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 Genni Black Scozia Leather Lounge Chair & Pouf in Chromium Plated Steel
By Zanotta, Gabriele Mucchi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Chromium-plated steel frame or with natural or black nickel-satin finish, or black painted. Suspension on steel springs. Adjustable seat in two positions. Cushion and headrest uphols...
Steel
Zanotta Genni Black Super Leather Lounge Chair & Pouf in Chromium Plated Steel
By Zanotta, Gabriele Mucchi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Chromium-plated steel frame or with natural or black nickel-satin finish, or black painted. Suspension on steel springs. Adjustable seat in two positions. Cushion and headrest upholstered in polyurethane. Leather-covered cushions and armrests. Additional Information: Material: Upholstery, steel Frame finish: Chromium plated steel Upholstery: Super Leather 0906- Cat. 98 Pouf dimensions: 45 W x 55 D x 35 H cm Lounge chair dimensions...
Steel
Zanotta Genni Black Nappa Leather Lounge Chair & Pouf in Chromium Plated Steel
By Zanotta, Gabriele Mucchi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Chromium-plated steel frame or with natural or black nickel-satin finish, or black painted. Suspension on steel springs. Adjustable seat in two positions. Cushion and headrest uphols...
Steel
Zanotta Maggiolina Lounge Chair & Pouf in Black Leather and Polished Steel Frame
By Zanotta, Marco Zanuso
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Maggiolina Lounge Chair & Pouf in Black Leather and Polished Steel Frame by Marco Zanuso Ø 11/16” 18/8 polished or black painted steel tubular frame, or with natural o...
Steel
Zanotta Maggiolina Lounge Chair in Black Leather & Steel Frame by Marco Zanuso
By Zanotta, Marco Zanuso
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Maggiolina Lounge Chair in Black Leather & Steel Frame by Marco Zanuso Ø 11/16” 18/8 polished or black painted steel tubular frame, or with natural or black nickel-satin...
Steel
Zanotta Lama Lounge Chair in Black Leather with Graphite Steel Frame
By Zanotta, Ludovica + Roberto Palomba 1
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Lama Lounge Chair in Black Leather with Graphite Steel Frame by Ludovica+Roberto Palomba Varnished steel frame, colour graphite. Self-extinguishi...
Steel
Customizable Zanotta Genni Recliner Leather Lounge Chair by Gabriele Mucchi
By Gabriele Mucchi, Zanotta
Located in New York, NY
Lounge chair. Chromium-plated steel frame or with natural or black nickel-satin finish, or black painted. Suspension on steel springs. Adjustable se...
Chrome
Black leather Veranda chair or chaise by Vico Magistretti
By Vico Magistretti
Located in Greensboro, NC
Adjustable steel and leather Veranda chaise/ lounge chair designed by VIco Magistretti for Cassina. Steel frame extends to create a chaise lounge, or can be folded over to create a...
Metal
Perfidio Olivo Thick Leather Sling Lounge Chair in Black Steel by Estudio Andean
Located in Geneve, CH
Perfidio Olivo Thick Leather Sling Lounge Chair in Black Steel by Estudio Andean Dimensions: D 75 x W 75,5 x H 79 cm. SH: 40 cm. Materials: Steel, bronze, and leather. Lounge chair ...
Bronze, Steel
Matteo Grassi Black Leather Lounge Chair, Italy, 1970s
By Matteo Grassi
Located in Almelo, NL
Matteo Grassi black leather lounge chair, Italy 1970s. It is constructed of a metal frame covered with thick black saddle leather. Shows minor wear consistent with age. Extremely ...
Metal
Rossi di Albizzate Lounge Chair in Leather and Chrome
By Rossi di Albizzate
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Rossi di Albizzate, easy chair, black leather and chrome, Italy, 1970s. Beautiful esthetically balanced chair produced by Rossi di Albizzate. The use of chrome lays extra emphasis ...
Chrome
Marco Zanuso for Arflex 'Fourline' Chair in Black Leather
By Arflex, Marco Zanuso
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Marco Zanuso for Arflex, lounge chair, black leather, steel, Italy, 1964 This lounge chair by Zanuso remains among the best examples of armchairs designed by the architect. It is no...
Steel
Alessia Genova takes us on a tour of her design for the eminent furniture maker’s new shoppable townhouse in Greenwich Village.
The brilliantly simple design turns a modest bouquet into a major statement.
