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
$6,930 / 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
$707 / 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
$507 / 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
Pen Holder in Prestigious Genuine Leather RITLUX - 11 x 10 cm
By Limac Design
Located in Conegliano, IT
The Ritlux Prestigious Genuine Leather Pen Holder is an accessory of the LIMAC Design® Class line, for the Office and meeting rooms. This essential desk accessory with an original an...
Leather
$760Sale Price|20% Off
H 10.75 in W 14.5 in D 12.5 in
Antique Walnut Letter Box And Copying Press By Mordan. English Dated 1856
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Wonderful solid walnut letter or stationary box Combined with a patent copying press Fabulous colour and figure in the wood Makers mark of S. Mordan and dated 1856 on the press ha...
Brass
$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
$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
Design Desk Pen Holder in Leather QULUX - 10 x 10 x 11, 5 h cm
By Limac Design
Located in Conegliano, IT
Il Portapenne da Scrivania di Design in Pelle QULUX è la nuova linea di accessori per la scrivania in pelle della linea LIMAC Design® Class, realizzato in prestigioso cuoietto. Ha u...
Leather
$19,907 / 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
$1,288Sale Price|20% Off
H 2.37 in W 34.26 in D 3.55 in
Antique Naval Architect's Desk Tidy, English, Executive Organiser, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique naval architect's desk tidy. An English, mahogany organiser case, dating to the Victorian period, circa 1870. Of superb proportion at just under 3' long - a spec...
Wood
$49,905 / item
H 29.93 in Dm 39.38 in
Otterburn Chess Table — Solid Patinated Brass and Walnut — by NOVOCASTRIAN
By Novocastrian
Located in Washington, GB
Commissioned by a special client as the perfect stage for their chess battles, this table is a showcase of NOVOCASTRIAN’s creative ability, of almost 10 years of experimentation, ref...
Stone, Limestone, Marble, Carrara Marble, Slate, Brass, Bronze, Copper, ...