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.
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
Alessandro Mendini's Cuculia Bowl for Zanotta, 1985
By Zanotta, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Dallas, TX
The Cuculia centerpiece bowl, designed in 1985 by renowned architect and designer Alessandro Mendini, is an extraordinary example of Italian design that continues to inspire. Made of...
Plastic
Dealbata Porcelain Vase by Alessandro Mendini for Zanotta, '1987'
By Zanotta, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An amazing postmodern white porcelain vase designed by Alessandro Mendini (born 1931) for Zanotta's "Edizioni" collection and produced in limited numbers. Released as one of three va...
Porcelain
$2,464Sale Price / item|20% Off
Zanotta Cavour CM Executive Kit in Canaletto Walnut by Carlo Mollino
By Zanotta, Carlo Mollino
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
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
Alessandro Mendini's Cuculia Bowl for Zanotta, 1985
By Alessandro Mendini, Zanotta
Located in Dallas, TX
The Cuculia centerpiece bowl, designed in 1985 by renowned architect and designer Alessandro Mendini, is an extraordinary example of Italian design that continues to inspire. Made of...
Plastic
$1,059 / item
H 8.67 in Dm 0.4 in
21st Century Alessandro Mendini Murano Glass Small Vase Mandarin Orange
By Purho Murano, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Brembate di Sopra (BG), IT
21st century Alessandro Mendini, Petalo small vase, 6 petals, Murano glass, various colors Petal is a rounded vase that, thanks to some fine metal wires, when blown creates lobed shapes that resemble petals. Designed by Alessandro Mendini, Petalo comes in two sizes and six leaves in a polished finish to emphasize the beauty and transparency of the Murano blown glass. Colors available: Transparent Blown glass 01. ice crystal 02. milky white 03. honey 04. ruby venice 05. amethist pink 06. coffee 07. amber yellow 08. capri yellow 09. mandarin orange...
Murano Glass
$6,989 / 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
Colored Murano Glass Vase, Italy, 1980s
Located in Palermo, IT
Colored Murano glass vase, Italy, 1980s Purchased in one of the most prestigious retailers of fine objects in Venice. Intact. Excellent condition.
Glass
$1,762
H 25.6 in Dm 9.85 in
Ceramic Vase Model A ABC Collection by Alessandro Mendini for Superego Editions
By Superego Editions, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Milan, Italy
Model A ceramic vase, Abc Collection, designed by Alessandro Mendini and produced by Superego Editions, 99 pieces limited edition. Signed and numbered. Biography Alessandro Mendini ...
Ceramic
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
$1,534 / item
H 15.75 in Dm 11.82 in
21st Century Alessandro Mendini Murano Glass Large Vase Ocean Blue
By Alessandro Mendini, Purho Murano
Located in Brembate di Sopra (BG), IT
21st century Alessandro Mendini, Petalo large vase 3 petals, Murano glass, various colors Petal is a rounded vase that, thanks to some fine metal wires, when blown creates lobed shap...
Murano Glass
$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
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
$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
Italian Murano Glass Vase Simira Model by Alessandro Mendini for Venini.
By Venini, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Milan, Italy
Vase model Simira filigree glass and solid glass base molded to the wheel, circa 1987- 1988. Signed. Biography Alessandro Mendini was born in Milan in 1931. After a long experience...
Glass
$1,534 / item
H 15.75 in Dm 11.82 in
21st Century Alessandro Mendini Murano Glass Petalo Large Vase Amber
By Alessandro Mendini, Purho Murano
Located in Brembate di Sopra (BG), IT
21st century Alessandro Mendini, Petalo large vase 3 petals, Murano glass. Petal is a rounded vase that, thanks to some fine metal wires, when blown creates lobed shapes that resembl...
Murano Glass
21st Century Alessandro Mendini Gemello Murano Vase Topaz
By Purho Murano, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Brembate di Sopra (BG), IT
21st Century Alessandro Mendini, GEMELLO transparent vase, Murano glass. Purho continues to search for products with complementary shapes with the pair of Gemello and Gemella vases ...
Murano Glass
Sold
H 61.03 in W 20.48 in D 24.81 in
Vintage Albero Demountable Flowerpot Stand by Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta
By Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
Located in Munich, DE
Early edition. Demountable planter or flowerpot stand 'Albero' in shape of a tree. Designed by Achille Castiglioni 1983 for Zanotta, Italy. Marked: Zan...
Steel
Sold
H 59.85 in W 20.48 in D 24.81 in
Zanotta Albero White Demountable Flowerpot Stand by Achille Castiglioni
By Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
Located in New York, NY
Demountable flowerpot stand Painted steel frame in white, Pot-holder dishes in black polyamide. Black polypropylene feet. It was 1983 when Achille Cast...
Steel
Zanotta Servomuto Small Table Black and White
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Zanotta
Located in New York, NY
Servomuto small table, low - 1 black/black Service table. Base in polypropylene and steel rod painted, color black, white. Top laminate. Once more, an everlasting object whose shap...
Laminate
Zanotta Albero White Demountable Flowerpot Stand
By Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
Located in New York, NY
Demountable flowerpot stand Painted steel frame in white, Pot-holder dishes in black polyamide. Black polypropylene feet. It was 1983 when Achille C...
Steel
"Spiffero" Screen Sculpture by Bruno Munari c.1988
By Bruno Munari, Zanotta
Located in London, GB
Impressive "Spiffero" Screen Sculpture by Bruno Munari for Zanotta, Italy c.1988 Asymmetrically cut & painted aluminium panels. We are always adding to our 1stdibs catalogue so be...
Aluminum