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.
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
$1,798
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
Italian Murano Glass Vase Simira Model by Alessandro Mendini for Venini.
By Alessandro Mendini, Venini
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
21st Century Alessandro Mendini Gemello Murano Vase Topaz
By Alessandro Mendini, Purho Murano
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
$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
$1,798
H 29.14 in Dm 11.82 in
Ceramic Vase Model B ABC Collection by Alessandro Mendini for Superego Editions
By Alessandro Mendini, Superego Editions
Located in Milan, Italy
Ceramic vase model B, ABC collection, designed by Alessandro Mendini and produced by Superego Editions. 99 pieces limited edition. Signed and numbered. Biography Alessandro Mendini ...
Ceramic
Idalion vintage flower vase Venini Alessandro Mendini Postmodern
By Alessandro Mendini, Venini
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
Ceramic Vase 4 Mani Collection by Alessandro Mendini for Superego Editions
By Superego Editions, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Milan, Italy
Ceramic vase Colletto 1 model designed by Alessandro Mendini and decorated by Linde Burkhardt part of 4 Mani Collection made of 6 models. It's a limited edition of 99 pieces. Carried...
Ceramic
Chambord Murano Glass Bottle by Alessandro Mendini for Venini
By Venini, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Milan, Italy
Chambord bottle designed by Alessandro Mendini for Venini. Rare spherical bottle in blown glass with verdemare and sapphire murrine decoration with neck and truncated base in black g...
Murano Glass
$815
H 14.18 in Dm 5.91 in
Alessandro Mendini & Linde Burkhardt Limited Edition Ceramic by Superego 2000s
By Linde Burkhardt, Superego, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Cascina, Pisa
Limited edition ceramic vase model Colletto 4 from 4 Mani series, it was composed of two different pieces (a black one and a white one) designed by Alessandro Mendini decorated by Li...
Ceramic
$1,318
H 17.72 in Dm 7.88 in
Ceramic Vase Model C ABC Collection by Alessandro Mendini for Superego Editions
By Superego Editions, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Milan, Italy
Ceramic vase model C, ABC collection, designed by Alessandro Mendini and produced by Superego Editions. 99 pieces limited edition. Signed and numbered. Biography Alessandro Mendini...
Ceramic
Italian Murano Glass Vase by Alessandro Mendini for Venini, Italy
By Venini, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Milan, Italy
Large vase Simirone in blown glass intertwined polychrome canes on a base in faceted glass block designed by Alessandro Mendini for Venini in circa 1989. Limited edition of 50 pieces...
Blown Glass
$750
H 8.86 in W 6.5 in D 3.55 in
Ritratto Blue 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