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.
Danish Two Seater Sofa Upholstered in 'Casentino' Tuscan Fabric, Denmark, 1940s
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
Part of a living room set comprehensive of a three seater sofa and a large stool, this beautiful and stylish two seater sofa has been designed and manufactured in Denmark in the 1940...
Fabric, Wood
Danish Three Seater Sofa Upholstered in 'Casentino' Tuscan Fabric, Denmark 1940s
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
Part of a living room set comprehensive of a two seater sofa and a large stool, this beautiful and stylish three seater sofa has been designed and manufactured in Denmark in the 1940...
Fabric, Wood
Ico Parisi Curved fabric sofa with brass legs by Isa Bergamo, Italy, 1950s
By ISA Bergamo, Ico Parisi
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
Curved fabric sofa with brass legs, designed by Ico Parisi, manufactured by Isa Bergamo. This sofa, designed by Ico Parisi, epitomizes the finest stylistic research of the 1950s. It...
Brass
Curved sofa in wood and velvet upholstery, Italy, 1950s
By Gio Ponti
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
A curved sofa in wood and fabric, velvet upholstery, Italian craftsmanship, in the style of Gio Ponti, 1950s. Comfort demands curved lines, and this Italian sofa perfectly meets the...
Velvet, Wood
Ignazio Gardella Digamma Three-seater white velvet sofa for Azucena, Italy, 1957
By Ignazio Gardella, Azucena
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
Three-seater white velvet sofa with metal and brass, Digamma model designed by Ignazio Gardella for Gavina in 1957. The extraordinary elegance of the Digamma three-seater sofa, created in 1957 by Ignazio Gardella for Gavina, is revealed through a surprising combination of materials and futuristic design. The carefully crafted metal structure supports the upholstered part of the sofa, creating a perfect balance between form and functionality. The distinctive signature of Ignazio Gardella, a renowned designer and visionary engineer, is evident in the curved brass terminals on which the sofa gracefully rests. His architectural conception, bridging art and design, is reflected in every detail of this unique piece. The Gavina brand introduced the Digamma collection in 1957, ushering in a new approach to seating that goes beyond traditional forms of sofas and armchairs. The series, of which this extraordinary sofa is a part, features square and rational volumes, demonstrating an exceptional level of innovation for its time. Today, the sofa is in excellent condition, meticulously restored in upholstery and adorned with a light-shaded velvet covering that enhances its intrinsic beauty. Its dimensions of 197x82,5x81 make it ideal for comfortably accommodating three people, offering a seating experience that combines style and comfort without compromise. A functional work of art, Ignazio Gardella's Digamma Sofa...
Metal, Brass
Mario Bellini two sofas Model "Le Bambole" for B&B Italia, Italy, 1970s
By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini
Located in Chiavari, Liguria
Pair of fabric sofas, from the Le Bambole series, designed by Mario Bellini in 1972, Italian production, bearing the B&B brand. The 1970s marked a period of significant cultural and...
Fabric, Bouclé
Large Modern Mid-Century Italian Canapè or Sofa attr. to Osvaldo Borsani
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Rome, IT
Elegant three-seat sofa newly upholstered in luxurious Acid green velvet, featuring a distinctive high, gently curved backrest and sculptural upholstered sides. The backrest is artic...
Wood
Italian Mid-Century Three-Seater Sofa, Italy 1950s
Located in Utrecht, NL
In the 1950s, Italian design took a crucial turn from the technical, formal and artistic point of view. Designers took tips from names in contemporary art and architecture like Alvar...
Velvet, Wood
Large Modern Mid-Century Italian Canapè or Sofa attr. to Osvaldo Borsani
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Rome, IT
Amazing Mid-Century Italian Canapè or Sofa with wood legs and arms . Acid green new upholstery in perfect condition.
Wood
Large Modern Mid-Century Italian Canapè or Sofa attr. to Osvaldo Borsani
By Osvaldo Borsani
Located in Rome, IT
Amazing Mid-Century Italian Canapè or Sofa with wood legs and arms . Acid green new upholstery in perfect condition.
Wood
Mid-Century Modern "Regent" Sofa by Marco Zanuso, Italy, 1960s - New Upholstery
By Marco Zanuso
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid-Century Modern "Regent" Sofa by Marco Zanuso, Italy, 1960s - New Upholstery
Velvet
Otto Schulz Chesterfield sofa for Jio Möbler - Sweden, 1950s
By Otto Schulz
Located in London, GB
The Chesterfield-style three-seater sofa by Otto Schulz features deep button tufting on the back and armrests, which are streamlined and gently curving in accordance to the aesthetic...
Hemp
