Osvaldo Borsani console shelf with drawers in carved wood and glass, Italy 1940s

A console shelf with drawers in carved wood and colored glass, Italian manufacture from the 1950s, designed by Osvaldo Borsani and produced by ABV Arredamenti Borsani Veredo, Milan.

The console features a wooden shelf characterized by a long carved section that runs around the perimeter of the glass top, which is made of red glass. Four drawers are hidden in the decorated fascia with a unique succession of leaves and vegetal tendrils that stand out against a dotted background. The pleasantly curved shape of the entire shelf also recalls the harmonious forms of nature, which, once placed on the wall, reveals all its vegetal inspiration.

The design of the furniture is the work of Osvaldo Borsani, known for being the father of many objects and architectures that hold a respected place in the history of industrial design. Born into a family of furniture makers, Borsani bridged the artisanal past of the family factory with large-scale, innovative, and avant-garde production, as exemplified by Tecno, the company he co-founded with his brother in 1953.

A multifaceted figure, Borsani achieved success both in entrepreneurial activities and in design work. His drawing table was never short of inspiration from prominent artists of the period, with whom he had professional collaborations and sincere friendships, including Lucio Fontana, Fausto Melotti, and Giò Pomodoro.

This console, restored and with its original glass shelf, fits into the early part of Borsani's production, when echoes of classical-inspired decoration found new momentum applied to the curves and bulges of furniture that moved away from the monumentality of certain art deco styles, venturing onto new paths in design.

The authenticity of the furniture is certified by the genuine enameled metal plaque bearing the ABV logo accompanied by the wording "Arredamenti Borsani Veredo, Milan".

The dimensions of the furniture are: 129.00 x 12.00 x 39.00 cm.