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.
$4,840Sale Price / item|20% Off
Zanotta William Day Bed in Green Fabric with Steel Frame by Damian Williamson
By Damian Williamson, Zanotta
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta William Day Bed in Green Fabric with Steel Frame by Damian Williamson Aluminum alloy feet, either polished or with natural or black nickel-satin...
Fabric
"Grand Italia" Black Leather Daybed by De Pas, D'urbino, Lomazzi, Italy, 1979
By Gionathan de Pas & Donato D’Urbino & Paolo Lomazzi, Zanotta
Located in New York, NY
A rare and iconic example of late 20th-century Italian design, this “Grand Italia” daybed was designed by the celebrated trio De Pas, D’Urbino, and Lomazz...
Steel
Gae Aulenti, Kuka, Daybed, Zanotta, 1970s
By Zanotta, Gae Aulenti
Located in Paris, FR
Gae Aulenti Kuka A very rare square daybed covered with a light grey fabric. The removable head rest behind two rectangular cushions, the seat with two ...
Fabric
$6,371Sale Price / item|20% Off
Zanotta Alfa Day Bed in White Leather with Steel Frame by Emaf Progetti
By Zanotta, Emaf Progetti
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Alfa Day Bed in White Leather with Steel Frame by Emaf Progetti The day bed is also available with a length of 83 7/16”. Its price must be calc...
Leather
$12,611Sale Price|20% Off
H 37.41 in W 43.31 in D 68.9 in
Leather 'Joe' Chair Designed by De Pas, D'Urbino, Lomazzi for Poltronova, Italy
By Gionathan de Pas & Donato D’Urbino & Paolo Lomazzi
Located in London, GB
This super sized, super cool, leather 'Joe' chair has now become a design classic. Designed by Jonathan De Pas, Donato D'Urbino and Paolo Lomazzi in 1970, this contemporary re-editio...
Metal
Venfield Modern Sofa /Daybed
By Venfield
Located in New York, NY
Stylish Modern sofa with 6 back pillows and low, wide arms. This sofa's deep single seat cushion is perfectly sized to serve as a daybed or single bed for ...
Steel
$2,157Sale Price|64% Off
H 24.81 in W 94.49 in D 36.62 in
Art Deco Black Wood and Leather Day Bed Sofa
Located in IT
Art Deco black wood and leather daybed sofa. Art Deco daybed sofa, from France, from 1930s Art Deco period. Black wood frame and leather upholstery. Conservative restoration of woode...
Leather, Wood
Custom Made Gueridon Day Bed with Client's Own Fabric - COM
By Guéridon Design
Located in Stratford, CT
Following the success of its ottoman, GUERIDON is launching a full line of fully customizable and fully compatible stools, bar stools, benches, and day beds. All designs share the sa...
Fabric, Wood
$1,250
H 26.19 in W 22.45 in D 21.86 in
Early Gae Aulenti for Zanotta 'Locus Solus' Tubular Armchair in Steel
By Gae Aulenti, Zanotta
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Gae Aulenti for Zanotta, 'Locus Solus' armchair, chromed tubular steel, blue leatherette, Italy, 1964 This Locus Solus armchair, designed by Gae Aulenti and produced by Zanotta, is ...
Steel
Daybed in the style of Gae Aulenti
By Gae Aulenti
Located in Milan, IT
Red tubular daybed in the style of Gae Aulenti.
Metal
$1,500Sale Price|33% Off
H 31.5 in W 80.5 in D 38.5 in
Bromwell Custom, Down-Filled Day Bed with Pillows
Located in Bronx, NY
A Bromwell custom, down-filled daybed with pillows. It features lightly padded wraparound supports, a removable button-tufted cushion and block feet. The piece is covered with suede-...
Fabric
$5,874
H 27.56 in W 82.68 in D 45.28 in
Italian Modern Caramel Leather Piumino Sofa by De Pas, D'urbino & Lomazzi, 1970s
By Gionathan de Pas & Donato D’Urbino & Paolo Lomazzi
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern caramel leather three seating Piumino sofa by De Pas, D'Urbino and Lomazzi, 1970s. Piumino model sofa with internal structure in foamed fo...
Leather
Leather and Brass studded Day bed
Located in Faversham, GB
An exceptional fully reclinable brass studded daybed in a rich brown cognac leather. The daybed has two extendable arms, with four adjustable gradients for each arm. The daybed can ...
Brass
Day Bed In Wicker, 1970s
Located in Roma, RM
Day Bed In Wicker, 1970s Product Details Dimensions: 200 W x 68 H x 93 D cm The mattress/cushion is not included, the price refers to the daybed without the cushion. If you are inte...
Metal
$14,086 / set
H 22.84 in W 39.38 in D 41.34 in
Decursu De Pas D'Urbino Lomazzi Carrera Chairs Italy 1969
By Gionathan de Pas & Donato D’Urbino & Paolo Lomazzi
Located in Roosendaal, Noord Brabant
Absolutely stunning shaped low 'Carrera' lounge chairs designed by Giorgio Decurso; Jonathan De Pas; Donato D'Urbino e Paolo Lomazzi and manufactured by BBB Bonancina, Italy 1969. Th...
Metal
$6,900
H 28.75 in W 76.78 in D 29.53 in
Johannes Spalt 'Constanze' Convertible Daybed Sofa by Wittmann, Austria, 1970
By Johannes Spalt, Wittmann
Located in Hausmannstätten, AT
A freestanding sofa model 'Constanze' / 'Constance' with black steel and a fabric in a warm cognac / golden / ocher / mustard yellow / orange tone designed by Prof. Johannes Spalt fo...
Metal
Sold
H 17.72 in W 74.81 in D 35.83 in
Zanotta "Grand Italia" Black Leather Daybed by De Pas, D'Urbino & Lomazzi
By Zanotta, Gionathan de Pas & Donato D’Urbino & Paolo Lomazzi
Located in Dronten, NL
Vintage very rare "Grand Italia" black leather and enameled steel daybed designed by De Pas, D'Urbino, Lomazzi for Zanotta, Italy, circa 1979. This iconic daybed consists of black en...
Steel
Sold
H 19.69 in W 76.78 in D 37.01 in
Daybed Grand Italia by De Pas, D'Urbino, Lomazzi for Zanotta, 1980s
By Gionathan de Pas & Donato D’Urbino & Paolo Lomazzi, Zanotta
Located in Renens, CH
Introducing the "Grand Italia" daybed, a remarkable piece designed by De Pas, D'Urbino, Lomazzi for Zanotta, Italy during the late 1970s. This iconic daybed showcases a combination...
Steel
Rare Midcentury Zanotta Convertible Sofa, Italy 1970s
By Zanotta
Located in ABCOUDE, UT
Rare Mid century convertible sofa daybed by Zanotta, Italy 1970s. The sofa has a beautiful original velvet upholstery and chromed frame de...
Chrome
Sold
H 27.56 in W 76.78 in L 27.56 in
Mid-Century Modern Italian "Onda" Sofa by Paolo Lomazzi for Zanotta, 1980s
By Gionathan de Pas & Donato D’Urbino & Paolo Lomazzi, Zanotta
Located in Prato, IT
Mid-Century Modern Italian "Onda" Sofa by Paolo Lomazzi for Zanotta, 1980s The Onda was designed in 1985 by Gionathan de Pas, Donato D'Urbino and Paolo Lomazzi for Zanotta of Italy....
Stainless Steel
Sold
H 30 in W 94.5 in D 36 in
Zanotta 240 Sofa, Black Leather, De Pas, D'urbino, Lomazzi, 1982 FINAL CLEARANCE
By Gionathan de Pas, Zanotta
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Design studio De pas, D'Urbino, Lomazzi 1982 Steel frame, elastic strips, polyurethane, goose down, upholstery Made in Italy by Zanotta Milano 240: 94.5" W, 36.2" D, 30.7" H, seat 14...
Leather