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 69.75 in W 32.5 in D 14.75 in
Osvaldo Borsani Console Mirror
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Osvaldo Borsani curved console with attached mirror circa 1940s Beautiful curved shape with slatted maple and mahogany wood Great original patina.
Mirror, Mahogany, Maple
H 30.75 in W 67.5 in D 16.25 in
Large Osvaldo Borsani Console Dresser, 1940s (attributed)
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Osvaldo Borsani console dresser, Italy, 1940s. Elegant silhouette featuring eight drawers, original opaque glass top, and tapered legs. Beautiful original patina.
Brass
H 31.5 in W 25.6 in D 11.82 in
Exceptional Rare Osvaldo Borsani Console, Italy, 1940s
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
An exceptional wall-mounted console by Osvaldo Borsani, Italy, 1940s. Maple wood, gilded wood and marble, with wall bracket. Produced by Atalier Borsani Varedo. Some signs of age a...
Marble
H 16 in W 59 in D 14 in
Floating Marble & Giltwood Console & Mirror by Osvaldo Borsani
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Hanover, MA
An exceptional and rare floating marble and giltwood console & mirror by Osvaldo Borsani, Italy, 1946. This listing is for one mirror and console but we do have a pair available, lis...
Marble
H 30.71 in W 77.56 in D 19.69 in
Italian Art Deco Console Tables Attributed to Osvaldo Borsani, 1940
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Rome, IT
Elegant and rare Italian designed console tables handcrafted finely carved in exotic woods and black glass top. Beautifully executed by the artisan creating an understated piece att...
Wood
H 86.5 in W 33.75 in D 11.5 in
Osvaldo Borsani Mirror
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Beverly Hills, CA
Osvaldo Borsani floor length mirror with floating shelf — Italy 1940s Beautiful two-toned walnut frame with hand carved concave arch detailing A floating, semi-oval glass console ...
Mirror, Glass, Walnut
H 11.02 in W 39.3 in D 14.9 in
Furted wood wall console attributable to Osvaldo Borsani
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Catania, IT
Furted wood wall console attributable to Osvaldo Borsani with two very large drawers
Wood
H 33.47 in W 49.22 in D 13.19 in
Vintage Wooden Console Table with a Mirrored Top attr. to Osvaldo Borsani, Italy
By Osvaldo Borsani, Fontana Arte
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1940s. This console table features a mirrored top with inlaid stars, a cherrywood and lacquered beech frame, a Portoro marble base and brass details. The top is proba...
Marble, Brass
H 4.34 in W 51.97 in D 16.15 in
Osvaldo Borsani Hanging Consolle
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Milano, MI
Osvaldo Borsani Hanging Consolle with three drawers and extremelly beautiful carved wood decoration, with retro painted glass top.
Glass, Maple
H 29.53 in W 36.62 in D 11.82 in
Midcentury Console & Round Beveled Mirror with Stools, by Osvaldo Borsani
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Vigonza, Padua
They can be sold separately Italy entry room set, attributed to Osvaldo Borsani, circa 1950: mirrored console with drowing and two stools in solid walnut, t...
Plastic, Walnut, Mirror
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
Paul Laszlo Cocktail Table
By Brown Saltman, Paul Laszlo
Located in New York, NY
Architectural cocktail table by Paul Laszlo for Brown Saltman. Dark stained mahogany top floating on two rectangular side supports. Recently refinished and signed on underside.
Mahogany
Lamp Table by Grosfeld House
By Grosfeld House
Located in New York, NY
Wedge shaped table of dark stained wood, with brass trim and white Carrera glass insert top. Elegant form with nice detailing.
Glass, Wood
Table Lamp by Charles et Fils
By Charles et Fils
Located in New York, NY
Sweet Corn table lamp by Charles et Fils. Sculptural lamp of silvered bronze in the form of a husk of corn. Raised on a pedestal base, with three candelabra...
Metal, Bronze
Adjustable 1930s Table Lamp
Located in New York, NY
Newly polished, brass finish and wide articulating shade with white enamel interior. Multiples available.
Brass
"Ventiglio" Table Lamp by Angelo Mangiarotti
By Angelo Mangiarotti
Located in New York, NY
Marble, painted metal. Produced by Skipper Pollux. 3 different marble types fused together to form a semi-circular light diffuser.
Marble, Metal
