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
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
Spanish Ball Footed Ice Bucket Champagne / Wine Cooler
By Valenti
Located in Barcelona, ES
Eye-catching Midcentury Ball Shaped Ice Bucket with Bronce Details. This sexy stainless steel and brass wine chiller features a ball standing on ba...
Metal, Brass, Steel, Stainless Steel
PM Italy Italian Gold Plated Ice Bucket Wine Cooler
By PM Italy
Located in New York, NY
A chic Italian gold-plated ice bucket or wine/Champagne cooler by PM Italy, circa mid to late-20th century, Italy. Italian luxury silversmith company PM designed this chic gold-plate...
Metal, Gold Plate
$1,224Sale Price|20% Off
H 11.62 in Dm 5.71 in
Pineapple Ice Bucket Wine Cooler in the Style of Mauro Manetti, Italy, 1950s
By Mauro Manetti
Located in Barcelona, ES
Metal Plated Pineapple Ice Bucket, 1950s ____________________________________________________________ An exquisite Hollywood Regency metal plated pineapple shaped ice bucket or wine ...
Metal
Vintage Martele Champagne / Wine Cooler Bucket. Italy 1960´s
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Vintage Martelé (Hammered Metal) Champagne / Wine Cooler Bucket. Italy 1960´s. Excellent conditions. Fits well with large bottles (the one on the pictures is a normal size bottle, n...
Brass
$1,913
H 12.21 in W 12.6 in D 11.82 in
Valentí Brass Basket Ice Bucket Wine Cooler / Centerpiece, 1950s
By Valenti
Located in Barcelona, ES
Mid-century Modern Basket Ice Bucket Centerpiece in Brass. Spain, 1950-1960 Manufactured by Valentí. Large size. Stylish Midcentury basket shaped centerpiece bowl or champagne / wi...
Brass
$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
Christofle Silver Plated Wine Cooler/Champagne Ice Bucket, Circa 1945.
By Christofle
Located in London, GB
A wonderful silver plated ice bucket designed in 1933 by Luc Lanel for the famed Parisian silversmith, Christofle. This model, with ridge design to the handles and body, was to a pat...
Silver Plate
Mexican Silver-Plated and Bronze Ice Bucket / Wine Cooler
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
We offer this robust and elegant ice bucket or wine cooler, crafted in Mexican bronze with a silver-plated finish. The piece stands out for its excellent weight and solidity, reflect...
Brass
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
$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
$32,042Sale Price|20% Off
H 11.5 in Dm 10.16 in
Antique Victorian Sterling Silver Wine Coolers / Champagne Ice Buckets 1839
By Howard & Hawksworth 1
Located in London, GB
A pair of impressive Antique Victorian Solid Silver Wine Coolers with magnificent acanthus leaf handles. The Rim of the cooler and the spread foot are decorated with elegant classic...
Sterling Silver