Rare Osvaldo Borsani for Arredamenti Borsani Varedo Easy Chair in Lilac Mohair

Osvaldo Borsani for Arredamenti Borsani Varedo, lounge chair, variation on model '4949', stained teak, reupholstered in mohair, Italy, late 1930s/1940s

A beautiful and rare easy chair designed by Osvaldo Borsani for Arredamenti Borsani Varedo in 1939. A closely related design first appeared at Villa Presenti in Forte dei Marmi, Lucca, Italy. The villa’s exquisite interior architecture, conceived and overseen entirely by Borsani, was featured in Domus magazine in 1940. Period photographs from the archive document the models created for the villa, alongside an exceptional collection of sketches, technical drawings, and watercolors.

This imposing armchair is a remarkable example of Borsani’s refined artistry and exceptional sense of proportion and harmonious composition. Its most distinctive feature is the expertly carved backrest, composed of interwoven slats that form an elegant, undulating pattern. The seat is defined by a pronounced curvature, with outward-projecting “ears” and gently concave sides. In this particular example, the ears are notably wider than those of the documented version, making this variation especially rare.

The chair has been reupholstered in high-quality mohair in a rich purple-lilac tone. Its generous seat, gently reclined backrest, comfortable armrests, and luxurious upholstery provide an exceptionally comfortable and ergonomic seating experience. Prominent curves, streamlined contours, and refined detailing give the chair its distinctive sculptural presence and elegant overall character.

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.