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.
$16,720
H 27.56 in W 94.49 in D 35.44 in
Gianfranco Frattini “Sesann” Sofa for Cassina, Black Leather, 1969
By Gianfranco Frattini, Cassina
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Gianfranco Frattini “Sesann” Sofa for Cassina, black leather and stainless steel, Italy, 1969 Designed in 1969 by Gianfranco Frattini, the Sesann collection marked a turning point i...
Stainless Steel
$9,419
H 20.48 in W 82.68 in D 31.89 in
Studio Simon Minimalist Black Leather Three-Seater “Simone” Sofa, Italy, 1975
By Studio Simon
Located in Vicenza, IT
Three-seater “Simone” sofa, designed and manufactured by Studio Simon in 1975. The structure is made of black lacquered wood. A black leather big seat completes the sofa. The minim...
Leather, Foam, Beech
$11,185
H 29.53 in W 96.46 in D 33.47 in
3-Seater Maralunga Sofa in Black Leather by Vico Magistretti for Cassina Italian
By Cassina, Vico Magistretti
Located in Grand Cayman, KY
Iconic Mid-Century Modern "Maralunga" 3-seater sofa by Vico Magistretti for Cassina. This example features opulent black leather. Head / backrests are adjustable for a cheeky look t...
Leather
$5,003
H 33.08 in W 88.59 in D 31.89 in
Stunning Excelsior sofa in black leather by Mario Bellini for B&B Italy, 1985.
By Mario Bellini
Located in Buggenhout, Oost-Vlaanderen
Stunning & rare Excelsior sofa by Mario Bellini for B&B Italy, 1985. Full black leather! Still 100% original. No damage. The leather has some normal wear for its age. Measurement...
Leather
$6,369
H 32.68 in W 88.59 in D 33.08 in
Italian Modern Black Leather Wood 3seat Sofa Bull by Frattini for Cassina, 1980s
By Cassina, Gianfranco Frattini
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern black leather wood 3-seater sofa Bull by Frattini for Cassina, 1980s 3-seater sofa Bull model with the rectangular seat, that is made up of padded cushions covered in ...
Leather, Wood
$12,800
H 25.6 in W 66.93 in D 35.44 in
Afra & Tobia Scarpa “Soriana” Sofa for Cassina, Black Leather, 1969
By Cassina, Afra & Tobia Scarpa
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Afra & Tobia Scarpa “Soriana” sofa for Cassina, black leather, Italy, 1969. Although technically designed in the 1960s, the...
Leather, Plastic
$3,567
H 33.08 in W 56.7 in D 33.08 in
Black Leather Piumotto Sofa By Arrigo Arrigoni For Busnelli, Italy, 1970’s
By Busnelli, Arrigo Arrigoni
Located in Den Haag, NL
Italian architect Arrigo Arrigoni designed these sofas for Gruppo Industriale Busnelli S.P.A. The upholstery is in Black Leather .White dread stitching . Cushions stuffed with goose...
Leather
$2,430
H 27.17 in W 55.91 in D 28.35 in
Girsberger “Eurochair” Sofa by Hans Eichenberger, Black Leather and Chrome, 1970
By Girsberger, Hans Eichenberger
Located in Rødding, DK
A refined and highly collectible Eurochair two-seat sofa designed by Hans Eichenberger and produced by Girsberger in the 1970s. This iconic piece of Swiss modern design exemplifies t...
Steel
$12,951
H 27.56 in W 70.87 in D 39.38 in
Gianfranco Frattini Black Leather Sesann Two-Seater Sofa for Cassina, 1972
By Gianfranco Frattini, Cassina
Located in Vicenza, IT
Sesann two-seater sofa, designed by Gianfranco Frattini in 1970 and produced by the Italian manufacturer Cassina. It features black leather upholstery and a chrome tubular cage as s...
Chrome
$15,783
H 26.38 in W 94.49 in D 38.19 in
Sesann - Sofa black leather by Gianfranco Frattini Tacchini W 240 cm (94.49 in)
By Gianfranco Frattini, Tacchini
Located in Varedo, MB
Sesann: Icon of Italian Comfort Sesann is more than a sofa: it is a manifesto of softness and authentic comfort, designed by the master Gianfranco Frattini in the 1970s. With its env...
Leather
Sofa – “Arnolfo” by Mauro Marzocchi for Simon International, Italy 1971
By Simon International
Located in Langemark-Poelkapelle, BE
A three-seater “Arnolfo” sofa designed by Mauro Marzocchi for Simon International, Italy, 1971. This iconic piece combines a sculptural high-gloss lacquered frame in dark grey with s...
Leather, Wood
De Pas, D’Urbino & Lomazzi ‘Ciuingam’ Sofa for BBB Emmebonacina, 1967 Italy
By Bonacina, Gionathan de Pas & Donato D’Urbino & Paolo Lomazzi
Located in Langemark-Poelkapelle, BE
Iconic three-seat ‘Ciuingam’ sofa designed by Jonathan De Pas, Donato D’Urbino and Paolo Lomazzi for BBB Emmebonacina in 1967. The sofa is characterised by its low, generous proport...
Leather
De Sede DS-125 Two-Seat Sofa by Gerd Lange, Swiss Design, 1978
By De Sede, Gerd Lange
Located in Langemark-Poelkapelle, BE
Two-seat sofa from the iconic DS-125 collection, designed by German architect Gerd Lange for De Sede, Switzerland in 1978. This sculptural model is known for its fluid, monolithic sh...
Leather
"Hombre" two-seat sofa by Burkhard Vogtherr for Rosenthal Furniture, 1970s
By Burkhard Vogtherr, Rosenthal
Located in Langemark-Poelkapelle, BE
Two-seat sofa from the Hombre series, designed by Burkhard Vogtherr for Rosenthal, produced as part of the Rosenthal Furniture program. In 1972, Rosenthal expanded its activities be...
Leather, Oak
B&B Italia Diesis Chaise Longue by Antonio Citterio & Paolo Nava, Italy, 1979
By B&B Italia, Paolo Nava, Antonio Citterio
Located in Langemark-Poelkapelle, BE
An iconic Diesis chaise longue designed by Antonio Citterio and Paolo Nava for B&B Italia. Originally introduced in 1979, the Diesis collection is considered one of the defining achi...
Aluminum
Two Cassina Maralunga two-seat sofas in blue leather by Vico Magistretti, Italy
By Cassina, Vico Magistretti
Located in Langemark-Poelkapelle, BE
Iconic set of two Maralunga two-seat sofas designed by Vico Magistretti for Cassina, one of the most celebrated Italian seating designs of the late 20th century. Introduced in 1973, ...
Leather
