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.
Servomuto table by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Zanotta, 1974
By Zanotta, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Athens, Attiki
Servomuto table of the range Servi by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Zanotta, 1974. Servomuto, light and easy to move, is the worthy heir of the essential stylish and balan...
Metal, Steel
$13,800
H 33.86 in W 118.12 in D 51.19 in
Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Zanotta Large 'Bramante' Table in Maple
By Zanotta
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Zanotta, 'Bramante' dining or studio table, maple, Italy, design 1950, production 1980s A remarkable and cutting-edge design by the celeb...
Maple
Memphis Side Coffee Table Servomuto Castiglioni Zanotta, Italy 80s
By Zanotta, Achille Castiglioni
Located in Saarbruecken, DE
Mid-century side coffee table "Servomuto" designed by A. Castiglioni for Zanotta, Italy 1974. Signed. Artist customized with new finish.
Metal
Marcuso Coffee Table by Marco Zanuso for Zanotta, Italy 1969
By Zanotta, Marco Zanuso
Located in Beograd, RS
Designed by Marco Zanuso for Zanotta, the Marcuso coffee table is one of the most recognizable icons of Italian post-war design. Originally introd...
Steel, Chrome
$4,152
H 14.18 in W 25.6 in D 20.48 in
"Screwdriver" Table Design Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Zanotta, 1966
By Zanotta, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in taranto, IT
Rare coffee table, "screwdriver" model, design achille and pier giacomo Castiglioni for Zanotta, 1966 Made of black and natural lacquered wood, with screwed legs Size 65 x 52 c...
Wood
$10,500
H 50.5 in W 40 in D 35.5 in
Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni rosewood Rampa secretary desk Bernini Italy
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Bernini
Located in Skokie, IL
Designed in 1965 by the legendary brothers Pier Giacomo and Achille Castiglioni, the "Rampa" unit is a masterclass in multidisciplinary design. Renowned for their ability to merge ar...
Brass
$711
H 33.86 in Dm 19.69 in
Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Zanotta, "Servomuto" Side Table, Italy, 1970
By Zanotta, Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Naples, IT
Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni for Zanotta, “Servomuto” side table, plastic and steel, designed in 1974, Italy. Coffee table with a black lacquered steel frame. The tabletop is a...
Steel
$5,338
H 16.54 in W 27.56 in D 50.4 in
"Filicudi" coffee table by Ettore Sottsass and Marco Zanini for Zanotta 1993
By Marco Zanini, Zanotta, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Renens, CH
Coffee table form the "Filicudi" series by Ettore Sottsass and Marco Zanini for Zanotta Italy 1993. Beautiful and sculptural coffee table which stands on four diabolo shaped beachwo...
Laminate, Pearwood
Fine and Exceptional Empire Pier Table
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A 19th century classical Empire pier console table having a beveled rectangular marble top above an Ogee mahogany veneered apron raised on carved and gilt white Alabaster Ionic colum...
Alabaster
$3,143
H 28.35 in Dm 49.22 in
Italian modern Dining table Desco by Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta, 1970s
By Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Dining table Desco by Achille Castiglioni for Zanotta, 1970s Dining table mod. Desco with round top in satin steel with black plastic profile. The 3-spoke leg is made...
Metal, Steel
Volcano Table by Ettore Sottsass for Zanotta
By Zanotta, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 1980s. Italy. Very rare tri leg table with chrome legs and patterned top. Tagged.
Chrome
Zanotta Servomuto Low Table in White Top with Black Steel Frame
By Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Servomuto Low Table in White Top with Black Steel Frame by Achille Castiglioni Base in polypropylene and steel rod painted, colour black, white or amaranth. Top in white/bla...
Steel
$830 / item
H 33.86 in Dm 19.69 in
1974 "Servomuto" Castiglioni Design Zanotta Black & White Side Coffee Table
By Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni
Located in Brescia, IT
"Servomuto 360" coffee table designed by Achille Castiglioni, Zanotta 1974. The base is made of polypropylene and rod is in black color steel. The round top is in layerd plastic la...
Steel
Girò Coffee Table on Castors by Anna Deplano for Zanotta
By Zanotta
Located in Dronten, NL
Beautiful coffee table on castors made in cherrywood. Marked with branded mark and stamp in the frame. Excellent fast and affordable worldw...
Aluminum