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.
Customizable Zanotta Pianoalto Sectional Sofa by Ludovica+Roberto Palomba
Located in New York, NY
Many different upholstery materials available N. 8 = 1272/AL1S + 1272/300PS + 1272/245PS Monobloc sofa and pouf. Graphite painted steel feet. Wooden frame. Elastic strips suspension...
Textile
Customizable Zanotta Pianoalto Sofa by Ludovica+Roberto Palomba
Located in New York, NY
Monobloc sofa and pouf. Graphite painted steel feet. Wooden frame. Elastic strips suspension. Seat upholstered in graduated polyurethane/ Dacron Du Pont with quilted insert of 100% ...
Textile
Customizable Zanotta Pianoalto Sofa by Ludovica+Roberto Palomba
Located in New York, NY
Monobloc sofa and pouf. Graphite painted steel feet. Wooden frame. Elastic strips suspension. Seat upholstered in graduated polyurethane/ Dacron Du Pont with quilted insert of 100% p...
Textile
Customizable Zanotta Parco Outdoor Sofa by Emaf Progetti
By Emaf Progetti
Located in New York, NY
Monobloc sofas and pouf for outdoor use. Supporting frame in painted steel for outdoor use in the shade of white or black. Elastic strips suspension. Seat, back and armrest cushion i...
Steel
MDF Italia Customizable Cosy Modular Sofa by Francesco Rota
By MDF Italia
Located in New York, NY
extra pillows not included in the price. Cosy comes from the idea to offer high comfort with a reassuring, warm and familiar gesture. The timeless lines, soft and all embracing design, adaptability and versatile character make Cosy a padded item that offers the utmost comfort in a wide range of situations, environments and frameworks. Collection of padded modular elements featuring seats with different depths and lengths; backs with different heights, either aligned or corner compositions; coffee tables and additional cushions. A highly versatile system designed for consumers to choose their favourite composition that will meet their needs and blend into any setting, environment, style and taste. COSY LOW TABLE 1 is a generously sized coffee table; small architectural solutions with strictly rigorous lines. Piece of accessory that contrasts with the soft volumes of the padded items to underscore their functional features for MDF Italia’s living room.FRAME Bearing frame made of solid and multilayer wood, base with elastic belts, feet and concealed hook system. PADDING Variable-density foam polyurethane padding and cover in polyester wadding. The fabric covering every part of the sofa is manufactured to enhance the softness of the sofa. In addition, the covers are completely removable. PLEASE NOTE ALL ACCESSORIES ARE FOR INDOOR USE ONLY. ON THE COSY SOFA STANDARD THE LOW TABLE CAN BE MOUNTED ONLY ON THE PART WITHOUT BACKRESTS LOW TABLE WITH CURVED LEGS . REFERENCE TO COSY CURVE...
Textile
Customizable Zanotta Fedrigo Sofa by Vincent Van Duysen
By Zanotta
Located in New York, NY
Monobloc sofas and pouf. Plywood frame. Armrest, backrest and seat padding in Circullarrefoam ® polyurethane, made with a percentage of recycled polyols. Upholstery in graduated den...
Upholstery
Zanotta Kilt Modular Sofa in Quadrifoglio Fabric by Emaf Progetti
By Emaf Progetti, Zanotta
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Kilt Modular Sofa in Quadrifoglio Fabric by Emaf Progetti This sofa series offers linear or modular solutions to suit the customers’ requirements. Additional Informatio...
Upholstery
Zanotta Alfa Modular Sofa in Vico Fabric with Black Steel Frame by Emaf Progetti
By Zanotta, Emaf Progetti
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Alfa Modular Sofa in Vico Fabric with Black Steel Frame by Emaf Progetti These modular elements allow many corner or straight compositions. ...
Fabric
Zanotta Pianoalto Modular Sofa in Trama Fabric by Ludovica & Roberto Palomba
By Ludovica + Roberto Palomba 1, Zanotta
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Pianoalto Modular Sofa in Trama Fabric by Ludovica & Roberto Palomba The range of modular or monobloc sofas allows many corner or straight...
Fabric
Saba Paso Doble Customizable Modular Sofa by Nicola Pavan
By Saba Italia, Zanellato Bortotto
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Paso Doble is the new seating system designed by Nicola Pavan. A project that redefines the concept of relaxation, not only as a functional element for comfort, but as an aesthetic ...
Fabric, Upholstery
Gervasoni Samet Modular Sofa by Federica Biasi
By Gervasoni, Federica Biasi
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Samet is a modular sofa without rules, a multifunctional and configurable product that places the person as an active subject in the composition of their own space, encouraging them ...
Polyester
Zanotta Pianoalto Modular Sofa in Vale Fabric by Ludovica & Roberto Palomba
By Ludovica + Roberto Palomba 1, Zanotta
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Pianoalto Modular Sofa in Vale Fabric by Ludovica & Roberto Palomba The range of modular or monobloc sofas allows many corner or straight ...
Fabric
