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.
$561 / item
H 23.23 in W 21.26 in D 21.26 in
Zanotta Small Sacco in Black Vip Fabric by Gatti, Paolini, Teodoro
By Zanotta, Gatti, Paolini, Teodoro
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Small Sacco in Black Vip Fabric by Gatti, Paolini, Teodoro Anatomical easy-chair. Envelope containing highly resistant expanded polystyren...
Upholstery
$790 / item
H 24.81 in W 26.78 in D 26.78 in
Zanotta Medium Sacco in Black Vip Fabric by Gatti, Paolini, Teodoro
By Zanotta, Gatti, Paolini, Teodoro
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Medium Sacco in Black Vip Fabric by Gatti, Paolini, Teodoro Anatomical easy-chair. Envelope containing highly resistant expanded polystyrene pellets. Outdoor cover in Vip ...
Upholstery
$814 / item
H 26.78 in W 31.5 in D 31.5 in
Zanotta Large Sacco in Black Vip Fabric by Gatti, Paolini, Teodoro
By Zanotta, Gatti, Paolini, Teodoro
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Large Sacco in Black Vip Fabric by Gatti, Paolini, Teodoro Anatomical easy-chair. Envelope containing highly resistant expanded polystyren...
Upholstery
$759 / item
H 26.78 in W 31.5 in D 31.5 in
Customizable Zanotta Sacco Easy Chair by Gatti, Paolini, Teodoro
By Zanotta, Gatti, Paolini, Teodoro
Located in New York, NY
Price listed for VIP upholstery. Different sizes available and upholstery. Anatomical easy-chairs. Envelope containing highly resistant expanded polystyrene pellets. Cover in: Vip (a...
Textile
Jet Black Mara Armchair by Lorenza Bozzoli
Located in Geneve, CH
Jet Black Mara Armchair by Lorenza Bozzoli Dimensions: D 94 x W 106 x H 82 cm. Seat Height: 52 cm. Materials: Polyethylene, wadding, rubber, and acrylic. Weight: 36 kg. The color of...
Other
Jet Black Zoe Chair by Guglielmo Berchicci
Located in Geneve, CH
Jet Black Zoe Chair by Guglielmo Berchicci Dimensions: D 57 x W 50 x H 84 cm. Seat Height: 44 cm. Materials: Polyethylene. Weight: 7 kg. Available in different color options. This p...
Other
$10,200 / item
H 32.68 in W 27.96 in D 41.34 in
Zanotta Maggiolina Lounge Chair in Trama Upholstery with Black Nickel Frame
By Zanotta, Marco Zanuso
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Maggiolina Lounge Chair in Trama Upholstery with Black Nickel Frame by Marco Zanuso Ø 11/16” 18/8 polished or black painted steel tubular...
Nickel
$22,209 / item
H 38.19 in W 30.71 in D 36.23 in
Zanotta Derby Armchair in Black Upholstery by Noé Duchaufour Lawrance
By Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance, Zanotta
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Derby Armchair in Black Upholstery by Noé Duchaufour Lawrance Swivel steel base, or fixed with feet. Stiff polyurethane external body covered with cowhide 95. Cannot be co...
Upholstery
$2,827 / item
H 37.01 in W 24.02 in D 22.84 in
Loomi Armchair with Black Upholshtered Seat and Back by Lapo Ciatti
By Opinion Ciatti
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Loomi is the padded seat by Lapo Ciatti designed to meet the many needs of our daily life. Larger than a chair, less bulky than an armchair. A comfortable place to snuggle up, a smal...
Upholstery
$3,328
H 31.5 in W 32.68 in D 28.75 in
Vittorio Introini Calypso C35 Armchair Black Leather Italian Design
By Saporiti, Vittorio Introini
Located in bari, IT
The Calypso armchair (often identified as C35), designed by Vittorio Introini for Saporiti Italia in 1979, is a masterful piece that marks the transition between the rigor of the 197...
Animal Skin
