Italian designer Marco Zanuso helped cement his country’s place as a world leader in furniture design that used new materials in revolutionary ways.
Zanuso was part of a generation of furniture designers who encouraged a sharp departure from the traditionalism and classicalism that reigned over the design industry before the war. These designers, who are associated with what we now call mid-century modernism, experimented with new technologies and materials to deliver on the world’s newfound need for streamlined products that represented the future.
After graduating from the Polytechnic University of Milan in 1939 with a degree in architecture, Zanuso served in the Navy during World War II. Soon after the war, he opened his own design firm in Milan in 1945. He later became an editor at well-regarded design magazines Domus and Casabella.
Zanuso used this editorial platform to both promote new Italian designs as well as his own pieces, some of which he made using unconventional materials like foam and latex. For instance, his famous Lady armchair from 1951 is a composition of foam rubber and Nastro Cord, a recently invented textile band of rubberized fabric that eliminated the need for metal springs. It was one of several pieces he designed for Italian manufacturer Arflex, along with the 1949 Antropus chair and the 1951 Sleep-o-matic sofa.
Zanuso often collaborated with other like-minded creatives. From 1955 until 1957, he was Olivetti’s architect, designing factories across Brazil, and for nearly two decades, he collaborated with German designer Richard Sapper. The pair’s most famous product is the 4999 children’s chair, manufactured in the 1960s by Kartell in Italy. The stackable chair was the first to be manufactured entirely of injection-molded plastic.
Zanuso and Sapper also partnered on the 1962 Brionvega Doney 14, the first European-made portable transistor TV; its sleek, compact and curvy form deeply influenced the design of television sets that followed, which were far more sculptural in form than the rigid boxes that characterized early models.
From the 1970s onward, Zanuso taught architecture and industrial design at the Polytechnic University of Milan. He still exercised his creative talents, planning the headquarters for computer companies and renovating Italian theaters.
Each of Zanuso’s elegant works were demonstrative of a forward-looking sensibility. His projects saw an integration of novel industrial materials that not only helped emphasize the beauty of good design but also played a role in rendering these well-made products accessible to everyday consumers.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of vintage Marco Zanuso furniture, including armchairs, sofas, table lamps and other items.
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.
H 31.11 in W 31.5 in D 31.5 in
Guglielmo Veronesi, 2 Perla Armchairs, Wood, White Fabric, ISA, Italy 1950s
By I.S.A. Italy
Located in Argelato, BO
Authentic icon of Made in Italy design, the "Perla" armchairs was designed by Giulia Veronesi and produced by ISA Bergamo, Italy in the early 1950s. Its sensual curves and the elegan...
Velvet, Wood
H 35.44 in W 31.5 in D 32.68 in
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Italian Armchairs in White Fabric, circa 1950
Located in Brussels, BE
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Italian Armchairs in White Fabric, circa 1950
Fabric
H 54.5 in W 28 in D 31 in
Pair of Milo Baughman Mid-Century Modern High Back White Wing Armchairs
By Milo Baughman
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Mid-Century Modern white painted wooden framed armchairs with exagerated high wing backs that wrap around and small curved armrests, all upholstered with a seat and throw cus...
Upholstery, Wood, Leather
H 23.63 in W 33.47 in D 31.5 in
Pair of Swiveling White Faux Leather "Montenapo" Armchairs by Zanotta Italy 1965
By Zanotta
Located in Geneva, CH
Rare pair of swiveling white capitoned faux leather "Montenapo" armchairs by Mario Scheinchenbauer, produced by Zanotta, Italy, 1965 Good original vintage condition. Swiveling on a...
Faux Leather
H 31.11 in W 31.5 in D 31.5 in
Guglielmo Veronesi, 2 Perla Armchairs, Wood, White Fabric, ISA, Italy 1950s
By I.S.A. Italy
Located in Argelato, BO
Authentic icon of Made in Italy design, the "Perla" armchairs was designed by Giulia Veronesi and produced by ISA Bergamo, Italy in the early 1950s. Its sensual curves and the elegan...
Velvet, Wood
H 27.96 in W 27.56 in D 20.87 in
Martin Eisler & Carlo Hauner Modern Brazilian Pair of Low Armchairs White Fabric
By Forma Brazil, Carlo Hauner and Martin Eisler
Located in Barcelona, ES
Martin Eisler (1913-1977) & Carlo Hauner (1927-1997) Pair of low armchairs Manufactured by Forma Moveis Brazil, 1950s Black painted metal, fabric upholstery. Measurements 70 cm x 53 cm x 71 H cm. 27.5 in x 21 in x 28 H in. Literature Brazil Modern, the rediscovery of 20th century Brazilian furniture – Aric Chen, 2016. Martin Eisler (Vienna, Austria, 1913 - São Paulo, Brazil, 1977), was an architect and furniture designer. He was part of a group of European architects and designers who left Europe during the chaos of the Second World War and went to live and work in Brazil. Eisler stood out amongst this group of creatives, his work was at the forefront of modern furniture design in Brazil which flourished through the 50s and 60s in the region. The work of Martin Eisler in partnership with Carlo Hauner (1927-1996) was of particular significance. Eisler left Europe in 1938 due to the rise of fascist regimes. He first lived in Argentina, where he was settled and worked as an architect, set designer and interior designer, he opened up an interior design firm Interieur Forma. In 1940, he married Rosl Wolf, the daughter of German immigrants. Born in Brescia in 1927, Carlo Hauner studied technical drawing and drawing at the Brera Academy in Milan, Italy. In 1948 he successfully participated in the Venice Biennale after which he moved to Brazil, where he dedicated himself to the design of textile, ceramics, furniture and architecture. In only a very short time he founded a furniture production company and purchased a factory from Lina Bo Bardi and her husband Pietro Bardi, renaming it Móveis Artesanal. In 1953 Hauner met Martin Eisler, who was looking for help to produce furniture for the home of his brother-in-law, Ernesto Wolf. Eisler reached out to Hauner and the rest is history. The two men connected and with Wolf’s financial backing, they opened Galeria Artesanal (a store for their company Móveis Artesenal) on a busy street in São Paulo. Being highly ambitious and with an eye on the international market as well as the upcoming office market, Móvies Artesanal later changed into Forma. Along with Oca, Forma became one of the biggest names in Brazilian furniture production. Even managing to attract an exclusive license to sell Knoll furniture, bringing big names in international design such as Mies Van Der Rohe, Charles Eames and Harry Bertoia to the Brazilian furniture market. Hauner and Eisler’s designs are characterized by the use of Brazilian woods, thin tubular frames and a range from furniture, to ceramics and textiles. Some of their most famous designs are the “rib” lounge chair...
Metal
H 30 in W 23.25 in D 23.5 in
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Milo Baughman Armchairs or Side Chairs in White
By Thayer Coggin, Milo Baughman
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A matching pair of armchairs designed by Milo Baughman circa 1970's. The chairs feature a thin frame construction with white naugahyde upholstery. Very clean all original condition.
Chrome
H 28.75 in W 31.5 in D 33.47 in
Marco Zanuso 'Square' White Velvet Chairs with Teak Feet, Italy, circa 1962
By Arflex, Marco Zanuso
Located in Argelato, BO
Splendid pair of armchairs designed by the Italian architect and designer Marco Zanuso for Arflex. The chairs are in excellent condition, and have recently been reupholstered in whit...
Velvet, Wood
H 32 in W 25 in D 31 in
Gio Ponti Model 516 Pair of Lounge Chairs, Cream White Painted Walnut, 1950
By Figli di Amadeo Cassina, Gio Ponti, Cassina
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of armchairs, model “516”, originally designed by Ponti for the furnishing of Tranatlantico Conte Biancamano, Manufactured by Figli di Amadeo Cassina (Cassina), Italy, c. 1950 pierced slat back, off-white cream painted walnut, white woven cotton textile. Provenance: Private Collection, Connecticut, USA. Measurements 78 cm x 62 cm x 79.5h cm 30 3/4 in x 24 3/8 in x 31 1/4 in height Literature Galleria Deposito A...
Textile, Walnut
H 29.53 in W 23.63 in D 35.44 in
Pair of vintage Italian-made armchairs in white bouclé
By Italian school XX ct.
Located in Milano, IT
We are pleased to present this pair of vintage Italian armchairs from the 1960s, an outstanding example of modern mid-century design—a period that had a significant impact on art, ar...
Bouclé, Wood
Set of Two Medea Chairs by Vittorio Nobili for Fratelli Tagliabue, Italy, 1950s
By Vittorio Nobili
Located in Hellouw, NL
Set of two Medea chairs by Vittorio Nobili for Fratelli Tagliabue, Italy 1950s. These iconic Italian modern chairs have a great design. Enamelled iron bars are the frame of this chai...
Metal
Elda Chair and Ottoman by Joe Colombo for Comfort, Italy 1970s
By Comfort, Italy, Joe Colombo
Located in Hellouw, NL
The Elda chair, designed in 1963 by the visionary Italian designer Joe Colombo, remains one of the most recognisable lounge chairs of the 20th century. Sculptural, enveloping and fut...
Leather, Plastic
Set of Two 'Cosmos' Lounge Chairs by Augusto Bozzi for Saporiti, Italy 1954
By Saporiti, Augusto Bozzi
Located in Hellouw, NL
Introducing a distinguished pair of "Cosmos" lounge chairs, masterfully designed by Augusto Bozzi for Saporiti Italia in 1954. Design These iconic pieces exemplify mid-century Itali...
Metal
Arm Chair by Giuseppe Pagano Pogatschnig and Gino Maggioni, Italy 1940s
By Giuseppe Pagano Pogatschnig, Gino Maggioni
Located in Hellouw, NL
Rare armchair by Giuseppe Pagano Pogatschnig and Gino Maggioni, circa 1940s. The base consists of two square-shaped sides and the chair's legs. This design is very recognizable from ...
Fabric, Cotton, Linen, Wood
Set Of Two Large Lounge Chairs In Full Aniline Leather And Rosewood, Italy 1960s
Located in Hellouw, NL
Set of two large lounge chairs in full aniline leather and rosewood.These lounge chairs are quite large in size and with an impressive stature. In addition, they are also blessed wit...
Leather, Rosewood
Ico Parisi Lounge Chair Model 856, Leather & Aluminum, Italy, 1957
By Ico Parisi, Figli di Amadeo Cassina
Located in Hellouw, NL
A clean and thoughtful design by Ico Parisi, this lounge chair shows how Italian furniture moved towards lighter and more open forms in the late 1950s. Produced by Cassina, it balanc...
Aluminum
The South African home is a testament to the Italian designer and architect’s foresight and eco-sensitivity.
Alessia Genova takes us on a tour of her design for the eminent furniture maker’s new shoppable townhouse in Greenwich Village.
