Entrepreneur Aurelio Zanotta founded Zanotta in 1954 in Nova Milanese, Italy. Originally called Zanotta Poltrona, it specialized in traditional furniture. By the early 1960s, however, Zanotta had established a reputation for edgy mid-century modern design. Today’s vintage furniture collectors know the brand well for its innovative and wholly sculptural chairs, coffee tables and more.
One of Zanotta’s earliest successes was the Mezzadro stool — better known as the Tractor stool — designed by Pier Giacomo Castiglioni and his brother Achille in the late 1950s. In 1965, Zanotta was among the first furniture companies to work with expanded polyurethane foam and frameless construction, such as for the Throw-Away sofas and armchairs designed by Willie Landels. Another popular design was the Blow chair — designed by Jonathan De Pas, Donato D’Urbino, Paolo Lomazzi and Carla Scolari — viewed by many as a physical expression of late '60s carefree culture.
In 1969, amid the provocative movement we now call Italian Radical Design, Zanotta’s Sacco chair garnered major attention. The boundary-pushing beanbag chair was the brainchild of designers Piero Gatti, Cesare Paolini and Franco Teodoro who presented it to Aurelio Zanotta as a transparent vinyl sack loosely filled with small polystyrene balls. He suggested its signature brightly colored leather.
The Sacco chair won the 1970 ADI Design Museum’s Compasso d’Oro award. In 1972, the Museum of Modern Art in New York included it in the landmark exhibition “Italy: The New Domestic Landscape” curated by designer Emilio Ambasz. In 2020, it received a Compasso d’Oro ADI Lifetime Achievement Award for 50 years of enduring popularity. It is now in museum collections around the world including the Triennale Design Museum of Milan, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, and London’s Victoria & Albert Museum.
After Aurelio Zanotta died in 1991, the company remained in his family and has been run by his three children since 2002. Zanotta continues to set the bar high for furniture design with trend-setting pieces.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of vintage Zanotta seating, tables and other furniture.
Zanotta Albero Rotating flowerpot Stand by Achille Castiglioni
By Zanotta, Achille Castiglioni
Located in New York, NY
Rotating flowerpot stand. Painted steel frame in the shades talc, amaranth, grass green or black. Pot-holder dishes in black polyamide. Black polypropylene feet. It was 1983 when Ach...
Steel
Servofumo dinner holder by Achille Castiglioni produced by Zanotta in 1961
By Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
Located in Ravenna, IT
Servofumo dinner holder designed by Achille Castiglioni and produced by Zanotta in 1961. From a gray-painted polypropylene base rises a steel support rod, featuring a black-painted a...
Aluminum, Steel
Wicker Rattan Magazine Holder Stand
Located in New York, NY
A rattan wicker magazine holder stand, circa mid-20th century. Piece has two storage compartment areas to hold magazines, newspapers, papers, books, etc. A great addition to an offic...
Bamboo, Wicker, Rattan
Secession Plant Stand
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Secession plant stand with brass fittings. Professionally stained and repolished.
Brass
Dovetailed Bench in Mahogany by Brian Holcombe
By Brian Holcombe
Located in Princeton, NJ
In designing this bench I took cues from sashimono, seeking a outwardly simple aesthetic which gives way to more elaborate detail upon a closer look. In building this bench I utilize...
Mahogany
Wrought Iron Mosaic Tile pedestal stand
Located in Pasadena, TX
This is a wonderful wrought iron Mosaic tile top pedestal table. It features a braided or twisted form of wrought iron work. The tiles have a marvelous translucent color that bring a...
Wrought Iron
1900s English Victorian Style Cast Iron Rotating Flower Stand
Located in High Point, NC
This early 20th century English Victorian style cast iron flower stand is a striking example of decorative garden design with sculptural presence. Crafted from solid cast iron, the s...
Iron
$1,821
H 40.56 in Dm 8.67 in
Midcentury Design Flower Stand H-54 by Jindřich Halabala for Hynek Gottwald
By Jindřich Halabala
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Midcentury design flower stand H-54 by Jindrich Halabala for Hynek Gottwald. Very good original condition with signs of suage and age. Litte trace of corosion.
Metal, Steel
Natural Wood Block Pedestal Stands
Located in New York, NY
Set of three Large Natural Aspen Wood Block Platforms. These are solid, heavy blocks of old support timbers. All three sizes are, 19 inches by 15 inches with heights of 53 inches, ...
Wood
Swiss Planter by Willy Guhl, Produced by Eternit Brazil, 1960s
By Eternit, Willy Guhl
Located in New York, NY
This vase is part of the series of Eternit fiber-cement vases designed by Willy Guhl (1915–2004), the industrial design pioneer in Switzerland who also created the remarkable Loop ch...
Cement
$1,000 / set
H 28.5 in W 21 in D 22 in
4 Pc. Faux Bamboo Garden Patio Poolside Chairs by Hauser Made in USA Ca. 1970's
By Brown Jordan
Located in New York, NY
Chic set of vintage poolside, patio, garden, armchairs by noted American maker of leisure furniture, Hauser, after Brown Jordan. The chairs have tubul...
Aluminum
Pair of Chinese Hongmu Stands Pedestals / Plant Stands
Located in Germantown, MD
A Stunning slender Pair of mid 20th century Chinese Hongmu Stands Pedestals / Plant Stands. Measures 12.5" in width, 12.5" in depth and stand 36...
Rosewood
$2,195 / set
H 38.75 in W 16.5 in D 16.5 in
Mid Century Classical Mahogany Pedestal Plant Stands by Kittinger C1940
By Kittinger
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous pair of tall mahogany plant stands by Kittinger, tagged on underside. Turned posts come up to a octagon top with splayed pad feet. Tops show staining from use which is surfa...
Mahogany
Secession plant stand by Josef Hoffmann for Thonet
By Josef Hoffmann, Thonet
Located in Banská Štiavnica, SK
Secession plant stand by Josef Hoffmann for Thonet professionally stained and repolished.
Bentwood
Sold
H 40.95 in Dm 12.21 in
Mid-Century Floor Standing Ashtray signed by Castiglioni for Zanotta, Italy 1957
By Zanotta, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Roma, IT
An iconic piece of Italian design, this elegant freestanding ashtray was designed by the Castiglioni brothers for Zanotta in 1957. A perfect example of functionality and material exp...
Metal, Steel
Sold
H 37.8 in W 39.38 in D 22.84 in
Italian Modern Camilla Bench with Armrests by Achille Castiglioni Zanotta, 1984
By Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Camilla Bench with armrests by Achille Castiglioni Zanotta, 1984 Fantastic folding bench with armrests mod. Camilla Bench with seat and back in light gray painted laminate. The structure is in black painted metal. Totally resealable. Suitable to use in the garden or outside. it is suitable to create a vintage outside...
Metal
Sold
H 31.5 in W 23.63 in D 24.41 in
Italian Mid Century Wood and Original Cotton Navy Folding Chair by Zanotta, 1969
By Zanotta
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian Mid-Century Modern solid wood and original red cotton Navy folding chair by Zanotta, 1969 Navy folding chair with completely rich solid wood structure audible with red canva...
Cotton, Wood
Italian Vintage Tripolina Adjustable Chair by Zanotta, 1960s
By Zanotta
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian vintage Tripolina adjustable chair by Zanotta, 1960s Tripolina adjustable chair by Zanotta dating to the 1960s, with rigid orange fabric, adjustable structure in white paint...
Fabric, Wood
"Albero" Flowerpot Stand by Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta
By Zanotta, Achille Castiglioni
Located in Milan, IT
"Albero" (Tree) flowerpot stand by Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta. Sturdy steel frame tripod carries eight adjustable arms. Each of them ends with a...
Steel