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 Zanotta, Achille Castiglioni
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
Dealbata Porcelain Vase by Alessandro Mendini for Zanotta, '1987'
By Alessandro Mendini, Zanotta
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
$2,990
H 25.6 in Dm 9.85 in
Ceramic Vase Model A ABC Collection by Alessandro Mendini for Superego Editions
By Alessandro Mendini, Superego Editions
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
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
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
Blue Murano Glass large Vase, Italy 1980s
By Cenedese
Located in Dallas, TX
Very large blue translucent Mid Century Modern Murano glass vase. Attributed to Simone Cenedese, Murano, Italy, 1980s. The blue Murano glass is thick and heavy. The Murano glass is f...
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
$750
H 8.86 in W 6.5 in D 3.55 in
Ritratto Blue Wall Hanging Flower Vase Alessandro Mendini Postmodern
By Marutomi, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
"Ritratto" flower vase for the wall designed by Alessandro Mendini for Marutomi. Designed in the late 90s and start production in 2000. No longer production. New old stock in box. W...
Plastic
$800 / item
H 40.56 in Dm 12.21 in
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
$700
H 8.86 in W 6.5 in D 3.55 in
Ritratto Green Wall Hanging Flower Vase Alessandro Mendini Postmodern
By Alessandro Mendini, Marutomi
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
"Ritratto" flower vase for the wall designed by Alessandro Mendini for Marutomi. Designed in the late 90s and start production in 2000. No longer production. New old stock in box. W...
Plastic
$777
H 10.63 in Dm 11.03 in
Italian modern glass vase Cartoccio by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte, 1980s
By Fontana Arte, Pietro Chiesa
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern glass vase Cartoccio by Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte, 1980s Cartoccio vase entirely made of frosted glass. The irregular shape features folds and rounded edges. Prod...
Glass
$1,200
H 9.85 in W 13.39 in D 5.52 in
Huge "Tasca" Porcelain Vase by Lino Sabattini for Rosenthal, Italy, 1980s
By Lino Sabattini, Rosenthal
Located in Milan, IT
Huge "Tasca" porcelain vase by Lino Sabattini for Rosenthal. Matte finish and still contemporary shape.
Porcelain
$1,995
H 15.16 in Dm 4.93 in
Alessandro Mendini & Lapo Binazzi for Alessi, Vase '100% Make Up', Italy 1992
By Ettore Sottsass, Alessi, Memphis Milano, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Malmö, SE
A postmodern limited-edition porcelain vase with lid from the first edition of the “100% Make-Up” series by Alessi Tendentse, Italy, released in 1992. The vase’s shape was designed...
Ceramic
Idalion vintage flower vase Venini Alessandro Mendini Postmodern
By Venini, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
"idalion" flower vase designed by Alessandro Mendini for Venini. Vintage blue color. Made in 1995. "Venini 95 A.mendini" Carving on bottom. No chips, no cracks. good condition.
Blown 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 Zanotta, Achille Castiglioni
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 Zanotta, Achille Castiglioni
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 Albero White Demountable Flowerpot Stand
By Zanotta, Achille Castiglioni
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