Osvaldo Borsani for ABV Cabinet in Wood, Parchment with Mirrored Doors

Osvaldo Borsani for Arredamenti Borsani Varedo, cabinet or highboard, wood, parchment, brass, mirrored glass, Italy, early 1940s

This exceptional highboard by Osvaldo Borsani for ABV Arredamenti Borsani Varedo, designed in the early 1940s Italy, embodies the refined glamour and craftsmanship that define Italian design of the period. Sculptural yet perfectly balanced, the piece combines luxurious materials with architectural precision.

The rich wooden structure frames a striking composition of parchment-front drawers, elegant brass handles, and a mirrored upper cabinet detailed with subtle geometric patterning and metal accents. The contrast between the deep warm wood, the soft matte texture of the parchment, and the reflective mirror surface creates a sophisticated interplay of light and material. Every element is thoughtfully composed, resulting in a harmonious yet visually dynamic design.

Elevated on distinctive shaped supports, the cabinet has a strong architectural presence while maintaining a sense of lightness. Both decorative and highly functional, this Borsani creation is a testament to masterful Italian craftsmanship and timeless elegance.


Biography

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.