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 757 Cupboard by Superstudio in White Laminate
By Zanotta, Superstudio
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Quaderna 757 is a cupboard designed by Superstudio and produced by the Zanotta brand. Honeycomb core structure coated with white Print laminate, digitally printed with black squares ...
Laminate, Plastic
$29,092Sale Price / item|20% Off
Zanotta Edizioni Alicante Cupboard in Wooden Frame by Alik Cavaliere
By Zanotta, Alik Cavaliere
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Edizioni Alicante Cupboard in Wooden Frame by Alik Cavaliere Signed original. Wooden frame with polychrome inlay. Inside are a drawer and a...
Wood
Painted Cupboard
Located in Washington, DC
Painted cupboard in two pieces. Original paint. Lots of storage.
Wood, Paint
$4,558Sale Price|20% Off
H 60.24 in W 72.45 in D 18.9 in
French Provincial Wooden Cabinet Cupboard with Metal Mesh Doors
Located in Brescia, IT
This is a cabinet in French style, typical of the Provence, a country French province, with three doors closed by metal mesh panels, with keys. It is a contemporary handmade production in solid oakwood and it is painted in a warm sable color...
Iron
1-door Directoire style cupboard in solid wood
Located in Landivy, FR
This wooden closet is offered in solid French cherrywood and is also available in oak. The hanging bar is fixed under a wooden shelf. This shelf is height-adjustable on a wooden rack. The oval entrance and key are in brass and fitted with a lock. The finish proposed here is a classic cherrywood "D" stain, with a natural varnish on the diamond and fluted fronts. The finish of every GONTIER cabinet is customizable. You can choose the wood stains and colors you prefer (see last pictures) MÉLANIE Collection This cupboard part of the MÉLANIE collection, a modern interpretation of the French Directoire style of the late 18th century. The straight, classic and timeless lines are embellished with rhombuses...
Wood, Cherry
Georgian Pine Housekeepers Cupboard in Original Paint
Located in Kingsbridge, GB
Georgian Pine Housekeepers Cupboard in Original Paint. Rare survivor in totally untouched original condition. Westcountry. Circa. 1800 The cupboard is in totally unrestored origi...
Pine
$9,258
H 82.68 in W 67.72 in D 23.23 in
1890s Tuscany Renaissance Cupboard Wardrobe in Carved Walnut by Dini e Puccini
Located in Vigonza, Padua
1890s Renaissance Revival cupboard wardrobe in carved walnut, with two internal mirror on doors by Dini & Puccini (Cascina - Tuscany) It can be used as a bookcase by adding internal ...
Mirror, Walnut
Contemporary Sculpted Wardrobe/Cupboard in Solid Oak
By Sóha
Located in Paris, IDF
Wardrobe made of solid oak (+ linseed oil) Measures: 175 x 80 x 40 cm SÓHA design studio conceives and produces furniture design and decorative objects in solid oak in an authentic ...
Oak
Antique Swedish Cupboard in Grey and Antique White
Located in Atlanta, GA
A stately and beautifully preserved Swedish cupboard secretary dating from 1810 to 1830, crafted in oak and pine with a soft grey painted finish that highlights its elegant, understa...
Brass
c. 1840 Country Georgian Corner Cupboard in Blue
Located in Dekalb, IL
Primitive corner cupboard in worn blue paint over red wash, with true hand-cut joinery and panel doors. This cabinet is a workhorse of 19th-century rural craftsmanship-built without...
Wood
$3,988Sale Price|20% Off
H 75.6 in W 29.53 in D 2.76 in
Antique Placard, Diamond Carved Wall Cupboard, Walnut with Frame, 1700, Italy
Located in Cuneo, Italy (CN)
Antique placard, built-in wardrobe with hand carved diamond door, cupboard walnut luxury, hand carved by an artist in the 18th century, coming from a historic building in Italy, suitable for luxurious and prestigious kitchens or living rooms. Maximum frame size cm 75 x H 192, door passage light...
Walnut
Sand Senses Cupboard in Wood by Hillsideout
By Rossana Orlandi, Hillsideout
Located in Milan, IT
The Sand Senses cupboard features materials made with sand and surface that stimulate senses when touched. Sand seems to have no limit. Burnt sand makes the Murano glass transparent. Concrete incorporates more than one type of sand - one comes from the river and the other one has been transformed through a chemical process. Wood is sandblasted and treated with oil-wax to obtain the smoothest surface possible. Geometric shapes can be found in the concrete legs, in the cupboard doors, as well as on the top enriched with openings in colored Murano glass. With its four colorful doors, two drawers and several shelves, this piece turns out to be a very aesthetically pleasing and practical cupboard; representing the perfect solution for both storing and showcase use...
Concrete
Contemporary Sculpted Cupboard/Bookcase in Solid Oak
By Sóha
Located in Paris, IDF
Cupboard made of solid oak (+ linseed oil) Measures: 175 x 80 x 40 cm SÓHA design studio conceives and produces furniture design and decorative obj...
Oak
White Painted Pine Cabinet Cupboard, Sweden 1820-40
Located in Round Top, TX
This European country pine cupboard may be used as a display cabinet or bookcase. The upper pane glass doors allow for ideal display of any collection held within. The newer professi...
Brass