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 Leonardo Working Table in Laminated Top & Natural Varnished Beech Frame
By Zanotta, Achille Castiglioni
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Leonardo Working Table in Laminate Top and Natural Varnished Beech Frame by Achille Castiglioni Natural varnished steam-treated beech trest...
Beech
$1,047Sale Price|20% Off
H 14.97 in W 27.56 in D 29.53 in
Gae Aulenti Laminate and Purple Metal Italian Coffee Table for Zanotta, 1970s
By Gae Aulenti, Zanotta
Located in Roma, IT
Amazing midcentury laminate and purple enamel metal coffee table. This fantastic piece was designed in Italy by Gae Aulenti for Zanotta during the 1970s. This stunning straight-lined table with a clean enamelled metal frame with a light purple laminate formica top is in a stunning vintage condition. A wonderful item is perfect to complete a mid-century minimal living room...
Crystal, Metal
$5,950
H 33 in W 43.5 in D 33.25 in
Country English Pastry Shop Potential Kitchen Island, Marble Top All Original
Located in Highwood, IL
Located just outside the Cotswold’s in England, we were fortunate enough to discover this incredible all original marble topped pastry kitchen island, with an old cream painted wooden frame, with a slatted undertier. Finding old, completely unmolested, all original tables that can be substituted for a modern generic new kitchen island, is something that we, at Old Plank have specialized in for over 30-years. The trick has always been to locate an antique potential kitchen island, that was used commercially, yet finished on all four-sides and if you’re real lucky, it’ll have a marble top. This antique English kitchen island...
Marble
A French Beech Marble Top Table, C. 1890.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This table has a wonderful neutral appearance with a white marble top over a base with pegged construction including a deep apron raised on turned and fluted legs joined by an H-form...
Marble
Antique French Stone Top Iron Baker’s Table
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Large and authentic industrial era French work table. A fine antique stone top baker’s table surmounted an iron base with tubular and steel banded construction. Dimensions: 42" x 76...
Stone, Iron
French Cast Iron and Marble Baker's Table
Located in Pembroke, MA
French cast iron and marble top Baker's table. The marble is white with some veining. The pierced cast iron apron features a stylized acanthus leaf in the front and back, and nice sc...
Marble, Steel, Iron
Vintage Industrial Accordion Table
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Custom built industrial accordion table features glass on top of a wood table top, accordion base that easily closes, on a set of caster wheels. Ple...
Metal
Customizable Zanotta Bol Table by Zaven
By Zanotta
Located in New York, NY
matt base or metallic/glossy base. many different dimensions and finishes. Table. Hard polyurethane bases matt lacquered in the shades talc, hemp, caramel, algae, amaranth, espresso ...
Lacquer
$7,500 / item
H 35.25 in W 24 in D 24 in
Industrial Style French Inspired Kitchen Island, Butcher Block Top in Any Size
Located in Highwood, IL
Newly constructed industrial style French Inspired Kitchen Island, made from steel with solid bronze connectors, a solid maple end grain...
Steel
Riveted Iron Work Table with Stone Top, France, 1900s
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Large early 20th century, Industrial work table. Solid cast iron base, assembled with large rivets. Stamped "Modele Depose" on the apron. Four centimeter thick tabletop in Tavel stone.
$13,300
H 30 in W 58.25 in D 29.25 in
18th C. Swedish Period Baroque Table w/Stone Top- A Great Kitchen Work Table!
Located in East Point, GA
A Swedish period Baroque stone top table from the early 18th century. This antique kitchen table from Sweden features it's original stone top, ...
Stone
1980s Spanish Bakery Work Table with Steel Legs
Located in Marbella, ES
1980s Spanish bakery work table with steel legs, wooden top and Formica drawers.
Iron
Early 19th Century English Oak Leather Writing Table
Located in Forney, TX
A charming early 19th century English oak work stand. Having a rectangular top with gilt tooled green leather inset writing surface, a brass keyhole shaped escutcheon and original key allow the lid to lock or unlock, lifting the tabletop open reveals a green felt panel...
Brass
Pennsylvania Dutch Pin Top Work Table 18th Century
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A really special and honest Pennsylvania Dutch (Doylstown) work table ca' 1740-1760. Walnut with pin top, the table has a beautiful patina and nice graining. Heavy and very sturdy-ca...
Walnut
$9,600Sale Price|20% Off
H 32.5 in W 65.75 in D 32.25 in
Vintage Industrial Granite and Cast Iron Table
Located in Oakville, CT
Beautiful cast iron base from an old printing factory in original condition, showing detailed artwork topped with a piece of Vermont granite.
Iron
$24,500 / item
H 36 in W 72 in D 33 in
Kitchen Island in Stainless and Bronze from the Old Plank Collection in Any Size
Located in Highwood, IL
French Industrial Style Kitchen Island or Worktable Handcrafted in Chicago from stainless steel, solid bronze with rift-cut white oak shelves, compli...
Marble, Bronze, Stainless Steel
Sold
H 30.71 in W 78.75 in D 39.18 in
Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta Adjustable Table ‘Leonardo’ in Blond Wood
By Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta, adjustable desk ‘Leonardo’, beech, laminated wood, Italy, design 1969. Italian architect and designer Achille Castiglioni (1918-2002) designed the ‘...
Beech
Sold
H 28.35 in W 78.75 in D 39.38 in
Italian Mid-Century White Wooden Work Table by Minale Simpson for Zanotta, 1980s
By Zanotta
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian mid-century White wooden work table by Minale and Simpson for Zanotta, 1980s Work table with rectangular top in white formica. The top rests on a wooden structure consisting...
Formica, Wood
Sold
H 27.37 in W 118.12 in D 49.22 in
1950s Italian Bramante Beech Dining Work Studio Table by Castiglioni for Zanotta
By Zanotta, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Sherborne, Dorset
An opportunity to buy a rare and substantially sized ‘2630 Bramante’ trestle table originally designed in 1950 by Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for ...
Beech