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.
$6,733
H 31.89 in W 32.29 in D 36.62 in
Canada P110 Armchair by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno, 1960s - Original Upholstery
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Brussels, BE
Canada P110 Armchair by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno, 1960s - Original Upholstery
Leather, Wood
$9,950
H 33.08 in W 32.29 in D 33.47 in
“Canada" Leather Lounge Chair by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno, Italy 1960s
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Utrecht, NL
This “Canada” or model P110 chair was designed by Osvaldo Borsani in 1965 and manufactured by the Borsani brothers’ company, Tecno. The chair is enriched wi...
Leather, Wood
$7,560
H 37.41 in W 28.35 in D 31.5 in
First Edition P40 Lounge Chair by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno, 1960s, Italy
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Renens, CH
Osvaldo Borsani, an Italian architect and furniture designer, aimed to create a lounger that would go beyond the bulky, static nature of the “comfortable chair”. The result was the P40 lounge chair, which could be adjusted in many different positions depending on the user’s preferences. With the P40 lounge chair, Borsani created one of the most recognized pieces of the Italian post-war design movement. Available we have a first edition P40...
Metal
$24,500 / set
H 31.7 in W 32.68 in D 35.63 in
Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno 'Canada' Lounge Chairs and Ottoman
By Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Osvaldo Borsani, Valeria Borsani, and Marco Fantoni for Tecno, 'Canada' lounge chairs and ottoman, model 'T110', leather, mahogany, cherry, Italy, design 1966 The Canada series was ...
Leather, Cherry, Mahogany
P40 Lounge Chair by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Palm Springs, CA
P40 lounge chair designed by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno. The lounge, with an extendable footrest, is designed to recline be adjusted in many different positions depending on the user’...
Brass, Steel
Vintage p40 lounge chair by Osvaldo Borsani for tecno, 1960s
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Leuven, Vlaams Gewest
A design classic, this P40 reclining lounge chair designed by Osvaldo Borsani and produced by Tecno. Designed in 1950s, this lounge chair consists of a black metal base, a red fabr...
Metal
$4,142
H 34.65 in W 28.75 in D 59.06 in
Original Osvaldo Borsani P40 Reclining Chair, Tecno, Italy, 1950s/60s
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
An original Osvaldo Borsani P40 Reclining Chair, Tecno, Italy, 1950s. All hardware in working order. Reclines and adjusts into a h...
Brass, Steel
$7,087
H 37.01 in W 27.96 in D 27.96 in
Lounge Chair-Design "P40" by Osvaldo Borsani, Tecno, Italy, 1955
By Tecno Design Centre, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Wolfurt, AT
Osvaldo Borsani "P40" relax armchair, manufacturer Tecno, Italy, 1950s. The armchair has been completely restored and covered again with the original cover. It now only needs a new f...
Brass, Steel
$6,142Sale Price|20% Off
H 35.44 in W 28.35 in D 35.44 in
Vintage P40 Lounge Chair by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno, First Series
By Tecno, Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Milano, IT
Borsani P40 Lounge Chair - Italian Collectible Furniture - Mid Century Armchair - Collectible Italian Mid Century Designed in 1956 by Italian architect Osvaldo Borsani, the P40 loun...
Metal, Stainless Steel
P40 Lounge Chair by Osvaldo Borsani Chair for Tecno
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Dallas, TX
Early production P40 lounge chair designed by Osvaldo Borsani for Tecno, Italy, 1950s. The lounge, with an extendable footrest, is designed to recline and can be set in several posit...
Brass, Steel
