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.
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
Pair Osvaldo Borsani Wall Mirrors with Floating Marble & Giltwood Consoles
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Hanover, MA
An exceptional and extremely rare pair of trapezoidal mirrors and floating giltwood and marble consoles designed by Osvaldo Borsani 1946. Authenticated by the Borsani Archives. Hand ...
Marble
$7,600Sale Price|20% Off
Italian Mirror Timber Console Attributed to Osvaldo Borsani 1950
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Striking Osvaldo Borsani hand curved wood console with mirror. Osvaldo Borsani was an Italian designer who was active in the mid-20th century. He is known for his innovative furnit...
Wood
Osvaldo Borsani Clothes Hangers Brass Glass Wood 1950 Italy
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Milano, IT
Osvaldo Borsani.
Brass
Osvaldo Borsani, Wall Mirror, Wood, Italy, 1940s
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in High Point, NC
A wood wall mirror designed by Osvaldo Borsani and produced by ABV Arredamenti Borsani Varedo, Italy, c. 1940s. Minimal wear consistent with age and use. Overall Dimensions (inch...
Wood
Fredrick Ramond Mirror and Console Table
By Fredrick Ramond
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fredrick Ramond Mirror and Console Table, U.S.A. , 1970's Mirror signed lower right, brushed steel having brass elements, demilune table having glass t...
Brass, Steel
$6,062 / set
H 27.17 in W 16.34 in D 2.37 in
Two Wall Mirrors in the style of Osvaldo Borsani, Italy, 1950s
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Argelato, BO
Two Rare Mid-Century mirrors in lacquered carved wood, mirrored glass, in the style of the great Italian architect and designer Osvaldo Borsani. 1940s. The works come from an import...
Mirror, Wood
$1,706Sale Price / set|43% Off
H 33.08 in W 20.87 in D 1.58 in
French Vintage Floating Brass Console and Wall Mirror, 1960
Located in Paris, FR
A neoclassical style polished solid brass mirror and floating console set with its beautiful original beveled rectangular mirror, chiseled S-scrolls and leaf ornaments. Restored con...
Brass
$4,663Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 103.94 in W 48.82 in D 21.66 in
Large Gold Leafed 20th Century Console Mirror and Table with Marble Top
Located in DE
Beautiful and ornate solid wood mirror with cast stone angels and figures on both mirror and matching console table. Console table top is a white mar...
Cast Stone, Gold Leaf
Art Deco Style Lacqured Wall Console and Mirror
Located in Pomona, CA
Art Deco-style lacquered wall console and mirror. The mirror has purple and gold gilding on the top. The console has the same colors and style. The console has a heavy composition co...
Lacquer
Console Table & Matching Mirror
Located in Washington, DC
Suite of painted Napoleon III carved wood console table and matching mirror. Mirror Dimensions: H 51" - W 31.5"
Wood, Paint, Mirror
Italian Gilt Wood Mirror
Located in Montreal, QC
Italian Rococo gilt and carved wood mirror.
Giltwood
$16,087 / set
H 96.46 in W 27.96 in D 14.97 in
Late Gustavian Early 19th Century Giltwood Eagle Console Table and Mirror
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
Very attractive early 19th century giltwood console table with a fully carved eagle supporting the white marble top. A matching mi...
Marble
1970s Modern Console Vanity with Mirror
Located in Forney, TX
A vintage Post-Modernist hall console / vanity dressing table and mirror, circa 1970s, having a curved woven cane and brass framed flat mirror plate, abov...
Brass
Osvaldo Borsani Att. Glass and Wood Wall Mirror, circa 1940
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in New York, NY
A very fine glass and carved wood wall mirror Att. to Osvaldo Borsani, circa 1940. The glass border is segmented and surrounds the interior rectangular mirror plate which has a carv...
Glass, Walnut
Italian Carved and Gilt Tall Console Mirror
Located in Rochester, NY
Antique carved and gilt paneled mirror. Side panels are smoked mirror glass. Great quality, early 20th century. Measures: 58.5" high. See our other...
Mirror, Giltwood