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 Zanotta, Achille Castiglioni
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
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 Hronská Breznica, Banskobystrický kraj
Secession plant stand with brass fittings. Professionally stained and repolished.
Brass
$200
H 20.5 in W 16.25 in D 20.5 in
Garden Patio Poolside Table by Hauser Made in USA Ca. 1970's After Brown Jordan
By Brown Jordan
Located in New York, NY
Chic diminutive side table in original aqua paint finish, with original textured glass top. The frame is of tubular aluminum, and retains its original plastic dome feet. This table is part of a large suite of patio, garden, poolside furniture...
Aluminum
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
Functionalist Steel Plant Stand by Emile Guyot
By Emile Guyot
Located in Hronská Breznica, Banskobystrický kraj
Functionalist steel plant stand by Emile Guyot with black glass. Very good original condition with signs of usage.
Steel
Italian Wood Pedestal / Plant Stands
Located in Denton, TX
Vintage carved wood in the classical style with fluted columns topped with modified acanthus leaves carvings. Made in italy.
Wood
Concentric Gas Fire Pit in Steel by ORCA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A dyad of mixed metals. The Concentric Fire Pit is composed of a weathered steel ring nested within a stainless steel outer shell. Like yin and yang, distinct characters in balance w...
Steel, Stainless Steel
Wicker Bamboo Pedestal Column Stand
Located in New York, NY
A bamboo pedestal column stand table in the Art Deco Modern style, circa 1970s. A hand-crafted piece with Art Deco Modern lines. Use to display a plant, books, etc. Dimensions incl...
Bamboo, Wicker
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
$165 / set
H 16 in Dm 16 in
Pr. Mid Century Patio Poolside Tables by Fibreform Made in Florida c.1950/1970s
By Woodard Furniture Co., Brown Jordan
Located in New York, NY
Chic architectural patio, poolside stacking tables, having circular fiberglass tops, on metal legs with black plastic feet. The tables are in good, original condition, both are structurally sound and sturdy, both show minor cosmetic wear, normal and consistent with age. Offered and priced as a pair, marked on verso, Fibreform Made in Opa Locka...
Wrought Iron
Tropical Planter by Willy Guhl, Produced by Eternit Brazil, 1960s
By Willy Guhl, Eternit
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
$10,670 / item
H 17.72 in W 56.3 in D 18.12 in
Sculptural Bench in Bronze Patina Brass by Patrick Coard Paris
By Patrick Coard
Located in New York, NY
The Paris based label has distinguished themselves since their launch, with their iconic use of shagreen mixed with brass and other exotic materials. All furniture is handcrafted by ...
Brass
Sold
H 40.95 in Dm 12.21 in
Mid-Century Floor Standing Ashtray signed by Castiglioni for Zanotta, Italy 1957
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Zanotta
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 Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
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