Osvaldo Borsani Wall Unit for Tecno, circa 1950, Italy
View Similar Items
Osvaldo Borsani Wall Unit for Tecno, circa 1950, Italy
About the Item
- Creator:Osvaldo Borsani (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 96.86 in (246 cm)Width: 111.03 in (282 cm)Depth: 14.57 in (37 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1950
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. Minor fading. Wear consistent with age and use, original varnish. One old restoration to the lower left corner of one of the large cabinet ( photos 7 and 8 ) The steel bars have been re-painted in white. But everything works with the 2 original keys.
- Seller Location:Brussels, BE
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1969313708441
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.
- Philippe Starck John Ild Model Shelving Unit, circa 1977, France.By Philippe StarckLocated in Brussels, BEPhilippe Starck John Ild model self-carying shelving unit for Disform, circa 1977, France. 5 black lacquered wood shelves, black tubular metal. Dimensions:...Category
Vintage 1970s French Post-Modern Shelves
MaterialsMetal
$3,034 Sale Price21% Off - Angelo Lelli Wall Light for Arredoluce, circa 1952, ItalyBy Angelo LeliiLocated in Brussels, BERare original Angelo Lelli wall light for Arredoluce, circa 1952, Italy. Structure in polished brass, two arms mounted on flexible tubes adjustable by pie...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces
MaterialsAluminum, Brass
- Wall Rattan Mirror, circa 1950, FranceLocated in Brussels, BEWall rattan mirror, circa 1950, France. Dimensions: 102 cm H, 72 cm W, 4 cm D. All purchases are covered by our Buyer Protection Guarantee. This item can be returned within 7 days of...Category
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
MaterialsRattan
- Mid-Century Asymmetric Italian Sideboard, circa 1950By Luigi ScreminLocated in Brussels, BEVery elegant mid-century sideboard, circa 1950, Italy. 2 wood doors, 2 glass sliding doors, 3 shelves. Marquetry work with leaves decoration on the central door. Teck and maple w...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sideboards
MaterialsMetal, Brass
- Luciano Frigerio Large Bronze Wall Mirror for Cellini Cantu, circa 1970, ItalyBy Luciano FrigerioLocated in Brussels, BERare and very beautiful large bronze wall mirror designed by Luciano Frigerio for Cellini Cantu, circa 1970, Italy. High quality gilt bronze....Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
MaterialsBronze, Brass
- Mid-Century Pendant Lamp circa 1950, ItalyBy StilnovoLocated in Brussels, BENice pendant lamp, circa 1950, Italy. Diabolo in perforated black painted metal outside, ivory inside, brass decorative detail. Double lighting with two E27 bulbs, one towards the ce...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsMetal
- Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno White Wall UnitBy Osvaldo Borsani, TecnoLocated in Waalwijk, NLOsvaldo Borsani for Tecno, wall-mounted wall unit, metal, white laminated wood, Italy, 1950s This wall mounted shelving system was designed by Osvaldo Borsani. Its purpose was a co...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Shelves
MaterialsMetal
- Osvaldo Borsani E22 Double Sided Freestanding Wall Unit for Tecno, Italy, 1950sBy Osvaldo Borsani, TecnoLocated in Chiavari, LiguriaThis double-sided freestanding E22 bookcase is a rare and peculiar example of Borsani's innovative design and the Tecno manufacturing expertise. Its construction of metal, wood, and ...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
MaterialsMetal
- Wall Bookcase E22 by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno, 1960sBy Tecno, Osvaldo BorsaniLocated in Antwerp, BEWall Unit; Bookcase; E22; Osvaldo Borsani; Tecno; 1960s; Italian Design; Shelves; Writing Desk; Working Desk; Table; Writing Table; Wall Piece; Modular; Italian mid-century moder...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Bookcases
MaterialsMetal
- William Watting for Fristho Wall Unit, the Netherlands 1950'sBy William Watting, FristhoLocated in Amsterdam, NLHigh quality wooden wall unit with brass hooks. Three cabinets and seven shelves. 7 x shelves: x cm 1x cabinet glass doors: cm (LxDxH) 1 x des...Category
Vintage 1950s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Shelves
MaterialsBrass
- Danish Mid Century Wall Unit with 8 Shelves, circa 1950 - 1960sBy Poul Cadovius, CadoLocated in New York, NYChic architectural wall unit having eight shelves, 5 smaller ( 36 W x 10 D inches ) and 2 wider ( 48 W x 10 D inches ). The shelves rest in metal brackets, which attach to the vertic...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Shelves
MaterialsMetal
- Wall Unit in Elmwood by Poul Cadovius for Royal System, Denmark, 1950sBy Royal System, Poul CadoviusLocated in Amsterdam, NLBlack wooden risers and elmwood veneer book shelves and cabinet with black metal hooks. This wall unit consist of: 2 x shelf 80 x 20 cm 1 x shelf 80 ...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Mid-Century Modern Shelves
MaterialsMetal
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.