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 Small Lea Chair in Light Brown Cowhide Seat & Legs with Aluminium Frame
By Zanotta, Roberto Barbieri
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Small Lea Chair in Light Brown Cowhide Seat & Legs with Aluminium Frame by Roberto Barbieri Aluminum alloy frame. Seat and back upholstered in polyurethane. Fixed internal...
Cowhide
Zanotta Flamingo Armchair in Teatro Upholstery with Black Painted Aluminum Frame
By Zanotta, Damian Williamson
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Flamingo Armchair in Teatro Upholstery with Black Painted Aluminum Frame by Damian Williamson Polished or black painted aluminum alloy feet,...
Upholstery
Zanotta Derby Armchair in White Upholstery by Noé Duchaufour Lawrance
By Zanotta, Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Derby Armchair in White Upholstery by Noé Duchaufour Lawrance Swivel steel base, or fixed with feet. Stiff polyurethane external body covered with cowhide 95. Cannot be co...
Upholstery
Zanotta Calla Armchair in White Upholstery with Steel Frame
By Zanotta, Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Calla Armchair in White Upholstery with Steel Frame by Noé Duchaufour Lawrance Base on castors or fixed with feet. Steel frame. Uphol...
Upholstery
Zanotta Oliva Armchair in Yellow Upholstery with Black Laquered Maple Wood Frame
By Constance Guisset, Zanotta
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Oliva Armchair in Yellow Upholstery with Black Laquered Maple Wood Frame by Constance Guisset Legs in black lacquered solid maple wood. Steel frame. Upholstery with self-e...
Maple
Zanotta Derby Armchair in Black Upholstery by Noé Duchaufour Lawrance
By Zanotta, Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance
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
Zanotta Nena Armchair in Grey Fabric Upholstery with Matt Black Frame
By Zanotta, Lanzavecchia + Wai
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Nena Armchair in Grey Fabric Upholstery with Matt Black Frame by Lanzavecchia + Wai Steel frame varnished graphite or matt black. Seat and cushion upholstered with polyure...
Upholstery
Zanotta Lialta Chair in White Upholstery with Polished Aluminum Frame
By Zanotta, Roberto Barbieri
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Lialta Chair in White Upholstery with Polished Aluminum Frame by Roberto Barbieri Aluminum alloy frame, polished or painted black, graphite or white. Seat and back upholster...
Upholstery
Zanotta Liza Armchair in Green Upholstery with Canaletto Walnut Frame
By Zanotta, Lievore Altherr Molina
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Liza Armchair in Green Upholstery with Canaletto Walnut Frame by Lievore, Altherr, Molina Legs in solid natural painted oak or in black dyed oak, or in natural Canaletto w...
Upholstery
Zanotta Kent Armchair and Pouf in Brown Upholstery with Black Steel Frame
By Zanotta, Ludovica + Roberto Palomba 1
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Kent Armchair and Pouf in Brown Upholstery with Black Steel Frame by Ludovica+Roberto Palomba Revolving base in varnished steel, colors: black...
Steel
Zanotta Liza Armchair in Orange Upholstery with Natural Oak Frame
By Zanotta, Lievore Altherr Molina
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Liza Armchair in Orange Upholstery with Natural oak Frame by Lievore, Altherr, Molina Legs in solid natural painted oak or in black dyed oak, or in natural Canaletto walnu...
Upholstery
Zanotta Ash + Canvas Side Chair — Italian Mid-Century Modern, Functional Vintage
By Zanotta
Located in Dronten, NL
A striking example of Zanotta’s thoughtful engineering and minimalist Italian design. This solid side chair pairs a warm ash frame with a durable canvas seat supported by leather bel...
Canvas, Ash
Zanotta Lea Armchair in Brown Cowhide Seat & Legs with Aluminium Frame
By Zanotta, Roberto Barbieri
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Lea Armchair in Brown Cowhide Seat & Legs with Aluminium Frame by Roberto Barbieri Aluminum alloy frame. Seat, back and armrests upholstered in polyurethane. Fixed interna...
Cowhide
Zanotta Lia Chair in Red Fabric with Polished Aluminum Frame by Roberto Barbieri
By Roberto Barbieri, Zanotta
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Lia Chair in Red Fabric with Polished Aluminum Frame by Roberto Barbieri Aluminum alloy frame, polished or painted black, graphite or white. Sea...
Fabric
Zanotta Dan Chair in String Elastic Seat & Back with Black Stainless Steel Frame
By Zanotta, Patrick Norguet
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Dan Chair in String Elastic Seat & Back with Black Stainless Steel Frame by Patrick Norguet Stainless steel 304 frame painted in matt iron grey or black for outdoor. Seat ...
Stainless Steel
Zanotta Lialta Chair in White Upholstery with White Aluminum Frame
By Roberto Barbieri, Zanotta
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Lialta Chair in White Upholstery with White Aluminum Frame by Roberto Barbieri Aluminum alloy frame, polished or painted black, graphite or white. Seat and back upholstere...
Upholstery
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
Zanotta Nena Armchair in Green Leather Upholstery with Matt Black Frame
By Lanzavecchia + Wai, Zanotta
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Nena Armchair in Green Leather Upholstery with Matt Black Frame by Lanzavecchia + Wai Steel frame varnished graphite or matt black. Seat and cushion upholstered with polyu...
Upholstery
Zanotta Kent Armchair in Red Upholstery with Black Varnished Steel Frame
By Zanotta, Ludovica + Roberto Palomba 1
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Kent Armchair in Red Upholstery with Black Varnished Steel Frame by Ludovica+Roberto Palomba Revolving base in varnished steel, colors: black or...
Steel
Zanotta Dan Chair in String Elastic Seat & Back with Matt Black Steel Frame
By Zanotta, Patrick Norguet
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Dan Chair in String Elastic Seat & Back with Matt Black Steel Frame by Patrick Norguet Steel frame varnished iron grey or matt black. Seat and backrest made of elastic str...
Steel
Zanotta Dan Chair in Brown Cowhide and Matt Black Steel Frame by Patrick Norguet
By Zanotta, Patrick Norguet
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Dan Chair in Brown Cowhide and Matt Black Steel Frame by Patrick Norguet Steel frame varnished iron grey or matt black. Seat and backrest upholstered with polyurethane. Fixed internal nylon cover. Non removable external cover in cowhide 95. Cannot be covered with cowhide 95 in the shade white 0704. Additional Information: Material: Cowhide, steel Upholstery finish...
Cowhide
Zanotta Nena Armchair in Blue Fabric Upholstery with Matt Black Frame
By Lanzavecchia + Wai, Zanotta
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Nena Armchair in Blue Fabric Upholstery with Matt Black Frame by Lanzavecchia + Wai Steel frame varnished graphite or matt black. Seat and cushion upholstered with polyure...
Upholstery
Zanotta Lealta Chair in Brown Cowhide Seat & Legs with Aluminium Frame
By Zanotta, Roberto Barbieri
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Lealta Chair in Brown Cowhide Seat & Legs with Aluminium Frame Aluminum alloy frame. Seat and back upholstered in polyurethane. Fixed internal nylon cover. Removable exter...
Cowhide
Zanotta Judy Armchair in Grey Upholstery with Black Painted Steel Frame
By Zanotta
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Judy Armchair in Grey Upholstery with Black Painted Steel Frame by Frank Rettenbacher Black or graphite painted steel legs. Stiff polyurethane seat with self-extinguishing...
Steel
$1,353 / item
Customizable Zanotta Nellee Chair by Calvi Brambilla
By Zanotta
Located in New York, NY
Chair. Steel frame. Upholstery in self-extinguishing polyurethane foam with vegetable-based polyols. Removable fabric or leather cover.
Upholstery
Italian modern red black Celestina folding chair Marco Zanuso for Zanotta, 1970s
By Marco Zanuso, Zanotta
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern red black Celestina folding chair Marco Zanuso for Zanotta, 1970s Folding chair mod. Celestina. The metal frame is painted red, the backrest and seat are made of bands...
Metal
Italian modern Wood folding chair Morettina by Ettore Moretti for Zanotta, 1970s
By Zanotta
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Wood folding chair Morettina by Ettore Moretti for Zanotta, 1970s Folding chair mod. Morettina in black painted wood. The backrest and seat is made up of a series of s...
Wood
Zanotta Club Armchair with Cushion in Purple Upholstery with Steel Structure
By Zanotta, Prospero Rasulo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Club Armchair with Cushion in Purple Upholstery with Steel Structure by Prospero Rasulo Painted steel internal structure. Weave in PVC thread with nylon internal reinforce...
Steel
Zanotta Maggiolina Lounge Chair in White Leather & Steel Frame by Marco Zanuso
By Zanotta, Marco Zanuso
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Maggiolina Lounge Chair in White 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 Calla Armchair in White and Black Upholstery with Steel Frame
By Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance, Zanotta
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Calla Armchair in White and Black Upholstery with Steel Frame by Noé Duchaufour Lawrance Base on castors or fixed with feet. Steel fr...
Upholstery
Zanotta Dan Armchair in Blue Elastic Seat & Back with Matt Black Steel Frame
By Patrick Norguet, Zanotta
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Dan Armchair in Blue Elastic Seat & Back with Matt Black Steel Frame by Patrick Norguet Chair with armrests. Steel frame varnished iron grey or matt black. Seat and backre...
Steel
Zanotta Dan Chair in Anthracite Elastic Seat & Back with Matt Black Steel Frame
By Zanotta, Patrick Norguet
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Dan Chair in Anthracite Elastic Seat & Back with Matt Black Steel Frame by Patrick Norguet Steel frame varnished iron grey or matt black. Seat and backrest made of elastic...
Steel
Zanotta Judy Armchair in Red Upholstery with Black Painted Steel Frame
By Zanotta
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Judy Armchair in Red Upholstery with Black Painted Steel Frame by Frank Rettenbacher Black or graphite painted steel legs. Stiff polyurethane seat with self-extinguishing ...
Steel
Lialta chair designed by Roberto Barbieri in 2006 and produced by Zanotta
By Zanotta, Roberto Barbieri
Located in Ravenna, IT
Lialta chair designed by Roberto Barbieri in 2006 and produced by Zanotta in Italy. With a polished aluminum alloy frame, the seat features soft, sinuous curves. Its high back gives ...
Aluminum