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 Servofumo Ashtray Stand by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
By Zanotta
Located in New York, NY
Ashtray stand. Base in polypropylene, container in aluminium and steel support frame, painted in the shade black for outdoors.
Aluminum, Steel
Cigar Box and Ashtray by Fontana Arte, Italy, 1950
By Fontana Arte
Located in Palermo, PA
Introducing an exquisite piece of functional art: the Fontana Arte Cigar Box and Ashtray. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, this unique item seamlessly combines the elegan...
Crystal
21st Century Leather Ashtray Handcrafted in Italy
By Pinetti
Located in Bagnatica, Lombardia
Welcome inside Pinetti smoking accessories collection with Vento ashtray. A stainless steel round revolving ashtray with the properly right spaces ...
Metal
Art Deco Marble and Bronze Terrier Ashtray or Jewelry Tray
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Charming Art Deco bronze Scottie or Airedale terrier on marble ashtray or jewelry tray from the 1930's. Very versatile piece that would look great as a display piece on a vanity or c...
Marble, Bronze
Art deco 2 glass ashtray
Located in grand Lancy, CH
Glass Art Deco ashtray
Glass
$4,200
H 1.78 in W 1.78 in D 1.78 in
Ashtray & cigarette holder Dice by Legros Marius for Dunhill Paris 1930s
By Alfred Dunhill
Located in Autonomous City Buenos Aires, CABA
Dunhill opened the Paris location in 1924 to meet the growing demand for luxury goods pertaining to motoring and tobacco. Both the box and cover are marked with the Goddess Minerva in an octagon, the French punch mark for 950 Fine Silver, a grade of silver finer then sterling silver. Alfred Dunhill Art Deco Dice cigarette holder box, circa 1925-30. The box is identified Alfred Dunhill Paris underneath the lip of the cover and inside the box! This beautiful and autenthic Dunhill cigarette holder...
Silver
$5,473Sale Price / set|44% Off
H 3.9 in Dm 5 in
19th Century Sterling Silver Match Box Holder and Ashtray Stand by Tiffany & Co
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in North Miami, FL
Presenting an exquisite early 19th-century treasure: a Sterling Silver Match Box Holder thoughtfully integrated into an Ashtray Stand by the renowned ...
Sterling Silver
Roma Cigar Case with Ashtray
By Morici
Located in Milan, IT
A singular piece from the Roma Collection, this cigar case boasts a practical and stylish design equipped with a handprinted ceramic ashtray. Masterfully handcrafted of cedar, it combines an ebony and a walnut veneer enriched with a splendid inlay work of a tobacco leaf marking the curved and polished top. Adorned with a small metal key, the piece is also equipped with a hygrometer and Boveda holder. Available with a wooden case upholstered with eco-leather, please ask the Concierge for details. This box is supplied with an handmade wooden suitcase...
Metal
$936
H 59.85 in Dm 24.81 in
Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta Portapiante Smontabile "Albero," Italy 1980s
By Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
Located in Naples, IT
Albero by Zanotta is an iconic pot holder designed by Achille Castiglioni in 1983. A sculptural, light and dynamic object designed to display indoor plants in a functional yet aesthe...
Steel
Piero Fornasetti, Ashtrays, prod. Fornasetti Milan 1960s
By Piero Fornasetti, Fornasetti
Located in Rivoli, IT
Rare tall screen-printed metal ashtray designed by Piero Fornasetti and produced by Fornasetti Milano in the 1960s Excellent condition Fornasetti was born in the fibrillating post-W...
Metal, Brass
Two Russian Silver Gilt and Cloisonné Enamel Eggs on Stands
Located in London, GB
Two Russian silver gilt and cloisonné enamel eggs on stands Russian, 20th Century Height 12cm, diameter 4.5cm These stunning Russian eggs are crafted from silver gilt and dec...
Silver, Enamel
$1,404
H 3.55 in Dm 9.45 in
Travertine Box Pier Alessandro Giusti and Egidio Di Rosa for Up & Up Italy 1970s
By Up & Up
Located in Rome, IT
Midcentury amazing round box in travertine marble attributed to the Italian designers Pier Alessandro Giusti and Egidio Di Rosa for Up & Up. Made in Italy in the 1970s.
Travertine, Marble
Postmodern Modern Marble and Brass Ashtray Box, circa 1970s
Located in New York, NY
A chic Postmodern marble and brass sphere ball ashtray box, circa 1970s. Piece makes a great decorative object box as well as an ashtray (three indents ar...
Marble, Brass