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 Edizioni Mikiolone Bar Cabinet in Lacquered Wood by Alessandro Mendini
By Zanotta, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Edizioni Mikiolone Bar Cabinet in Lacquered Wood by Alessandro Mendini Nine originals, numbered and signed. Wooden frame lacquered in various colours. Legs in turned wood ...
Wood
Zanotta Edizioni Nairobi Bar Cabinet in Red Veneered Laminate by Ettore Sottsass
By Zanotta, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Edizioni Nairobi Bar Cabinet in Red Veneered Laminate by Ettore Sottsass Signed original. Red veneered laminate frame (design E. Sottsass). Base and inner frame with drawe...
Wood
Cantaride Bar Cabinet by Alessandro Mendini for Zanotta, Italy, 1980s
By Zanotta, Alessandro Mendini
Located in Antwerp, BE
Designed and signed by Italian architect and designer Alessandro Mendini for Zanotta in 1988, the Cantaride Bar-Cabinet is a rare piece from the iconic 1980s Memphis era. The cabinet...
Wood
Free Standing Cabinet Bar by Paolo Buffa
By Paolo Buffa
Located in New York, NY
Fine mahogany free standing cabinet bar by Paolo Buffa made in Italy, circa 1950s. Opposing doors swing open to reveal mirrored and fitted interi...
Wood
Bar Cabinet Carmen by Comité De Proyectos
Located in Geneve, CH
Bar cabinet Carmen by Comité De Proyectos Dimensions: large: W 45 x D 90 x H 110 cm Materials: Huanacaxaxtle Wood, Sisal Fiber, Steel, Wicker, Mirror, Leather. We are an interior a...
Steel
$1,562 / item
H 66.9 in W 31.5 in D 11.4 in
"Perf" Bar Cabinet in Varnished Steel by Moroso for Diesel
By Moroso, Diesel Creative Team 1
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Perf" is a bar cabinet, designed by Diesel Creative Team and manufactured by Moroso, in varnished steel black mat, with doors in varnished steel available in these colors: copper, b...
Steel
Kurt Østervig Bar Cabinet Produced by K.P. Møbler in Denmark
By Kurt Østervig
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Very rare bar cabinet designed by Kurt Østervig. Produced by K.P Møbler in Denmark.
Brass
Danish Viking Bar Cabinet
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A very unusual, hand painted bar cabinet, as a Danish Viking, made in Italy. Striking naive/modern style, humorous and direct. The back is finished and ...
Wood
Mid-Century Folding Bar Cabinet, Italy circa 1950s
Located in New York, NY
An Italian modernist folding bar cabinet. Bar folds open in the middle and is finished on all sides to be free standing. Mahogany, teak, patinated...
Mahogany
Bar Cabinet by Gio Frigerio, Italy 1970s
By Frigerio
Located in New York, NY
Bar cabinet by Gio Frigerio. Red lacquer doors and mirrored interior. Makers label affixed to back.
Glass, Lacquer
Bronze Mirrored Bar Cabinet by Ello
By Ello Furniture
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A two-part mirrored cabinet on chest, perfect for a bar. Two mirrored doors above three mirrored drawers with modern inset brass campaign handles, on a brass base with brass sides. G...
Brass
Aldo Tura Bar Cabinet Brown Goatskin, Italy, 1960s
By Aldo Tura
Located in Munich, DE
Aldo Tura goatskin bar cabinet, Italy, circa 1960. This beautiful small cabinet was illuminated and mirrored inside with three glass shelves, excellent original vintage condition. M...
Brass
$13,100 / item
H 42 in W 60 in D 12 in
Modern Liquor Bar Cabinet, By Peter Harrison. Industrial Metal Concrete and Wood
By Peter Harrison
Located in Middle Grove, NY
The Tangent liquor cabinet is a modern storage unit sized for alcohol, but useful for much more. It features gently curved aluminium doors which c...
Concrete, Aluminum, Stainless Steel
Nairobi Bar Cabinet by Ettore Sottsass
By Ettore Sottsass
Located in Doral, FL
Nairobi Bar Cabinet by Ettore Sottsass for Zanotta Edizioni 1989 Mod. 7500 Signed original. Red veneered laminate frame (design E. Sottsass). Base and inner frame with drawer and fol...
Brass
$7,500Sale Price|21% Off
H 60.5 in W 31.5 in D 17.25 in
Aldo Tura Lacquered Goatskin, Rosewood and Brass Italian Bar Cabinet, 1950s
By Aldo Tura
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A freshly refinished Aldo Tura dry bar cabinet, crafted in Italy circa 1950s, showcasing Tura’s signature mix of luxury materials and sculptural mid-century form. The cabinet is fini...
Brass