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 Cavour CM Executive Kit in Canaletto Walnut by Carlo Mollino
By Carlo Mollino, Zanotta
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Cavour CM Executive Kit in Canaletto Walnut by Carlo Mollino Legs in solid natural or black varnished oak, or in solid Canaletto walnut; wax-...
Walnut
$7,048 / item
H 22.25 in W 15.75 in D 5.91 in
Contemporary 'Eye' Sculpture Amber D:40cm Glass, Brass and Gold by Ghirò Studio
By Ghirò Studio
Located in Pieve Emanuele, Milano
2023 Colletion of decorative objects by Ghirò Studio (Italy,Milan). The 'Eye' is not only a luxury refined piece of furniture but it is also a hand carved sculpture designed to em...
Crystal, Gold, Brass
$516 / item
H 8.67 in W 2.76 in D 2.76 in
Constantin Art Inspired Bookends, Black Marquina Marble and Canaletto Walnut
By Agustina Bottoni
Located in Milan, Lombardy
Constantin 1 is a simple but charming bookend couple with a geometric shape. The body is in Marquina black marble. The top in solid Canaletto walnut. A perfect present, closed in an elegant gift box. Constantin collection owes its name to its inspirer. It is in fact the modern art of Constantin Brancusi that has guided the designer’s hand to conceive candelabra, bookends, containers and centre pieces in wood, marble and brass. Taking up Brancusi ability to represent the essence of things with a high degree of abstraction, designer Agustina Bottoni has shaped the candlesticks and bookends thinking of the columns and bases of Brancusi famous sculptures...
Marble
$720 / item
H 8.67 in W 2.76 in D 2.76 in
Constantin Bookends, Black Marble/Canaletto Walnut Minimalist Design
By Agustina Bottoni
Located in Milan, Lombardy
Constantin 1 is a simple but charming bookend couple with a geometric shape. The body is in Marquina black marble. The top in solid Canaletto walnut. A perfect present, closed in an elegant gift box. Constantin collection owes its name to its inspirer. It is in fact the modern art of Constantin Brancusi that has guided the designer’s hand to conceive candelabra, bookends, containers and centre pieces...
Marble
$475
H 8 in W 13.75 in D 11 in
Vintage American Walnut 2-Tier Desk Organizer / Paper Tray by Shield Industries
Located in San Diego, CA
A sculptural and highly functional two-tier desk organizer crafted from genuine American walnut by Shield Industries, a California maker known for clean-lined, modernist desk accesso...
Walnut
Hand-Crafted Solid Walnut Paperweight by Sam Maloof
By Sam Maloof
Located in San Diego, CA
A very nice hand-crafted solid walnut block paperweight by Sam Maloof, circa 2000s. The piece was crafted in the Maloof wood shop with his classic joinery and is in like new conditi...
Walnut
$1,320
H 6.4 in W 4 in D 0.5 in
Carlo Buffetti Sterling Silver Address Book With Original Box, C. 1970
Located in Chicago, IL
Art Deco style sterling silver address book by Carlo Buffetti, circa 1970. Raised sterling detail with three lapis lazuli beads. Comes with the original yellow box and certificate of...
Sterling Silver
$20,354 / item
H 4.73 in W 19.3 in D 19.3 in
Otterburn Chess Set, Board & Box —Solid Patinated Brass & Walnut by NOVOCASTRIAN
By Novocastrian, Richy Almond
Located in Washington, GB
A special chess set in solid, hand-patinated brass and walnut. Handcrafted in the North to order. Available in a range of materials and finishes, Otterburn can truly be customized an...
Stone, Limestone, Marble, Carrara Marble, Slate, Copper, Stainless Steel...
Pair of MCM Walnut Letter Trays by Carver Wood Products
By Carver Wood Products Inc.
Located in San Diego, CA
Pair of MCM walnut letter trays by Carver Wood Products, circa 1970s. The trays are in good vintage condition and measures 15.375"W x 10.25"D x 4.75"H and would make a great addition...
Walnut
$16,025 / item
H 0.6 in W 17.72 in D 17.72 in
Otterburn Chess Set & Board — Solid Patinated Brass & Walnut by NOVOCASTRIAN
By Novocastrian, Richy Almond
Located in Washington, GB
A special chess set in solid hand-patinated brass. Handcrafted in the North to order. Available in a range of materials and finishes, Otterburn can tru...
Stone, Limestone, Marble, Carrara Marble, Slate, Brass, Bronze, Copper, ...
Shoe Kit
By Pinetti
Located in Milan, IT
This elegant and functional box is equipped with all the necessary items to care for shoes: a shoehorn with a handmade Horn handle, two brushes, two small brushes for polishing, thre...
Leather, Horn, Textile
Swedish Mid-century Mallet Tool or Pencil Holder in Walnut, 1950s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A well-made mallet shaped tool or pencil holder fashioned from solid walnut. Different sized hole for different tools/needles/pens etc. It was made in Sweden circa 1940-60 og excess ...
Walnut
MCM Walnut and Naugahyde Double Letter Tray by OPCO
By Opco Company
Located in San Diego, CA
Very cool and functional MCM walnut and nauhgahyde double letter tray by OPCO, circa 1970s. The tray is in very good vintage condition and measures 15.5"W x 10.25"D x 6.5"H and would...
Naugahyde, Walnut