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Brass and Bronze Bed Frame 8605 by Osvaldo Borsani for Borsani Varedo, 1959
About the Item
An extraordinary and extremely rare bed designed by Osvaldo Borsani and produced by Borsani Varedo in 1959, in collaboration with renowned sculptor Arnaldo Pomodoro.
The bed is crafted entirely from cast hammered brass and bronze plates, featuring decorative horizontal elements in metallic enamel with abstract concave and convex motifs. This work of applied art is of exceptional craftsmanship and historical importance, officially recognized by the Osvaldo Borsani Archive as part of the collaborations with Maestro Pomodoro. However, it is not listed in the Arnaldo Pomodoro Archive, as these collaborations were spontaneous and undocumented at the time.
This is currently the only known example on the market in this unique configuration featuring three rows of rings: two larger outer rows (top and bottom) and a smaller central one, each with decorative bronze plates within.
This specific three-row version directly inspired the great designer and sculptor Luciano Frigerio in creating his first cast brass bed-"Thailandia," designed with Ciansky and Scelba in the late 1960s. That bed marked the beginning of Frigerio di Desio's decades-long production of sculptural brass beds. The "Thailandia" model was intended as a direct homage to Borsani's pioneering work, which heavily influenced Frigerio's direction during the 1970s and 1980s, as confirmed by the Frigerio family heirs.
This piece is officially registered in the Osvaldo Borsani Archive under number 8605, dated 1959.
The bed is in excellent original condition, retaining its original patina. It has been cleaned, but deliberately not polished, in order to preserve its authentic historical surface-leaving the decision to restore or maintain its original state to the discretion of the collector.
Product Name: Brass and Bronze Bed 8605 by Osvaldo Borsani for Borsani Varedo, 1959
Designer: Osvaldo Borsani
Design Year: 1959
Style: Experimental applied art with abstract elements
Primary Materials: Hammered brass castings, bronze plates, metallic enamels
Distinctive Design: Three decorative rows of rings with bronze plate insets-two large rings (top and bottom) and a smaller central one-featuring abstract concave and convex motifs
Dimensions: Headboard Width: 173 cm (68.1 in) - Headboard Height: 120 cm (47.2 in) - Bed Length: 208 cm (81.9 in)
Typical Use: Sculptural bed of high artistic and collectible value
Design Icon: A rare, unique piece that directly inspired subsequent works by Luciano Frigerio, including his Thailandia bed
Versatility: Primarily valued for its artistic and historical significance rather than everyday functionality
Condition: Excellent original vintage condition with period patina; cleaned but not polished to preserve authenticity
Additional Notes: Confirmed by the Osvaldo Borsani Archive (entry no. 8605, 1959); the only known example of this model currently available; direct inspiration for Frigerio's first cast brass bed.
Osvaldo Borsani (1911-1985) was a celebrated Italian architect and designer, widely recognized for his significant influence on modern furniture and interior design. Born in Varedo, Italy, he co-founded the furniture company Arredamenti Borsani Varedo in 1953 with his brother Fulgenzio.
Throughout the 20th century, Borsani played a pivotal role in the development of Italian modernism, introducing innovative materials and production techniques across furniture, lighting, and decor. His elegant, functional designs helped shape the identity of Italian postwar design, and many of his creations are now considered iconic.
He received numerous awards over the course of his career, and his work remains highly sought-after by collectors and enthusiasts of vintage and modernist design.
Arnaldo Pomodoro is one of the most important Italian sculptors of the 20th century, known for his monumental works and his groundbreaking use of bronze and other materials. Born in Morciano di Romagna in 1926, Pomodoro began his career as a goldsmith and designer before emerging as a leading figure in contemporary sculpture, celebrated for his visionary and experimental approach.
While Pomodoro primarily worked with bronze, he also explored other materials such as steel, stone, and concrete. His casting and surface treatment techniques are particularly innovative-often contrasting polished exteriors with fractured, intricate interiors, as if revealing hidden worlds beneath smooth surfaces. His works strike a unique balance between harmony and chaos, embodying a deep meditation on form and matter.
Over the course of his career, Pomodoro collaborated with numerous architects and artists, contributing to major cultural projects. During the 1960s and '70s, he worked alongside figures like Lucio Fontana and Piero Manzoni and participated in avant-garde movements such as Spatialism.
A visionary artist, Arnaldo Pomodoro has consistently blurred the boundaries between art, architecture, and technology. His ability to transform heavy materials into refined and thought-provoking compositions has redefined how we perceive contemporary sculpture.
- Creator:Atelier Borsani Varedo (Manufacturer),Osvaldo Borsani (Designer)
- Attributed to:Arnaldo Pomodoro (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 47.25 in (120 cm)Width: 81.89 in (208 cm)Depth: 68.12 in (173 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1959
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. No structural damage.
- Seller Location:Conversano, IT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU8395241833552
Osvaldo Borsani
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.
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Nightstands (each): L 40 cm x W 64 cm x Thickness 4 cm (15.7 in x 25.2 in x 1.6 in)
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