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.
$1,069 / item
H 29.53 in W 20.48 in D 17.72 in
Mid Century Red Cado Chair, Steen Østergaard, Europe, 1960s
By Ostergaard Steen
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Polish production chairs from Plastics Factory 'Krywald' in Knurow have embossed signatures. They come from the 70s. The author of this project is the Danish architect Steen Østergaa...
Plastic
$2,200
H 38.19 in W 36.23 in D 34.26 in
Red Fibreglass "Amicus" Armchair by Antero Poppius, Finland, 1970s
Located in Utrecht, NL
The “Amicus” armchair by Antero Poppius, was designed in Finland in the 1970s. This typical 1970s chair consists of a moulded fibreglass shell that stan...
Fiberglass
$5,950
H 31.5 in W 24.41 in D 32.29 in
Lounge Chair by Joseph-André Motte in Original red Upholstery, France, 1950s
By Steiner, Joseph-André Motte
Located in Almelo, NL
Lounge Chair by Joseph-André Motte for Steiner, France, 1950s This rare lounge chair, designed by Joseph-André Motte and manufactured by Steiner in France during the 1950s, is a stri...
Metal
$2,890
H 28.74 in W 31.5 in D 33.85 in
Boborelax Chair Cini Boeri For Arflex Red Velvet, Italy, circa 1955
By Arflex, Cini Boeri
Located in Vienna, AT
Boborelax lounge chair, designed by Cini Boeri, Italy circa 1965 Measures: 33.85" x 21.5" x 28.74" - seat height is circa 16.5". Very stylish chaise-lounge Boborelax upholstered in alcantara faux leather fabric, which resembles suede leather but is more durable and resilient. It has been designed by Cini Boeri and is a modern take on traditional seating...
Steel
$4,045
H 29.93 in W 26.58 in D 23.23 in
Giancarlo Piretti Space Age Vintage Red Plastic Armchair Plona 1969 Italy
By Giancarlo Piretti
Located in Vienna, AT
Giancarlo Piretti Space Age red foldable plastic vintage armchair which is executed by Castelli, Italy. This joyful foldable chair model Plona in a powerful red color comes from an e...
Chrome
Red Kwok Hoï CHAN Chromatic Model by Steiner lounge chair
By Kwok Hoi Chan
Located in Miami, FL
seamless seating system by Kwok Hoï CHAN for Steiner Edition labeled on the back side Model Chromatic Red wool cloth upholstery. One ottoman can be added, please look for another ...
Wool
$1,308
H 26.38 in W 29.14 in D 24.41 in
Italian Modern Red Armchair Mod. Saghi by Kazuhide Takahama for Gavina, 1970s
By Gavina, Kazuhide Takahama
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Red armchair mod. Saghi by Kazuhide Takahama for Gavina, 1970s Iconic and elegant armchair mod. Saghi with steel ...
Steel
$14,277
H 36.23 in W 33.08 in D 28.35 in
Franco Albini PL19 or Tre Pezzi Armchair in Red Fabric by Poggi 1970s
By Poggi, Franco Albini and Franca Helg
Located in Cascina, Pisa
PL19 or Tre Pezzi armchair with frame in black lacquered tubular steel, seat and back in padded red fabric. Designed by Franco Albini and Franca Helg in 1959 for the Nuove terme Lui...
Steel
Sergio Maza Red "Toga" chair for Artemide
By Sergio Mazza
Located in New York, NY
Nice Tomato Red version of the classic "Toga" chair, designed by Sergio Mazza for Artemide. Minor surface scuffs, and small bruise on bottom egde, as shown in images.
Fiberglass
Vintage Lounge Chair by Wendell Castle
By Wendell Castle
Located in Atlanta, GA
A vintage lounge chair designed by Wendell Castle circa 1970s. In bright orange with cup holder platform and original rubber foot ring. The chair is a playful design from Wendell Cas...
Fiberglass, Rubber
