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 Pianoalto Modular Sofa in Beige Fabric by Ludovica & Roberto Palomba
By Ludovica + Roberto Palomba 1, Zanotta
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Zanotta Pianoalto Modular Sofa in Beige Fabric by Ludovica & Roberto Palomba The range of modular or monobloc sofas allows many corner or straight...
Fabric
Up Medium Modular Sofa in Kami White Upholstery by Giuseppe Viganò
By Saba Italia
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Using a simple expedient similar to Lego’s snap-on system, the height of the Up sofa’s backrest can be adjusted according to personal choice. Place the back cushions on top of the lo...
Upholstery
Up Large Modular Sofa in Kami White Upholstery by Giuseppe Viganò
By Saba Italia
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Using a simple expedient similar to Lego’s snap-on system, the height of the Up sofa’s backrest can be adjusted according to personal choice. Place the back cushions on top of the lo...
Upholstery
Up Extra Large Modular Sofa in Kami White Upholstery by Giuseppe Viganò
By Saba Italia
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Using a simple expedient similar to Lego’s snap-on system, the height of the Up sofa’s backrest can be adjusted according to personal choice. Place the back cushions on top of the lo...
Upholstery
Livingston Small Sofa in Kami White Upholstery with Chrome by Giuseppe Viganò
By Saba Italia
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Livingston creates a surprising effect through an unexpected use of the headrest which, by a simple rotation, becomes a comfortable backrest. It has a “smart” backrest to which a sma...
Upholstery
Livingston Large Sofa in Kami White Upholstery with Chrome by Giuseppe Viganò
By Saba Italia
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Livingston creates a surprising effect through an unexpected use of the headrest which, by a simple rotation, becomes a comfortable backrest. It has a “smart” backrest to which a smaller cushion is attached with a zip. The soft, informal seating rests on a light steel base that creates a dynamic contrast with the generous cushions. The original, adjustable backrest and its characteristic full-length seat cushions give Livingston a unique silhouette ideally suited to creating an endless variety of arrangements. The designer Giuseppe Viganò is dedicated to the industrial design of furniture products and to the artistic direction of companies in the sector. He also provides graphic consulting for the production of catalogues, getting directly involved in the photography, page layout, communication and advertising pages. He designs trade fair layouts and permanent furniture shops or temporary areas for specific events and personally intervenes by indicating the choice of products and scenery design. In 2007 he started working with Saba Italia...
Upholstery
Mario Bellini for Cassina Modular Sofa Pianura in White Fabric
By Cassina, Mario Bellini
Located in Madrid, ES
Two-seater modular sofa, model Pianura. Designed by Mario Bellini and manufactured by Cassina in the 1970s. The sofa's structure and armrests are made of lacquered wood and it has be...
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
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
Francesco Binfaré Flap Sofa or Daybed in White Leather by Edra 2000s Italy
By Francesco Binfaré, Edra
Located in Cascina, Pisa
A beautiful flap sofa designed by Francesco Binfaré for Edra upholstered in white leather with nine reclinable parts. The sofa presents a steel structure an...
Metal
Italian Modern Domino Modular White Leather Sofa by Gamma Arredamenti
By Gamma Arredamenti
Located in Secaucus, NJ
Elegant Modern Domino modular three pieces white leather sofa by Gamma Arredamenti. Its hallmark is a pristine high-end modern design, modular-seating system, effortlessly delivers supreme comfort levels and real relaxation for hours on end. Defined with innovative stitched detailing, showcase the manufacturer's incredible attention to detail. This versatile modular three pieces seating system allows for extreme customization to arrange the three units in different ways, so you can create your own solutions according to your personal taste and space requirements, creating new looks and varying the volumes. With its sophisticated silhouette and unusual design Domino will reign supreme in your home's living area, creating an inviting, intimate ambiance. Highly comfortable with generously deep seats. Specifications: Fully upholstered in Italian ultra-elegant, genuine natural high-quality white leather. Seat suspensions in reinforced elastic webbing. Hardwood frame Lightweight steel base with polished chrome finish. Model: Domino square corner Made by: Gamma Arredamenti Period Manufactured: Circa 1990s Manufactured in Italy Overall dimensions: Height 29" x Width 113" x Depth 39" x Seat...
Steel, Chrome
"Sity" Sectional Sofa in White Leather by Citterio for B&B Italia
By B&B Italia, Antonio Citterio
Located in Grand Cayman, KY
Designed by Antonio Citterio in 1986 for B&B Italia, this "Sity" sectional sofa in white leather contains one asymmetrical curved island daybed and a rectangular daybed. New excep...
Leather
Mario Bellini for B&B Italia "Camaleonda" White Bouclé Fabric Modular Sofa
By B&B Italia, Mario Bellini
Located in Madrid, ES
Camaleonda modular sofa designed by Mario Bellini (1935-) for B&B Italia in 1972. Composed of 3 large modular seats with backrest, 3 small modular seats with backrest, 2 armrests and...
Wool
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.
