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.
Italian Modern Cabinet By Osvaldo Borsani
By Vittorio Dassi, Paolo Buffa, Gio Ponti, Osvaldo Borsani, Ico Parisi
Located in Houston, TX
Italian Modern Cabinet By Osvaldo Borsani. Offered is a sculptural walnut cabinet designed by noted Italian architect and furniture designer Osavldo Borsani in the 1950's. This cabin...
Walnut
20th Century, Osvaldo Borsani Cabinet with Desk mod. 7011
By Osvaldo Borsani, Arredamenti Borsani
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Osvaldo Borsani in 1953, together with his brother Fulgenzio, realized his most complex project: a company idea named after the "techne" of the Greeks, which means both art and techn...
Brass
20th Century, Osvaldo Borsani Wooden Cabinet with Six Drawers
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Osvaldo Borsani in 1953, together with his brother Fulgenzio, realized his most complex project: a company idea named after the "techne" of the Greeks, which means both art and techn...
Brass
Osvaldo Borsani for ABV Cabinet in Wood, Parchment with Mirrored Doors
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Osvaldo Borsani for Arredamenti Borsani Varedo, cabinet or highboard, wood, parchment, brass, mirrored glass, Italy, early 1940s This exceptional highboard by Osvaldo Borsani for AB...
Brass
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
Rare Osvaldo Borsani Floral Painted Cabinet
By Adriano Spilimbergo, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in North Miami, FL
Full documented Borsani cabinet, painted by Adriano Spilimbergo in relief pastel floral motif. Subtle yet amazingly beautiful. Cast brass hardware, original green glass interior shelf. Interior is entirely original down to the harlequin vinyl upholstery and wood carved coat rack...
Brass
Italian Modern Cabinet By Osvaldo Borsani
By Ico Parisi, Gio Ponti, Paolo Buffa, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Houston, TX
Italian Modern Cabinet By Osvaldo Borsani. Offered is a large Italian mid-century cabinet designed by Osvaldo Brosani in a beautiful geometric mother of pearl marquetry design with t...
Bronze
Osvaldo Borsani Italian Sideboard /Display Cabinet, circa 1950
By Osvaldo Borsani, Minagalli
Located in Westport, CT
Osvaldo Borsani Italian (1911-1985) unusual mahogany Burgundy red glass and decorative front Lighted mirrored interior, two hidden draws sideboard.
Bronze
Osvaldo Borsani Wall Mounted Console, 1950s
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Osvaldo Borsani Wall Mounted Console, sapele wood, brass and maple, Italy, 1950s. In the realm of luxury and design furniture, the Osvaldo Borsani wall-mounted console dating back t...
Brass
Rare Octopus Cabinet by Osvaldo Borsani Milano ABV 1940s
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Aachen, NW
This very rare Octopus cabinet was designed by Osvaldo Borsani in the 40s and was produced by its own workshop in Milano. The cabinet features a mirror...
Glass, Pearwood
Outstanding And Unique Bar Cabinet by Osvaldo Borsani ca' 1940's
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
An outstanding bar cabinet (bar mobile) by Osvaldo Borsani for Arredamenti Borsani, 1940's, documented. Leather covered doors reveal mirrored, lighted back with glass/brass shelves i...
Brass
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
$8,939
H 45.67 in W 48.82 in D 15.75 in
Amazing Mid-Century Italian Bar Cabinet 1940' Attributed to Osvaldo Borsani
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Rome, IT
Elegant and unusual bar cabinet. Decorated front door with geometrical inlaid. Door panels inside with mosaic mirror and brass and glass shelfs. Support w...
Wood
$3,250
H 27.56 in W 16.93 in D 13.39 in
Art Deco Cabinet Nightstand in Walnut, Burl Walnut Osvaldo Borsani Attributed
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Sculptural Art Deco cabinet nightstand in walnut, burl walnut Osvaldo Borsani attributed for Atelier di Varedo. Original accessories of the era Meas...
Walnut, Burl
$2,902
H 36.62 in W 34.65 in D 17.72 in
Italian 1940s Art Deco Mid-Century Walnut Burl Dry Bar Cabinet
By Ico & Luisa Parisi, Guglielmo Ulrich, Gio Ponti, Paolo Buffa, Vittorio Dassi
Located in Carimate, Como
Very elegant Italian Art Deco Mid-Century Modern drinks dry bar cabinet in beautiful veneer walnut briar burl wood, various doors and storage spaces with great shapes and decors. The...
Brass
$9,868
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
$8,939
H 45.67 in W 48.82 in D 15.75 in
Elegant Mid-Century Italian Bar Cabinet 1940' Attributed to Osvaldo Borsani
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Rome, IT
Elegant and unusual bar cabinet. Decorated front door with geometrical inlaid. Door panels inside with mosaic mirror and brass and glass shelfs. Support with two pull-out drawers. ...
Wood
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
$11,377
H 38.59 in W 43.31 in D 19.69 in
Pair of Italian Art Deco Cabinets 1940' Attributed to Osvaldo Borsani
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Rome, IT
Elegant pair of bar cabinet. Decorated front doors with geometrical inlaid. Finished in two-tone blond birch and dark coffee colors.
Wood
$15,557
H 57.49 in W 86.23 in D 9.85 in
Osvaldo Borsani oak cabinet with doors, drawers & drop-front panel, Italy, 1945
By Osvaldo Borsani, Arredamenti Borsani
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
A large oak storage cabinet with doors, drawers and drop-front panel design by Osvaldo Borsani, manufactured by Arredamenti Borsani Varedo, Italy, 1945 This substantial storage cabi...
Brass
$29,605
H 75.2 in W 66.93 in D 23.23 in
20th Century Osvaldo Borsani Two Mirrored Doors Closet with Lights for ABV, 40s
By Osvaldo Borsani, Atelier Borsani Varedo
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Osvaldo Borsani in 1953, together with his brother Fulgenzio, realized his most complex project: a company idea named after the "techne" of the Greeks, which means both art and techn...
Brass
$8,939
H 45.67 in W 48.82 in D 15.75 in
Amazing Mid-Century Italian Bar Cabinet 1940' Attributed to Osvaldo Borsani
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Rome, IT
Elegant and unusual bar cabinet. Decorated front door with geometrical inlaid. Door panels inside with mosaic mirror and brass and glass shelfs. ...
Wood
Large Osvaldo Borsani Wall Unit for Tecno, 1950s
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno, bookcase or wall unit, in metal and wood, Italy, 1950s. This wall-mounted shelving unit is six sections large. The order and lay out of this unit is adj...
Metal
Storage Unit by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno, 1960s
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Milano, IT
Cabinet with sliding doors and exposed drawers, wood exotic wood veneer, lacquered wood top.
Wood
Sold
H 52.96 in W 39.38 in D 16.54 in
Osvaldo Borsani Variant of “5142” Bar Cabinet for Arredamenti Borsani, 1939
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Osvaldo Borsani mirrored bar cabinet, variant of model “5142”, unique piece for Arredamenti Borsani, walnut, mirrored glass and brass, Italy, 1939. The creative mind merged with the art of craftsmanship of Osvaldo Borsani is explicitly visible in this Art Deco mirrored bar cabinet...
Brass
Sold
H 82.68 in W 55.52 in D 19.3 in
Italian Midcentury Wood Red Bar Cabinet by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno, 1950s
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian mid-century wood, metal, mirror, red fabric and glass Bar cabinet by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno, 1950s Spacious and illuminated floor bar cabinet with rectangular base and mo...
Metal
Italian Cabinet Attributed to Osvaldo Borsani, 1950s
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Palermo, PA
Italian cabinet attributed to Osvaldo Borsani, 1950s. Dimensions: H= 89 cm; W= 109 cm; D= 42 cm.
Brass
Osvaldo Borsani Cabinet Bar, Late 40's
By Osvaldo Borsani, Dassi
Located in bari, IT
Beautiful bar Osvaldo Borsani for Dassi from 1940 in black lacquered walnut, glass front decorated with red design on a jungle black background, revolving door with internal bar in m...
Brass
Rare Cabinet by Osvaldo Borsani & Lucio Fontana for Abv
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in New York, NY
Walnut, maple, bronze, back-painted glass. Produced by Arredamenti Borsani Varedo. Pale walnut with incised door-fronts & inset brown-glass top. Interior of pale maple with adjustabl...
Bronze
Mid-Century Italian Cabinet by Osvaldo Borsani
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Austin, TX
Buffet/bar from Italy by Osvaldo Borsani. This piece is made of rosewood and parqueted rosewood with lemon wood interiors. It has an adjustable shelf and dovetailed drawers. This ele...
Marble
Sold
H 54.34 in W 44.1 in D 20.08 in
20th Century Osvaldo Borsani Luminous Bar Cabinet in Wood and painted Wood
By Osvaldo Borsani, Atelier Borsani Varedo
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Very special bar cabinet made in the mid-40s by the magical atelier of Osvaldo Borsani. The bar cabinet is made of wood and painted wood, superbly decorated with musician angels an...
Fabric, Glass, Wood
Osvaldo Borsani Cabinet
By Arredamenti Borsani, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in New York, NY
2-door pleated cabinet #6426 by Osvaldo Borsani for ABV. Mahogany, maple, bronze, brass. Pleated wood face, and interior drawers and shelving on shaped wood base. Wood has been refin...
Brass, Bronze
Sold
H 77.17 in W 18.51 in D 47.25 in
1968-2007 "Cleis" Cabinet by Osvaldo Borsani and CLS in White and Printed Metal
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Milano, Lombardia
The Cleis Series was a re design of the 1968 A2000 cabinet from the Graphis series designed by Osvaldo Borsani and manufactured by Tecno. In 2007 CLS Architects projected for Tecno a...
Metal
Sold
H 39.38 in W 63 in L 39.38 in
Italian Vintage Black Metal Cabinet by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno, 1970s
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian vintage black metal cabinet by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno, 1970s Black painted metal cabinet from 1970s, with sliding doors and 4 internal...
Metal