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 Ardea CM Armchair in Green Regola Upholstery with Canaletto Walnut
By Zanotta, Carlo Mollino
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Ardea CM Armchair in Green Regola Upholstery with Canaletto Walnut by Carlo Mollino Base in solid natural or black varnished oak, or in solid natur...
Oak
Zanotta Ardea CM Armchair in Red Tegola Upholstery with Black Varnished Oak
By Zanotta, Carlo Mollino
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Ardea CM Armchair in Red Tegola Upholstery with Black Varnished Oak by Carlo Mollino Base in solid natural or black varnished oak, or in solid natura...
Oak
$900Sale Price|60% Off
H 36 in W 27.25 in D 30.5 in
19th Century French Louis XV Bergere Arm Chair in a Fine Floral Upholstery
Located in Plainview, NY
An elegant 19th century French Louis XV bergere armchair featuring a high quality floral upholstery in the style of Schumacher betty chintz fabric in vivi...
Upholstery, Wood
$2,001Sale Price|19% Off
H 37.8 in W 31.5 in D 24.81 in
Louis XV French Bergere Armchair Finished with Black Leather & Brass Stud Detail
Located in Reading, Berkshire
A Black Leather Louis XV French Bergere Design Armchair Finished with Brass Stud Detailing, Ideal For The Study, Office or Library. Measure: Height to seat 47cm.
Brass
$2,950
H 37 in W 26 in D 29 in
Bergère Chair with Black Lacquered Wood, Red, White & Black Printed Fabrics
Located in New York, NY
Decorative vintage Bergère chair designed in 100% cotton printed fabrics. Wood is black lacquer. Seat height is 18 inches. Seat cushion is filled...
Fabric, Lacquer
French Empire Period Mahogany Armchair with Swans' Heads
Located in Pembroke, MA
French Empire period mahogany fauteuil or armchair with saber legs and swans' heads on the arms. The chair is upholstered neoclassical-patterned cut mohair fabric.
Mohair, Mahogany
Louis XVI Style Mahogany Armchairs with Red Upholstery
Located in Astoria, NY
Pair of Louis XVI Style Stained Mahogany Arm Chairs, each with red upholstered seat and back on fluted tapered legs. 38.5" H x 23.5" W x 21" D; seat: 21.5" H. Provenance: The Estat...
Upholstery, Mahogany
$15,000 / set
H 36 in W 24 in D 28 in
19th Century Pair of French Louis XV Bergère Armchairs in Green Wood
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of French Louis XV-style (19th Century) green painted and gilt rope carved trimmed bergere Armchairs with Ikat-style blue cut velvet and beige satin upholstery. (PRICED AS Pair)
Wood
$7,163
H 32.29 in W 23.23 in D 21.66 in
A French Empire Mahogany Frame Cane Bergere Armchair With Rams Head Terminus
By François-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter
Located in Reading, Berkshire
A French Empire Georges Desmalter Mahogany Frame Cane Bergere Armchair With Rams Head Pediments With Square Tapering Legs & Hoof Feet. François-Honoré-Georges Jacob-Desmalter (1...
Cane, Mahogany
$3,994 / set
H 38.19 in W 32.29 in D 33.86 in
Pair of French Great Quality Black Leather 19th Century Armchairs
Located in Petworth,West Sussex, GB
A large and very comfortable pair of Napoleon III antique French library armchairs. Quality black leather and studded on the front & back edges,...
Brass
$1,440Sale Price / set|44% Off
H 35 in W 22 in D 20 in
Pair of Painted French Armchairs Fauteuils with Fortuny Upholstery
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Superb pair of French vintage fauteuil armchairs having painted carved wood frames and wonderful Fortuny upholstery. Arm height 25".
Wood
$4,762 / item
H 29.14 in W 28.35 in D 31.5 in
Fig Armchair – Contemporary Brass Frame with Warm Brown Upholstery by Misaya
By Masaya
Located in Geneve, CH
Fig Armchair – Contemporary Brass Frame with Warm Brown Upholstery by Misaya Dimensions: W72 x D80 x H74 cm Materials: Brass Also Available: Different colors (Gold, Polished Brass. ...
Brass
$3,984Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 35 in W 27.5 in D 23 in
Pair 19th Century French Louis XVI Walnut Bergeres, Armchairs
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair 19th Century French Louis XVI walnut Bergeres ~ armchairs is a remarkable combination of master furniture makers with exceedingly talented sculptors! Fashioned from sumptuous Fr...
Walnut
$18,734 / item
H 30.71 in W 54.34 in D 46.46 in
21st Century Tulipe Armchair in Jacquard Fabric and Base in Hand-carved Wood
By Jumbo Collection
Located in Cantù, Lombardia
The elegance of the capitonné manufacturing in refined Jacquard fabric is the distinctive element of the Tulipe armchair, whose shape with low back and wide armrests, suspended on a ...
Fabric, Poplar