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 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
$2,964Sale Price|24% Off
H 27.25 in W 28 in D 28 in
1970s Mastercraft Sculptural Brass Dining / Game / Center Table Base
By Mastercraft
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This striking 1970s Mastercraft brass dining or game table base exemplifies the bold sculptural glamour for which the American luxury manufacturer is celebrated. Crafted in brass wit...
Brass
$14,856
H 30.71 in Dm 46.46 in
Osvaldo Borsani Sculptural Round Dining Table in Walnut, Varedo, Italy, 1945
By Osvaldo Borsani, Arredamenti Borsani
Located in The Hague, NL
This very rare dining table was designed by Osvaldo Borsani in 1945 and produced by his company Arredamenti Borsani in Varedo, Italy. The piece is accompanied by a certificate of aut...
Wood, Walnut
Heavy Enameled Metal Cylinder Pedestal Base Top Round Gueridon Dining Table
By Brueton
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Heavy enamel finish mid century Modern heavy beautifully enameled steel with chrome banding single pedestal round center or gueridon small conference table.
Steel
Osvaldo Borsani Style Circular Dining Table
By Osvaldo Borsani, Milo Baughman
Located in Astoria, NY
Osvaldo Borsani Style Circular Dining Table, white top over chrome base. 30.5" H x 72" Diameter. Provenance: From a New York City Collection.
Chrome
Giacometti-style iron game or breakfast table with travertine top
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
Giacometti-style hand-forged iron and travertine game table, customized exclusively for THE TASTEMAKER SHOPPE! The top is reversible, one side being a honed-travertine treated with a...
Travertine, Iron
Osvaldo Borsani Dining Table
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Highland, IN
This elegant pedestal table by Borsani has a sexy curved base in chromed and black lacquered steel which supports a walnut top with a beveled edge.
Steel
Osvaldo Borsani Dining Table, Carrara Marble Top, Steel Base, 1963
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Austin, TX
Table, Italian, designed by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno. Carrara marble top with stylized steel base.
Carrara Marble, Steel
$3,345Sale Price|20% Off
H 31.11 in Dm 48.43 in
Italian Round Dining Table Attributed to Osvaldo Borsani
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Milano, IT
Round table from the 1950s, attributed to Osvaldo Borsani. The table is foldable in its side parts. In fact we find under the table top two locks or brass mechanism that allow the tw...
Brass
Round Onyx & Solid Walnut Dining Table by Osvaldo Borsani, 1950s
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Brescia, Brescia
This exceptional dining table is a rare and highly refined example of Italian post-war design, custom made in the 1950s for an important Milanese family closely connected to the Bors...
Onyx
$5,950
H 29.53 in Dm 51.19 in
Osvaldo Borsani and Eugenio Gerli for Tecno Round Dining Table in Walnut & Steel
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno, Eugenio Gerli
Located in Almelo, NL
Osvaldo Borsani and Eugenio Gerli for Tecno round dining table in Walnut and Steel Italy, 1965. This is a round dining table made from walnut and steel by Osvaldo Borsani and Euge...
Steel
$9,508
H 30.32 in W 41.5 in D 41.5 in
Osvaldo Borsani Square Dining Table with Burlwood Top and Carved Wooden legs
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Milan, IT
Osvaldo Borsani Square Dining Table with Burlwood Top and Beautifully Carved Wooden legs. The table has two extensions measuring an extra 41 cm each
Wood
Louis XVI Style Travertine Top Dining Table or Game Table
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Elegant French Louis XVI style square dining table or game table featuring an Italian travertine top. The square stone top measures nearly 1 inch thick and is supported by a carved beech base with neoclassical style rosettes on the corners. The table has reeded edges and a lovely cerused or glazed finish that beautifully accents the travertine. The long slender legs are reeded and end with toupie feet. Perfect as a Mah Jong table...
Travertine
Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno 54" Round Walnut Top w Bronze Pedestal Base
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Hudson, NY
Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno heavy bronze base with a heavy walnut top. Very nicely styled table. Perfect for home or office.
Bronze
Sold
H 26 in Dm 47.5 in
Rosewood 'T-69' Cafe / Game Table by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno, c. 1965, Signed
By Eugenio Gerli, Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This beautiful 'T-69' table by Osvaldo Borsani (1911-1985) and Eugenio Gerli (1923–2013) for Tecno (Milan, Italy c. 1965) features a beautiful round Rosewood top over a heavy contras...
Steel
Osvaldo Borsani Elegant Table in Mahogany with Bentwood Base, circa 1960
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Entry / game / dining table in mahogany on 4 incurving bentwood supports, the prototype of table T69, by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno, Italy, circa 1960.
Mahogany, Bentwood, Lacquer
Tecno of Italy Rosewood Table with Fold Up Leaves
By Tecno
Located in Troy, MI
Rosewood table with black metal legs and tagged by Italian furniture maker Tecno, circa 1960s. Square top game table has unique hinged fold up leaves which are accessed by swiveling ...
Metal