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.
"Giotto" Swivel Stool or Side Table by Lomazzi for Zanotta, Italy 1970s
By Gionathan de Pas & Donato D’Urbino & Paolo Lomazzi, Zanotta
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful and incredibly rare "Giotto" swivel stool designed by De Pas, D'Urbino and Lomazzi and produced by Zanotta in Italy during the 1970s. Signed on the bottom. Fully original ...
Metal
$233Sale Price|20% Off
H 17.72 in W 13.78 in D 13.78 in
Mid Century Mustard Yellow Flowers Stool, Poland, 1970s
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Space Age style plastic stool was made in Poland by Krynwald ERG fabric around the 1960s-1970s. The futuristic shape is tapered and aerodynamic, with a tulip foot and an yellow musta...
Fabric, Plastic
Mid-Century Plastic Stool or Footstool, 1970, Hungary
Located in Praha, CZ
- Good original condition. - New fabric. - Cleaned.
Fabric, Plastic
Charlotte Perriand Pine Side Table for Les Arcs
By Charlotte Perriand
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Classic pine side table/stool designed by Charlotte Perriand for the Les Arcs Ski Resort in France. Great lines. Good vintage condition. Super functional with inset shelf to be used ...
Pine
$1,391
H 19.89 in W 17.13 in D 18.9 in
Mezzadro Tractor Stools by Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Zanotta, 1970s
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Zanotta
Located in Linkebeek, BE
Mezzadro Tractor Stools by Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Zanotta, 1970s Italian design - Seating - Vintage Measures : 43,5x48cm H:50,5cm Materials : Steel - metal - wood M...
Metal, Steel
$600
H 16.93 in Dm 16.54 in
Mid-Century Modern Italian Wood Stool by A.Simoni & G. Del Piero for Olive S.R.L
By Simonit & Del Piero
Located in Byron Bay, NSW
Italian Mid-Century Modern stool in Walnut by Simon & Del Piero for Olivo S.R.L.
Walnut
Midcentury Stool or Side Table Trio, Olaf Von Bohr for Gedy, Italy, 1970s
Located in Praha, CZ
- marked - rare from 1970 /original model/ - very practical.
Plastic
Nakashima Style, Mid-Century Modern, Studio Made Stools, 1970s
By George Nakashima
Located in Manhasset, NY
Pair Mid-Century Modern Nakashima Style Organic Wooden Two Stools / Side Tables Organic form wooden stools from the 20th Century. American studio made, solid wood. These pieces can also work as low profile side tables...
Wood
Hand Carved Wood Pop Art Stool, 1970s USA
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Fantastic hand carved footstool, circa 1970s. Hand carved legs with hand carved Oxford shoes. Amazing details throughout. Leather laces. Hand painted with great coloring. Excellent c...
Wood, Paint, Leather
Italian Neoclassical X-Form Stool
Located in Sheffield, MA
An elegant Italian neoclassical X-form stool painted Ivory and decorated with giltwood floral and vegetal ornaments. The stool has upholstered seat covered in paisley design fabric. ...
Wood
$3,450
H 16.5 in W 22.75 in D 22.75 in
"Thebes" X Base Stool / Ottoman by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, Original Fabric
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Kansas City, MO
Thebes stool / bench / footrest / footstool designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, 1950s. This example retains the original yellow and orange geometric design fabric. The finish on t...
Upholstery, Mahogany
$4,326 / set
H 15.36 in W 17.72 in D 14.18 in
Italian modern stools Quaderna by Design Superstudio for Zanotta, 1970s
By Superstudio, Zanotta
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern white laminate stools Quaderna by Design Superstudio for Zanotta, 1970s Set of four stools model Quaderna in wood with a white laminate finish featuring 3cm squares wi...
Laminate, Wood
Lombok Stool or Footrest Indoor or Outdoor
Located in Paris, FR
Stool or footrest lombok indoor or outdoor with structure in steel and natural rattan. With cushion seat included. Colors finish in taup, brown, or ocher. Lead time production if on ...
Steel
Andrea Branzi set of two stools 1980s
By Zanotta, Andrea Branzi
Located in bari, IT
Pair of pouff steel structure white leather seat model 'Niccola' production late 80s designer Andrea Branzi production Zanotta
Steel