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.
Zanotta Quaderna 150 Large Rug in Wool by Superstudio
By Zanotta, Superstudio
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Quaderna series turns 50 and celebrates its success by introducing three new models to the successful collection. Recognized as a collection of "radical design", Quaderna decline...
Wool
Zanotta Quaderna 150 Medium Rug in Wool by Superstudio
By Zanotta, Superstudio
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Quaderna series turns 50 and celebrates its success by introducing three new models to the successful collection. Recognized as a collection of "radical design", Quaderna decline...
Wool
Customizable Zantota Quaderna 150 Carpet by Superstudio
By Zanotta
Located in New York, NY
Carpet. Hand-tufted carpet with uniform fleece over the entire surface made of 100% New Zealand wool. Lower support in 100% cotton canvas fixed with 100% natural latex...
Wool, Cotton
Customizable ClassiCon Blue Marine Rug by Eileen Gray
By Eileen Gray
Located in New York, NY
Eileen Gray created not only some of the most important furniture classics of the 20th century but also had her own studio where rugs were produced according to her designs. Some of her most beautiful patterns are now again available as re-editions: masterpieces of abstract textile art of 100 % pure new wool, natural vegetable dye, handwoven and processed to the highest quality with a density of 80 knots per square inch. Eileen Gray designed Blue Marine...
Wool
$8,551
H 28.55 in W 31.89 in D 98.04 in
Quaderna Console Table by Superstudio for Zanotta, Italy, 1970s
By Superstudio
Located in Brussels, BE
Quaderna Console Table by Superstudio for Zanotta,1970s Italy
Laminate, Wood
$1,092Sale Price|20% Off
H 14.97 in W 27.56 in D 29.53 in
Gae Aulenti Laminate and Purple Metal Italian Coffee Table for Zanotta, 1970s
By Gae Aulenti, Zanotta
Located in Roma, IT
Amazing midcentury laminate and purple enamel metal coffee table. This fantastic piece was designed in Italy by Gae Aulenti for Zanotta during the 1970s. This stunning straight-lined table with a clean enamelled metal frame with a light purple laminate formica top is in a stunning vintage condition. A wonderful item is perfect to complete a mid-century minimal living room...
Crystal, Metal
Superstudio Quaderna Console for Zanotta Italy, 1970
By Zanotta, Superstudio
Located in Skokie, IL
The Quaderna console table features a honeycomb core structure coated with white plastic laminate, silk-screen printed with black squares at 1.2" spacing. The Quaderna series featur...
Laminate, Wood
Ettore Sottsas Ospite Table Zanotta Postmodern, 1980s
By Ettore Sottsass, Zanotta
Located in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Ettore Sottsass's Ospite dining table. Designed in 1984 and produced by Zanotta. Painted brier veneer top and three brass silver legs.
Brass
Table by Superstudio
By Superstudio, Giovannetti
Located in Berlin, DE
The ‘Lambda’ table, designed by the radical design collective Superstudio in 1972, is an iconic piece of radical design. A rare piece. The table is made of ash veneer.
Ash
ClassiCon Customizable Wendingen Rug in Wool by Eileen Gray
By Eileen Gray
Located in New York, NY
Eileen Gray created not only some of the most important furniture classics of the 20th century but also had her own studio where rugs were produced ...
Wool
Customizable Zanotta Bol Table by Zaven
By Zanotta
Located in New York, NY
matt base or metallic/glossy base. many different dimensions and finishes. Table. Hard polyurethane bases matt lacquered in the shades talc, hemp, caramel, algae, amaranth, espresso ...
Lacquer
$4,400
H 32.67 in W 57.08 in D 17.71 in
Superstudio Console Table Wood and Glass Zanotta, Italy, circa 1980
By Zanotta, Superstudio
Located in Vienna, AT
Rare Superstudio console table wood and glass Zanotta, Italy, circa 1980. Dimensions are 17.71" x 57.02" x 32.67" (H). Minimalistic and large 57" console table made from wood and ...
Steel
$2,969
H 16.34 in W 39.38 in D 39.38 in
Gae Aulenti Glass and Enamelled Black Metal Italian Coffee Table, Zanotta, 1970s
By Gae Aulenti, Zanotta
Located in Roma, IT
Amazing midcentury glass and enamelled black metal coffee table. This fantastic piece was designed in Italy by Gae Aulenti for Zanotta during the 1970s. This splendid table with s...
Crystal, Metal
Customizable ClassiCon Roquebrune Rug in Wool by Eileen Gray
By Eileen Gray
Located in New York, NY
Eileen Gray created not only some of the most important furniture classics of the 20th century but also had her own studio where rugs were produced according to her designs. Some of ...
Wool
Customizable ClassiCon Bonaparte Rug by Eileen Gray
By Eileen Gray
Located in New York, NY
Eileen Gray created not only some of the most important furniture classics of the 20th century but also had her own studio where rugs were produced according to her designs. Some of ...
Wool