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.
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
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
Zanotta Servofumo Low Ashtray in Steel by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Zanotta
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
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
$240Sale Price|63% Off
H 1.5 in Dm 10 in
Monumental Brutalist Ashtray by Marcello Fantoni for Raymor, 1950s
By Marcello Fantoni, Raymor
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
$479
H 0.79 in W 5.52 in D 5.52 in
Midcentury Squared Ashtray in Leather and Glass by CAP, Italy 1970s
By Jacques Adnet, Fontana Arte
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
$1,299
H 18.9 in W 4.73 in D 7.09 in
Italian Mid-Century Ashtray in Murano, Steel and Brass, Italy, 1950s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Ashtray made of steel structure and Murano glass, the ring where the glass fits and the top handle are in solid brass. Original condition.
Brass, Steel
Red 4630 Roto Ashtray by Joe Colombo for Kartell
By Joe Colombo, Kartell
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Originally designed in 1970 and produced by Kartell in 1973 two years after designer Joe Colombo's death, the Kartell 4630 Roto/Rotocenere ashtray is Colombo at his finest. Red plast...
Plastic
$278Sale Price|47% Off
H 1.42 in W 8.67 in D 6.7 in
Onyx Ashtray and Lighter - Ashtray Beautiful organic design
Located in Lugo, IT
Ashtray and lighter in onyx. Ashtray Beautiful organic design. defects Lighter not working Thanks
Onyx
Danish Minimalist Stainless Steel Ashtray by Roelandt for Stelton, 1980s
By Stelton
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A stylish stainless steel ashtray designed by Roelandt and manufactured by Stelton in Denmark during the 1980s. Similar to Arne Jacobsen's cylinda-line but with a tilting mechanism/l...
Stainless Steel
Rare swedish ashtray by Gunnar Ander for Ystad Metall
By Gunnar Ander, Ystad-Metall, Lindshammar Glasbruck
Located in Genarp, SE
A rare and elegant mid-century modern ashtray designed by Gunnar Ander for Ystad-Metall, Sweden. This model showcases Ander’s signature combination of refined metalwork and sculptura...
Brass
$1,400
H 49 in Dm 9 in
Achille Castiglioni Zanotta Servino Wine Bottle Cooler, Ice Bucket, Italy, 1987
By Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
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
Midcentury Pottery Ashtray by Aldo Londi Ceramic for Bitossi
By Bitossi, Aldo Londi
Located in Vienna, AT
Round ceramic ashtray painted in geometric Piet Mondrian patterns. Designed by Aldo Londi for Bitossi in the 1950s.
Ceramic
$647 / set
H 5.52 in W 2.17 in D 2.17 in
Birillo Italian Steel Ashtrays by E. Didone for Valenti, 1970
By Valenti, Ezio Didone
Located in Reggio Emilia, IT
Couple of midcentury Italian stainless steel ashtrays model “Birillo” with original boxes designed by Ezio Didone for Valenti, thanks to the weighted base the ashtrays never tip over...
Stainless Steel
Ashtray Sena Cristal Steel and Green Glass, Italy, 1970s
By Sena Cristal
Located in Rome, IT
Beautiful green glass ashtray embedded in a metal base by Sena Cristal. Made in Italy in the 1970s. The original label is still attached o...
Metal, Steel
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