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.
Carlo Mollino “Cavour” Desk Designed 1949, Reissued by Zanotta, Italy
By Zanotta, Carlo Mollino
Located in Hellouw, NL
This “Cavour” desk was designed by Carlo Mollino in 1949 and later reissued by Italian manufacturer Zanotta. Its open construction, large glass surface and...
Glass, Wood
Zanotta Calamo Desk in Black Top with Steel Frame by Gabriele Rosa
By Gabriele Rosa, Zanotta
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Calamo Desk in Black Top with Steel Frame by Gabriele Rosa Varnished steel frame and top in black, white or graphite. Top and storage space in cowhide pigmentato 90. The storage space is accessed by a drop-leaf opening. Calamo is not an old-style desk with drawers overflowing with paper, but an essential element of furniture, both in function and appearance, something that could fit anywhere in the home. The collection includes a new furnishing accessory designed by young designer Gabriele Rosa: the Calamo desk-console table. With a white, black or graphite steel structure with cowhide pigmentato cover for the surface and storage space under the folding lid. Undoubtedly the writing desk still...
Steel
Zanotta Calamo Desk in White Top with Steel Frame by Gabriele Rosa
By Gabriele Rosa, Zanotta
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Calamo Desk in White Top with Steel Frame by Gabriele Rosa Varnished steel frame and top in black, white or graphite. Top and storage space in cowhide pigmentato 90. The storage space is accessed by a drop-leaf opening. Calamo is not an old-style desk with drawers overflowing with paper, but an essential element of furniture, both in function and appearance, something that could fit anywhere in the home. The collection includes a new furnishing accessory designed by young designer Gabriele Rosa: the Calamo desk-console table. With a white, black or graphite steel structure with cowhide pigmentato cover for the surface and storage space under the folding lid. Undoubtedly the writing desk still...
Steel
Bronze Desk with Black or Brown Leather Wrapped Top
By Alberto and Diego Giacometti
Located in Ballard, CA
A hand-sculpted and forged bronze desk with brown or black leather wrapped top and drawer, fastened by bronze nails. Custom sizes, finishes and glass top available. Interior of drawe...
Bronze
$1,155Sale Price|30% Off
H 29.53 in W 48.23 in D 24.41 in
Lovely Vintage Writing Table Desk in Hardwood with Silk Embroidered Glass Top
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer this lovely vintage writing table with silk embroidered top and glass protector A very good looking and well made p...
Silk, Glass, Hardwood
Art Deco Era Ebonised Desk with Stainless Frame
Located in Troy, MI
Found in England, this circa 1930s Art Deco desk has a streamlined machine age / industrial style. Desk top with three functional drawers and stainless steel leg and base. Unknown ma...
Stainless Steel
$5,400
H 34.5 in W 55.75 in D 31.5 in
Mid-Century Modern "Biscayne" Floating Top Walnut Desk by Drexel
By Milo Baughman, Drexel
Located in North Hollywood, CA
This exceptional floating top walnut desk by Drexel represents the pinnacle of 1960s American modernist design. Part of the distinguished Biscayne collection, this piece draws clear ...
Brass
$14,000Sale Price|60% Off
H 79.5 in W 84 in D 108.5 in
Vintage 1949 Mid-Century Modern Custom L-Shaped Office Desk by George Nelson
By George Nelson, Herman Miller
Located in Lafayette, IN
This remarkable piece is a one-off desk/wardrobe/bar/bookcase/storage cabinet custom-designed by George Nelson in 1949 to match his Basic Cabinet Series (BCS) for Herman Miller. The desk was made specifically for a client in the Promontory Apartment Building in Chicago designed by Nelson's associate, and world-renowned architect, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe. The entire apartment was outfitted in pieces from George Nelson's Basic Cabinet Series for Herman Miller that sat, untouched for nearly 70 years in their original setting! In addition to two aluminium sconces, this piece also features hidden, fluorescent lighting mounted in the upper canopy as a clever solution to Mies van der Rohe's lack of ceiling fixtures. This is a gorgeous, grandiose, and extremely rare piece of design history that will instantly outfit an entire office in striking style! Features: Desk: - Book-matched walnut veneer - Built-in Bar - Built in coat closet/wardrobe - Dual aluminum sconces - Hidden, indirect fluorescent lighting - Silver-plated Herman Miller hardware - Dual "floating" book shelves - Tapered, cantilevered peninsula desk...
Aluminum
Large French Neoclassical Roll-Top Desk
Located in Troy, NY
French Mahogany Empire Desk of stately proportions, with a roll top, revealing a double row of total six drawers under an open shelf, as well as a sliding writing surface with inset ...
Mahogany, Pearwood
$3,887
H 26.78 in W 35.44 in D 17.72 in
Italian Mid-Century Modern PetiteTable Desk Designed by Vittorio Dassi, 1950s
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in Traversetolo, IT
Stylish Italian Mid-Century Modern petite desk elegantly named "Dattilo" in wood teak designed by Vittorio Dassi, from the 1950s. The drawer front is very elegant, inspired by the co...
Brass
$3,300Sale Price|31% Off
H 31.3 in W 45.67 in D 23.23 in
Italian Mid Century Table Desk and chair designed by Vittorio Dassi in 1950s
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in Traversetolo, IT
Italian Mid-Century Desk and Chair Designed by Vittorio Dassi in the 1950s This stunning Italian Mid-Century desk and chair set was designed by the renowned designer Vittorio Dassi ...
Maple, Teak
$2,768
H 28.75 in W 49.22 in D 23.63 in
Compass desk designed by Jean Prouve and produced by Vitra in 1953
By Jean Prouvé, Vitra
Located in Ravenna, IT
Compass executive desk designed by Jean Prouvé and produced by Vitra in 1953. The iconic piece gets its name from the aesthetics of the slender metal legs, resembling a compass. Comb...
Steel
Art Deco Style Leather Top Desk
By Global Views
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Three drawer desk or writing table crafted in mahogany with a white leather top over a sleek elegant form with art deco influence, finished all around with a convex mirror on the bac...
Leather, Mahogany
$3,677Sale Price|29% Off
H 30.32 in W 51.19 in D 29.53 in
Italian Mid Century sculptural Desk Table designed by Vittorio Dassi in 1950s
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in Traversetolo, IT
This elegant mid-century Italian design desk was designed by Vittorio Dassi in the 1950s. The piece is characterized by a refined design that alternates soft and rounded lines with a...
Brass
Custom Designed Slumped Glass Desk by Laurel Fyfe
By Laurel Fyfe
Located in Dallas, TX
This is an absolutely breathtaking piece. It is impossible to capture the beauty and simplicity of this desk with a camera. It is a thick clear sheet of glass that has been manipulated by the world renowned glass artist Laurel Fyfe into the form of a gently draped desk...
Glass
Sold
H 29.5 in W 97.24 in D 35.43 in
Cavour CM Desk w/ Executive Kit, Canaletto Walnut Frame with Clear Glass Top
By Zanotta, Carlo Mollino
Located in Vancouver, BC
Designed by Carlo Mollino in 1949 for Zanotta, the Cavour Desk forms part of an eccentric yet elegant collection for one of the leaders in Italian industri...
Glass, Walnut
Zanotta Cavour Desk, Homage to Carlo Mollino
By Zanotta
Located in Dallas, TX
"Cavour" writing desk, homage to Carlo Mollino, 1949. Zanotta edition. Plate glass top, natural oak frame and compartment all in lacquered black.
Glass