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.
H 51.58 in W 67.33 in D 19.49 in
Mid-Century Modern Cabinet in the style of Osvaldo Borsani, Italy 1960's
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in London, GB
Mid-Century Modern Cabinet in the style of Osvaldo Borsani, Italy Material: Rosewood veneer, glass top Dimensions: H 131 x W 171 x D 49.5 cm Year: circa 1960 Mid-Century Modern Sid...
Glass, Rosewood
H 47.25 in W 45.28 in D 14.97 in
Mid-Century Italian Bar Cabinet Osvaldo Borsani style 1950'
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Rome, IT
Elegant and unusual Italian Art Deco bar cabinet. Decorated front door with finely engraved bird figures. Door panels inside with mosaic mirror and brass and glass shelfs. Support w...
Wood
H 53.5 in W 77.5 in D 18 in
Modernist Four Door Cabinet by Oswaldo Borsani
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in New York, NY
Modernist four-door cabinet by Oswaldo Borsani with ceramic pulls by Frederico Quatrini. Mahogany with brass accents and ceramic pulls. Each ceramic pu...
Brass
H 33.47 in W 49.81 in D 13.59 in
Bar Cabinet in the Style of Osvaldo Borsani, Italy 1940s
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Greding, DE
Bar Cabinet standing on two legs with three drawers and a glass top, the middle tor folds down. The interior is completely mirrored. The glass inlays show different decors in the sha...
Glass, Wood
H 47.25 in W 45.28 in D 14.97 in
Mid-Century Italian Bar Cabinet 1950' Osvaldo Borsani style
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Rome, IT
Elegant and unusual bar cabinet. Decorated front door with finely engraved bird figures. Door panels inside with mosaic mirror and brass and glass shelfs. Support with two pull-out d...
Wood
H 47.25 in W 45.28 in D 14.97 in
Mid-Century Italian Bar Cabinet 1950' Attributed to Osvaldo Borsani
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Rome, IT
Elegant and unusual bar cabinet. Decorated front door with finely engraved bird figures. Door panels inside with mosaic mirror and brass and glass shelfs....
Wood
H 74.02 in W 125.99 in D 23.63 in
Cabinet Attributed to Giovanni Gariboldi, possibly made by Colli
By Paolo Buffa
Located in Milano, IT
Enchanting vintage 6-door wooden cabinet designed Attributed to Giovanni Gariboldi, possibly made by Colli, circa 1948, fine Italian manufacture. The closet is made entirely in the l...
Brass
H 48.04 in W 47.05 in D 17.13 in
Mid-Century Cabinet in the style of Paolo Buffa, Italy 1950s
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Cabinet in the style of Paolo Buffa, Italy 1950s
Wood
H 66 in W 39 in D 18 in
1940s Osvaldo Borsani Contenitore
Located in Hanover, MA
Rare and very unusual piece of Italian modern design. Vintage 1940s Italian bow-fronted secretary in walnut with seven drawers with brass ring pulls, attributed to Osvaldo Borsani. T...
Walnut, Goatskin
H 49.81 in W 38.59 in D 20.08 in
1930s cabinet in the style of Borsani
By Osvaldo Borsani, Gaetano Borsani
Located in Correggio, IT
This 1930s Italian-made bar cabinet, in the style or Gaetano and Osvaldo Borsani, is distinguished by its clean and rational lines, an expression of the sober and functional design t...
Mirror, Stained Glass, Wood
Marcello Fantoni Vase
By Marcello Fantoni
Located in New York, NY
Studio ceramic vase with stand by Marcello Fantoni. Tall vase form with pinched neck and triangular spout. Hand-built earthenware with rough, matte black glaze, and multicolored cub...
Ceramic
Untitled Oil on Canvas by Luis Evan
Located in New York, NY
Untitled oil on canvas by Luis Evan. Abstract painting depicting a cityscape, by NYC-based artist Luis Evan. Recently framed.
Canvas
Tomaso Buzzi for Venini Vase
By Tomaso Buzzi, Venini
Located in New York, NY
“Incamiciato” vase by Tomaso Buzzi for Venini, 1933-1984. Designed in the 1930s this example was executed in 1984. Cased-glass vase of mauve exterior ...
Glass
Vase #3315 by Tomaso Buzzi for Venini
By Tomaso Buzzi, Venini
Located in New York, NY
Cased glass in dark brown & gold. 3-line acid etched stamp to bottom date the production of this vase somewhere between 1945-1966.
Art Glass, Blown Glass
Paul Laszlo Chair
By Paul Laszlo
Located in New York, NY
Custom designed pull-up chair by Paul Laszlo. Bleached mahogany frame, with recessed grip detail on the back. Upholstered seat and back.
Mahogany
Paul Laszlo Side Table
By Paul Laszlo
Located in New York, NY
Architectural structure in black stained wood with inset rust-colored leather top. A very rare Laszlo form, most probably a one off creation.
Wood
