P38 Chairs by Osvaldo Borsani, Italy, circa 1953
View Similar Items
P38 Chairs by Osvaldo Borsani, Italy, circa 1953
About the Item
- Creator:Osvaldo Borsani (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 31.5 in (80 cm)Width: 22.05 in (56 cm)Depth: 21.26 in (54 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1953
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:Seller: CG000081stDibs: LU293638287553
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 (1953). Borsani would be the firm’s lead designer for 30 years, while fostering work by Vico Magistretti, Carlo di 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.
- Brass and Bronze Bed by Osvaldo Borsani and Arnaldo Pomodoro, circa 1958By Arnaldo Pomodoro, Osvaldo BorsaniLocated in London, GBA rare and beautiful bed frame from the Italian designer, Osvaldo Borsani, and sculptor, Arnaldo Pomodoro. Produced circa 1958, the principal structure of the bed, designed by Borsan...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Beds and Bed Frames
MaterialsBrass, Bronze, Steel
$15,153 Sale Price26% Off - Pair of Hammered Brass Side Tables Attributed to Osvaldo Borsani, circa 1958By Osvaldo BorsaniLocated in London, GBA fantastic pair of brass and fumé glass side tables attributed to Osvaldo Borsani. These two-tiered tables are constructed of the highest quality materials…solid hammered brass and ...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
MaterialsBrass
- Set of Six Cassina Dining Chairs by Farina Morez Ruggero, Italy, circa 1952By Farina Morez Ruggero, CassinaLocated in London, GBA wonderful set of teak dining chairs designed by Farina Morez Ruggero. Originally designed for a restaurant in the northern Italian town of ...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Teak
- Piero Fornasetti 'Capitello Ionico' Chair in Black and White, Italy, circa 2006By Piero FornasettiLocated in London, GBA wonderful 'Capitello Ionico' or 'Ionic Capital' wooden chair designed by the great Piero Fornasetti. Originally designed in the 1980, this particular chair is numbered #24 from a v...Category
Early 2000s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsWood, Lacquer
- Leather 'Joe' Chair Designed by De Pas, D'Urbino, Lomazzi for Poltronova, ItalyBy Gionathan de Pas & Donato D’Urbino & Paolo LomazziLocated in London, GBThis 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...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsMetal
- Pair of 'Maschere' (Masks) Bookends by Piero Fornasetti, Italy, circa 1950By Piero FornasettiLocated in London, GBA rare and beautiful pair of 1950s 'Maschere' (Masks) bookends designed by the incomparable Piero Fornasetti. The bookends each depict a Greek theatrical mask, (tragedy), and are exe...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookends
MaterialsMetal
- Osvaldo Borsani Canada chair Tecno Italy 1965By Tecno, Osvaldo BorsaniLocated in Roosendaal, Noord BrabantIconic 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...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Plastic, Plywood
- Osvaldo Borsani Chairs Wood Skin 1950 ItalyBy Osvaldo BorsaniLocated in Milano, ITOsvaldo Borsani.Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Other Chairs
MaterialsWood
- Osvaldo Borsani, Suite of Twelve Chairs, Tecno Edition, Italy, circa 1970By Osvaldo BorsaniLocated in Saint-Ouen, FROsvaldo Borsani, suite of twelve chairs, Tecno edition, Italy, circa 1970.Category
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsMetal, Stainless Steel
- Chair Designed by Osvaldo Borsani for Techno, Italy, 1950sBy Osvaldo BorsaniLocated in Stockholm, SEChair, designed by Osvaldo Borsani for Techno, Italy, 1950s. Plywood and lacquered steel.Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Scandinavian Modern Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- Set of 3 Italian Chairs, Osvaldo Borsani Style, 1960sBy Osvaldo BorsaniLocated in Palermo, PASet of 3 Italian chairs, Osvaldo Borsani style, 1960s. Dimensions: chairs H= 90 cm; W= 50 cm; D= 65 cm; Height seat = 48 cm. Armchairs H= 90 cm; W= 60 cm; D= 67 cm; Height seat= 48...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsWood
- Osvaldo Borsani P31 Chairs Tecno Italy 1957By Osvaldo BorsaniLocated in Roosendaal, Noord BrabantBeautiful P31 chairs by Osvaldo Borsani and made in Italy by Tecno in 1957. The chairs are in fully original condition and have a wonderful patina, which only adds value to them. The...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsMetal
$3,569 / item
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
Mid-Century Master Osvaldo Borsani Gets His Due at Donzella
The New York City gallery has devoted its latest show to the work of the modernist Italian designer.
Peek inside Osvaldo Borsani’s Mod Italian Villa
The iconic mid-century estate outside of Milan opens its doors to the public for a very special homage.