecno. Its gleaming glass tabletop, supported by a black lacquered aluminum structure, offers an unp...
Aluminum
$47,040Sale Price / set|20% Off
Osvaldo Borsani Set of Eight Unique High Back Dining Chairs for Tecno, 1971
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Chicago, IL
Osvaldo Borsani set of eight unique high back swivel dining chairs for Tecno 1971, Original cotton velvet upholstery, aluminum with bronzed finish. A copy of the blueprint included ...
Metal
$1,873
H 29.14 in W 45.67 in D 29.53 in
Italian Modern Glass Aluminum Dining Table by Bruce Burdick for Tecno, 1980s
By Bruce Burdick, Tecno
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern glass and aluminum dining table by Bruce Burdick for Tecno, 1980s Dining table with rectangular glass top. The structure is composed by a central part in aluminum wi...
Metal, Aluminum
$1,120Sale Price|20% Off
H 28.75 in W 60.63 in D 31.5 in
Nomos Table by Sir Norman Fosterf for Tecno, 1980s Italy
By Tecno, Sir Norman Foster
Located in Debrecen, HU
Discover the elegant and functional Nomos Table by Sir Norman Foster, produced by the Italian company Tecno, is a work of art in the world of workspace design. This modern masterpi...
Steel
Osvaldo Borsani Italian Brass and Glass Side T1 Tables For Tecno
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Chicago, IL
Osvaldo Borsani pale blue beveled glass and brass pair of side tables. A wonderful pair with a pale blue mirrored color. Original patina. T1 side table produced by Tecno. Italy c19...
Brass
Desk by Osvaldo Borsani T95 for Tecno, Italy 1956
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in ABCOUDE, UT
Fantastic office desk model T95 designed by Osvaldo Borsani and manufactured by Tecno, Italy 1960s. The desk has metal legs and rosewood veneer top and compartments. This nice sized...
Metal
$2,224
H 28.55 in Dm 50.2 in
Mid-Century Modern Vintage Glass Metal Dining Table Osvaldo Borsani Tecno, Italy
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Vienna, AT
A Mid-Century Modern vintage dining table, which was designed by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno, Italy, 1963. The base with curved legs was made of black lacquered cast aluminum with bru...
Metal
Osvaldo Borsani Round Mid Century Table Smocked Glass Tecno SPA, 1950s
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Conversano, IT
Extremely rare T69 XL table with five legs, designed by Osvaldo Borsani in collaboration with Eugenio Gerli in the late 1950s for Tecno SPA. While the standard T69 tables (types A an...
Aluminum, Brass
Desk by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno, 1960s
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in bruxelles, BE
Wood and metal desk. Composed of a box with 3 lockable drawers with key and storage space, and another box with 3 unlockable drawers. The boxes can be turned. Stamped Tecno. Wear du...
Metal
Osvaldo Borsani T96 Executive Desk for Tecno, Italy, 1956
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
The T96 is an executive desk that organises its architecture around two chromed pylons and a boomerang-shaped top, pushed out at each end into obtuse angles that open the desk toward...
Aluminum
Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno Tavolino "T1" , Italy 1960s
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Naples, IT
Rare and stunning small table model T1 by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno. The coffee table is distinguished by its silhouette, characterized by a spherical element placed in the center of...
Chrome
$6,850
H 26.5 in Dm 47.25 in
Osvaldo Borsani Round Dining / Center / Game Table with Travertine Top, Signed
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Kansas City, MO
Osvaldo Borsani dining table or center table or game table with the original one inch thick travertine top with a slightly tapered edge. Black steel base with aluminum panels. The t...
Travertine, Aluminum, Steel
$18,700
H 29.93 in W 118.12 in D 59.06 in
Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno ‘T96’ Executive Corner Desk in Black Lacquered Wood
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno, executive desk, model ‘T96’, lacquered wood, steel, chromed metal, Italy, design 1956, produced 1958 This ‘T96’ executive desk is designed by Osvaldo Bor...
Steel, Chrome, Metal
$1,498
H 16.93 in W 31.5 in D 31.5 in
Steel and Thick Crystal Coffee Table T113 by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno 1970s
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Steel and Thick Crystal Coffee Table T113 by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno 1970s Italian 1970s square coffee table Measures : 80cmx80cm H:43cm Materials : Steel and Thick Crystal Wear c...
Crystal, Steel
Sold
H 29.53 in Dm 51.19 in
Osvaldo Borsani / Eugenio Gerli T69 Dining Set for Tecno, Italy, circa 1960
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno, Eugenio Gerli
Located in Pijnacker, Zuid-Holland
Iconic dining table and six dining chairs by Osvaldo Borsani and Eugenio Gerli for TECNO, Italy, circa 1960. Four chairs have galvanized metal details and two chairs have brass detai...
Metal, Brass
Sold
H 29.53 in W 47.25 in D 43.31 in
Osvaldo Borsani Contemporary Table and 4 Build in Chairs for Tecno, 1970s
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in The Hague, NL
This contemporary design iconic dining room set designed by Osvaldo Borsani and manufactured for Tecno in 1970s period, Italy. White table and four integrated swivel chairs in red...
Aluminum, Steel
Osvaldo Borsani and Eugenio Gerli Dining or Working Set
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani, Eugenio Gerli
Located in Barcelona, ES
Dining or working set designed between 1966-69 by Osvaldo Borsani and Eugenio Gerli for Tecno, Italy. Composed of four PS142 armchairs and T69 table, the set was designed as a compac...
Metal, Steel
Sold
H 28.75 in W 47.25 in L 28.75 in
Osvaldo Borsani Contemporary Table and 4 Build in Chairs for Tecno, 1970s
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in The Hague, NL
This contemporary design iconic dining room set designed by Osvaldo Borsani and manufactured for Tecno in 1970s period, Italy. White table and four integrated swivel chairs in red...
Aluminum, Steel
Borsani Dining Room Set for Tecno, Italy, 1960s
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Antwerp, BE
Borsani Osvaldo, Tecno Italy, conference table and 10 P125 office chairs, mid-century modern, 1966 Rosewood conference table by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno Camel (8) and cognac (2)...
Fruitwood
Borsani T69 Dining Set, Italy, circa 1964
By Eugenio Gerli, Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Pijnacker, Zuid-Holland
T69 dining set by Osvaldo Borsani for TECNO. The table and chairs are made of brushed aluminium. The chairs (swivel) have five aluminum feet, plastic seat shells in a Bordeaux red co...
Aluminum
Osvaldo Borsani For Tecno Table And Four England Chairs
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Pasadena, TX
A set of mid century modern dining furniture. The table was designed by Osvaldo Borsani and made by Tecno and the four chairs were designed by ...
Bronze