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 Zanotta Servino Wine Bottle Cooler, Ice Bucket, Italy, 1987
By Zanotta, Achille Castiglioni
Located in Vienna, AT
A beautiful, minimalist, and quite rare postmodern floor-standing champagne, wine, and drinks cooler / ice bucket / bottle holder designed in 1987 by Achille Castiglioni and produced...
Metal
Andrea Branzi for Zanotta Glass & Nickel Centerpiece '1999'
By Zanotta, Andrea Branzi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Designed in 1999 for Zanotta, Andrea Branzi’s Izzika is the perfect sculptural centerpiece. A frame of nickel holds in place woven glass rods, some of which are straight and some are...
Nickel
$660Sale Price / item|20% Off
Zanotta Servofumo High Ashtray in Steel by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
By Zanotta, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Servofumo High Ashtray in Steel by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni Base in black painted polypropylene. Steel support rod and alumini...
Steel
Servofumo by A. Castiglioni for Zanotta
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Zanotta
Located in Vlimmeren, BE
The “Servofumo” was designed by A. an P.G. Castiglioni for Zanotta, Italy, in 1961. This ashtray has a base in polypropylene, a steel support frame and an aluminium sand container. C...
Aluminum, Steel
$642Sale Price / item|20% Off
Zanotta Servofumo Low Ashtray in Steel by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
By Zanotta, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Servofumo Low Ashtray in Steel by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni Base in black painted polypropylene. Steel support rod and aluminiu...
Steel
Figural Painted Murano Glass Centerpiece
By Salviati
Located in Hanover, MA
Beautifully and ornately hand painted and hand blown Venetian art glass compote centerpiece by Salviati of Murano (label in tact)
Murano Glass
$709
H 2.76 in W 18.12 in D 18.12 in
Centerpiece Serving Tray Ice Effect Lucite Nickel Willy Rizzo, Italy, 1970s
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Rome, IT
Centerpiece serving tray in ice effect Lucite and nickel frame attributed to the Italian designer Willy Rizzo, circa 1970.
Metal, Nickel
Saddle Leather and Ceramic Ashtray by Longchamp
By Longchamp
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Handsome leather and ceramic ashtray/catchall by Longchamp. Biomorphic shape with inset ceramic tray and extended cigarette or pipe holder. Great saddle color leather. Great vintage ...
Ceramic, Leather
Pair of Floor Ashtray by Ico Parisi for Stildomus
By Ico Parisi
Located in Brussels, BE
Pair of floor ashtray by Ico Parisi for Stildomus.
Wood
Arthur Court Rabbit Hinged Ice Bucket or Wine Cooler
By Arthur Court
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Whimsical Arthur Court rabbit hinged ice bucket or wine cooler, realistically cast and modeled figure of a standing rabbit, with gemstone eyes, hin...
Aluminum, Brass
$882
H 11.82 in W 25.6 in D 14.97 in
Vintage Large 8 Bottle Wine Champagne Cooler Ice Bucket 20th Century
Located in London, GB
This is a large elegant and stylish Vintage champagne cooler dating from the late 20th Century. This alluring item is perfectly suited to a party, and can easily accommodate eight b...
Silver Plate
$595
H 6.25 in W 11 in D 5 in
Mid-Century Italian Ceramic Black Top Hat Wine Cooler Champagne Ice Bucket
Located in Pearland, TX
A stylish Mid-Century Modern Italian ceramic black top hat wine cooler or champagne ice bucket. Enjoy a drink in style with this sleek top hat! Thi...
Ceramic
$1,418Sale Price|60% Off
H 4.34 in W 11.42 in D 8.67 in
Flavio Poli Large Bowl Centerpiece Murano Glass for Seguso, 1960
By Seguso Vetri d'Arte, Flavio Poli
Located in Paris, IDF
Beautiful Flavio Poli bowl centerpiece for Seguso Vetri D'Arte made in the 1960s from the Sommerso collection. This large bowl has eye-catching sunset colors, with pink glass submerg...
Glass
$525
H 5 in W 6.5 in D 5.5 in
Vintage Venini Murano Light Blue White & Clear Wine Cooler Ice Bucket Italy 1970
By Venini
Located in Miami, FL
Vintage Venini Murano martini ice cube container in light blue, white & transparent wine cooler, ice bucket made in Italy 1970. No Makers Logo, Venini ...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
$240Sale Price|63% Off
H 1.5 in Dm 10 in
Monumental Brutalist Ashtray by Marcello Fantoni for Raymor, 1950s
By Raymor, Marcello Fantoni
Located in View Park, CA
A green glow: monumental vintage Italian brutalist hand-worked metal ashtray by Marcello Fantoni for Raymor, made in Italy circa 1950. Patinated copper in tones of chartreuse, teal, and pewter. Born in Florence in 1915, Marcello Fantoni wed ancient Italian pottery technique with decidedly Modernist elements, garnering tremendous acclaim both at home and abroad - his work has been collected by important museums worldwide. When Fantoni died in Florence in 2011 at the age of 95, his obituary in the Italian newspaper La Nazione hailed him “the master of beauty.” This stunning piece certainly justifies the moniker. With the signature etched on verso, it is without doubt an heirloom rarity for the savvy collector...
Copper
Art Deco Ice Bucket, Hand Cut French Crystal Wine Cooler
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Art Deco ice bucket, hand cut French crystal wine cooler A very stylish piece with straight elegant lines, sweeping outward at the top with chunky knob handles The cooler or I...
Crystal
$472
H 0.79 in W 5.52 in D 5.52 in
Midcentury Squared Ashtray in Leather and Glass by CAP, Italy 1970s
By Fontana Arte, Jacques Adnet
Located in Rome, IT
Midcentury beautiful squared ashtray in brown leather and glass by CAP. Made in Italy in the 1970s. Perfect desk object or gift idea.
Leather, Glass
Sold
H 40.95 in Dm 12.21 in
Mid-Century Floor Standing Ashtray signed by Castiglioni for Zanotta, Italy 1957
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Zanotta
Located in Roma, IT
An iconic piece of Italian design, this elegant freestanding ashtray was designed by the Castiglioni brothers for Zanotta in 1957. A perfect example of functionality and material exp...
Metal, Steel
Sold
H 42.13 in Dm 12.6 in
Modern Floor Ashtrays Servofumo by Achille Pier Giacomo Castiglioni Zanotta 1980
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Zanotta
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Floor ashtrays Servofumo by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Zanotta, 1980s Pair of floor ashtrays mod. Servofumo from the Servi series, with round black pain...
Metal
Italian Black Steel Servofumo Ashtray by Castiglioni for Zanotta, 1961
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Zanotta
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian black steel Servofumo ashtray by Castiglioni for Zanotta, 1961 First of a singular "endless project", the Servofumo is part of the large family of objects called "servants",...
Steel
Ceramic Base with Laminate Top Side Table by Ettore Sottsass for Zanotta
By Ettore Sottsass, Zanotta
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A wonderful side table designed by Ettore Sottsass for Zanotta, circa 1990s. Consist of a ceramic base with a colorful laminate and wood top. Made in Italy. Excellent condition.
Ceramic, Wood