Osvaldo Borsani for Arredamenti Borsani Varedo, sideboard, chestnut, mirrored glass, brass, Italy, first half of the 1930s

An early and beautiful design by the Italian visionary Osvaldo Borsani for Arredamenti Borsani Varedo, this rare piece from the first half of the 1930s epitomizes the artistic elegance and meticulous craftsmanship for which Borsani is recognized for. The faade features a series of horizontally carved panels that subtly protrude, creating a rhythmic relief surface that feels both dynamic and refined. Additional details such as square and half-moon-shaped door knobs play an essential role in the overall character of the piece. The body rests on elegantly carved legs that subtly diverge with just the right amount of tension, grounding the piece with poise. Beyond its storage function, the central door opens to reveal a bar compartment outfitted with integrated lighting, casting a soft, refined glow on its contents. A mirrored glass backdrop, paired with glass shelves and brass racks in a swirling motif typical of Borsanis artistic language, further elevates the interior. Constructed from chestnut, it features a distinctive, pronounced grain pattern with a natural warm tone. This sideboard is a masterful blend of Art Deco influences and modernist sensibilities. Its thoughtful proportions, exquisite detailing, and luxurious materials come together in a design that radiates sophistication and timeless grace.

We would like to inform you that this sideboard has been officially authenticated by the Osvaldo Borsani archives. Through archival research and iconographic approach, they have confirmed this piece as an original design by Osvaldo Borsani.

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 fathers 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 Gi 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.