Rare Osvaldo Borsani for Arredamenti Borsani Varedo Easy Chair

Osvaldo Borsani for Arredamenti Borsani Varedo, lounge chair, model '4949', walnut wood, fabric, Italy, design 1939, made late 1930s/ early 1940s

This exceedingly rare easy chair, designed by Osvaldo Borsani for Arredamenti Borsani Varedo in 1939, was originally intended for Villa Presenti in Forte dei Marmi in Lucca, Italy. The villa's exquisite architecture, entirely overseen by Osvaldo Borsani, was featured in Domus magazine in 1940. Vintage photos from the archive showcase the models created for the building's presentation, alongside an exceptional assortment of sketches, technical drawings, and watercolors. This imposing armchair serves as a prime example of Borsani's impeccable artistry and his keen sense of harmonious composition. Its defining feature is the expertly carved backrest, consisting of intertwined slats shaped in an undulating manner. The seat exhibits a striking curvature with distinct outward-facing ears and concave sides. The body is reupholstered in a high-quality woolen upholstery in an off-white creme color by Pierre Frey. With its spacious seat, reclined backrest, comfortable armrests, and fine upholstery, it ensures an ergonomic and comfortable experience for the user. Its design stands out with prominent curves, streamlined contours, and elegant detailing that defines its overall aesthetic.

Osvaldo Borsani (1911-1985) was an Italian designer and architect, raised by a family of fine furniture makers in Varedo. At the age of 16, he joined his father’s furniture shop, the Atelier di Varedo, which was fully engaged in designing and furnishing homes inspired by the Italian Art Deco movement. The designer of the atelier was the Italian architect Gino Maggioni (1898-1955) who was known for his Viennese Jugendstil orientation of the early 20th century. In the 1930s, he graduated from the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera and Politecnico di Milano, where he studied Fine Arts and Architecture respectively. In 1932, the family company was renamed ‘Arredamenti Borsani’ and opened its first studio in Milan. During this period, he encountered Avant-Garde artists of various artistic disciplines like Lucio Fontana (1899-1968), Agenore Fabbri (1911-1998), Aligi Sassu (1912-2000), Roberto Crippa (1921-1972), Fausto Melotti (1901-1986), Arnaldo Pomodoro (1926-) and Giò Pomodoro (1930-2002). These collaborations resulted in the creation of furniture and interior design projects with a high-level of craftsmanship and artistry. In 1953, Borsani founded together with his twin brother Fulgenzio Borsani ‘Tecno’, a design and manufacturing company that produced items based on mechanical innovations and refined technicality. The ‘P40’ adjustable lounge chair (1953) has become the ideological manifesto of Borsani's Tecno program, and still remains the best known, exemplary piece in the Tecno catalogue. Other iconic works that were produced by Tecno were created by Gio Ponti (1891-1979), Vico cham (1920-2006), Carlo de Carli (1910-1999), Gae Aulenti (1927-2012), and many other influential Italian designers. Osvaldo Borsani died in 1985 in Milan. His diverse and sophisticated oeuvre is to be found in permanent collections, such as of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, Neue Sammlung in Munich, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the Trienalle di Milano Museum.