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
Pair of Vases from the Dealbata Series by Alessandro Mendini for Zanotta
By Alessandro Mendini, Zanotta
Located in Torino, IT
Dealbata Vases by Alessandro Mendini for Zanotta A pair of orange-glazed clay vases with hand-applied ornamental decorations. From the Dealbata 9552 series, originally produced in ...
Ceramic
$2,917
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 Asti, Piemonte
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 Venini, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Asti, Piemonte
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
Alessandro Mendini for Venini Murano Glass Vase "Idalion," Italy 1994
By Alessandro Mendini, Venini
Located in Naples, IT
Vase from the Idalion series designed by Alessandro Mendini for Ditta Muranese Venini, light blue etched glass, signed under the base A. Mendini Venini 1994 Corresponding to drawing ...
Murano Glass
Italian Murano Glass Vase by Alessandro Mendini for Venini, Italy
By Venini, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Asti, Piemonte
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
Ceramic Vase 4 Mani Collection by Alessandro Mendini for Superego Editions
By Alessandro Mendini, Superego Editions
Located in Asti, Piemonte
Ceramic vase Colletto 3 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
$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
$2,917
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 Asti, Piemonte
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
$1,995
H 15.16 in Dm 4.93 in
Alessandro Mendini & Lapo Binazzi for Alessi, Vase '100% Make Up', Italy 1992
By Alessandro Mendini, Ettore Sottsass, Memphis Milano, Alessi
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
$2,917
H 11.82 in W 5.91 in D 5.91 in
Italian Murano Glass Vase Berito Model by Alessandro Mendini for Venini
By Venini, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Asti, Piemonte
Alessandro Mendini for Venini, Berito glass vase, with vertical pink stripes, incised mark and dated with applied circular label. Exhibited at Tingo design gallery in 2008 for the ex...
Murano Glass
Ceramic Vase 4 Mani Collection by Alessandro Mendini for Superego Editions
By Alessandro Mendini, Superego Editions
Located in Asti, Piemonte
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
Ceramic Vase 4 Mani Collection by Alessandro Mendini for Superego Editions
By Alessandro Mendini, Superego Editions
Located in Asti, Piemonte
Ceramic vase Colletto 6 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