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 Zanotta, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
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 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
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
Tiger Ceramic Ashtray Handpainted and Handmade in Italy
By Bertrando Di Renzo
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
An unsual ashtray with a 70s touch Tiger ashtray handpainted and handmad ein italy Ceramic.
Ceramic
Leopard Ceramic Ashtray Handpainted and Handmade in Italy
By Bertrando Di Renzo
Located in ROCCAVIVARA CB, IT
An unsual ashtray with a 70s touch Tiger ashtray handpainted and handmad ein italy Ceramic.
Ceramic
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
Art Deco Ashtray in Bronze By Cawa, 1930s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Steamline stylized ashtray in cast bronze. Suitable for both cigars, pipe and cigarettes. Manufactured by CAWA in Denmark during the 1930s. The style of this piece is reminiscent Tin...
Bronze
Murano Glass Cobalt. Bowl by Flavio Poli for Seguso.
By Flavio Poli
Located in Verviers, BE
Attributed to Flavio Poli for Seguso d'Arte, Murano glass bowl is handcrafted with red highlights fading through to a lighter cobalt base, bringing warmth into your color scheme. Sti...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
Hedgehog by Walter Bosse for Hertha Baller around 1950s
By Herta Baller, Walter Bosse
Located in Wien, Au
Hedgehog by Walter Bosse for Hertha Baller around 1950s Original condition
Brass
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
Midcentury Pottery Ashtray by Aldo Londi Ceramic for Bitossi
By Aldo Londi, Bitossi
Located in Vienna, AT
Round ceramic ashtray painted in geometric Piet Mondrian patterns. Designed by Aldo Londi for Bitossi in the 1950s.
Ceramic
Red 4630 Roto Ashtray by Joe Colombo for Kartell
By Kartell, Joe Colombo
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
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
$584
H 1.58 in Dm 7.88 in
Round Ashtray or Vide-Poche in Travertine and Steel by Marble Art, Italy 1970s
By Fratelli Mannelli
Located in Rome, IT
Round ashtray or Vide-Poche in travertine marble and steel. Made in Italy in the 1970s. The original label is still attached on the back, as shown in the pictures.
Travertine, Marble, 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