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.
Ico Parisi Round Walnut Dining Table, Three Feet, 1950
By Ico Parisi
Located in Rome, IT
Important center or dining table in walnut and mirrored top, attributed to Arch. Ico Parisi mirrored top; the mirror glass is not coeval at the tabl...
Brass
Rare Maple and Brass Round Center Table by I.S.A. Bergamo 1950
By Gio Ponti, I.S.A. Italy
Located in Rome, IT
Stunning maple and brass center table. previously thought to be designed by Gio Ponti the table is manufactured by I.S.A Bergamo . ISA produced many famous pieces designed by some o...
Brass
Pierluigi Giordani round coffee table, carved wood and crystal top, 1950
By Pierluigi Giordani
Located in Rome, IT
rare coffe table disegned by Pierluigi Giordani occasional organic round table realized for a privet client in Treviso in 1950 Solid structure made by walnut wood and thick glass top...
Crystal
Augusto Romano round beech and straw coffee table, 1948
By Augusto Romano
Located in Rome, IT
A rare side table designed by Italian designer Augusto Romano around 1948. A well-executed table that features a round wooden top with a border that is meticulously adorned with brai...
Straw, Beech
Osvaldo Borsani round walnut root deco coffee table, bi shelves, glass top, 1931
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Rome, IT
round coffee table designed by Osvaldo Borsani , 1931 produced by Atelier Borsani Varedo walnut root and glass four ovoid feet, glass top good original conditions som little sig...
Glass, Walnut
Saverio Jannace & Kovac Rosewood Center or Console Table, 1950
By Saverio Jannace, Alex Kovacs
Located in Rome, IT
Rare rosewood center table designed by Saverio Jannace and produced by Jannace & A. Kovacs , circa 1950 important central foot carved and beveled edge of the table brass detail for a...
Brass
Round Dining Room Table in Walnut and Marble by Ariberto Colombo, Italy, 1950's
By Ariberto Colombo
Located in Uithoorn, NL
Rare 1950s Italian round dining table in solid walnut with a marble top, attributed to Ariberto Colombo and clearly in the spirit of Paolo Buffa. The table shows a refined sculptural...
Marble
Round Onyx & Solid Walnut Dining Table by Osvaldo Borsani, 1950s
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Brescia, Brescia
This exceptional dining table is a rare and highly refined example of Italian post-war design, custom made in the 1950s for an important Milanese family closely connected to the Bors...
Onyx
Osvaldo Borsani 'T69' Circular Dining Table, Walnut Top, Steel Base
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani, Eugenio Gerli
Located in New York, NY
Osvaldo Borsani and Eugenio Gerli for Tecno, 'T69' Circular Center or Dining Table, Italy, circa 1963. The circular center or dining table features a rich walnut top and a steel b...
Metal
Round Dining Table 46" With Pedestal Base, Handmade, Midcentury Style, Walnut
Located in Bloomington, IN
Our "Kapok" round dining table fits seamlessly into any dining room or kitchen decor style. With mid century modern good looks and solid hardwood construction this dining table adds timeless beauty that you'll love and your guests will admire. The pedestal table base with stylishly curved legs allows for ample leg room even when seating large groups around the table. AVAILABLE TABLE SIZES: - 30 inch table seats 2 to 3 - 36 inch table...
Abalone, Wood, Hardwood, Cherry, Mahogany, Oak, Walnut
Round Dining Table 42" With Pedestal Base, Handmade, Midcentury Style, Walnut
Located in Bloomington, IN
Our "Kapok" round dining table fits seamlessly into any dining room or kitchen decor style. With mid century modern good looks and solid hardwood construction this dining table adds timeless beauty that you'll love and your guests will admire. The pedestal table base with stylishly curved legs allows for ample leg room even when seating large groups around the table. AVAILABLE TABLE SIZES: - 30 inch table seats 2 to 3 - 36 inch table...
Abalone, Wood, Hardwood, Cherry, Mahogany, Oak, Walnut
Osvaldo Borsani Sculptural Round Dining Table in Walnut, Varedo, Italy, 1945
By Osvaldo Borsani, Arredamenti Borsani
Located in The Hague, NL
This very rare dining table was designed by Osvaldo Borsani in 1945 and produced by his company Arredamenti Borsani in Varedo, Italy. The piece is accompanied by a certificate of aut...
Wood, Walnut
