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.
Wittmann Tuky Side Table Designed by Luca Nichetto
By Luca Nichetto, Wittmann
Located in New York, NY
Dependable to the core, wood has an important role to play for TUKY: solid laminated wood is finished with an open pored varnish to retain its natural structure. The tabletop can be ...
Metal
Customizable Color Zanotta Tempo Side Table by Prospero Rasulo
By Zanotta, Prospero Rasulo
Located in New York, NY
Small table - stand. Stiff polyurethane cones, steel stem, glossy lacquer in the colours talc, wax, lilac, hemp, caramel, orange, amaranth, grass green, espresso or black. His ‘time...
Steel
Zanotta Servomuto Side Table by Design Achille Castiglioni
By Zanotta
Located in New York, NY
of the range Servi by Achille & Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, 1974 Small table. Base in polypropylene and steel rod painted, colour talc or black. Top in reversible black/white plas...
Steel
Customizable Wittmann Sticks Side Table by Jaime Hayon
By Wittmann, Jaime Hayon
Located in New York, NY
Sticks Table expresses the high esteem that Hayon has for the era of the Wiener Werkstätte’s heyday. A highly robust table, given a sense of transparency by the beautifully crafted delicate bars, arranged in a semi-circle. ø 48 x H 59cm or ø 32 x H 53cm Different colors available: Opaque-varnish in Hayon-RAL colours; available RAL-colours: Honey Yellow ‚RAL 1005‘, Wine Red ‚RAL 3005...
Wood
Customizable Color Zanotta Tempo Side Tall Table by Prospero Rasulo
By Prospero Rasulo, Zanotta
Located in New York, NY
Small table - stand. Stiff polyurethane cones, steel stem, glossy lacquer in the colours talc, wax, lilac, hemp, caramel, orange, amaranth, grass green, espresso or black. His ‘time...
Steel
SET OF TWO Customizable Color Montis Tor Tables by AMBIE & VANHENGEL
By Montis
Located in New York, NY
SET OF TWO Tor is designed with the idea that a side table needs to be carried around easily. The raised edge of the top prevents things slide off easily. The handle that comes out ...
Aluminum
Panton Side Table by Domkapa
Located in Geneve, CH
Panton side table by Domkapa Dimensions: W 50 x D 50 x H 51 cm. Materials: Grey beige matte lacquered, bronze glass, black texturized, gold brushed stainless steel. Also available...
Steel, Stainless Steel
Volta Side Table 50 by Wentz
By Guilherme Wentz
Located in Geneve, CH
Volta Side Table 50 by Wentz Dimensions: D 50 x W 50 x H 55 cm Materials: Wood, Plywood, MDF, Veneer, Steel The Volta table references nature in its im...
Steel
Miniforms PLAUTINO Small Side table by Paolo Cappello and Simone Sabatti
By Paolo Cappello, Miniforms
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Plautino combines solidity with endearing appeal: the legs of Plauto are reduced in size and explore different directions, resulting in two substantial modular coffee tables. Balance...
Wood
Volta Side Table 70 by Wentz
By Guilherme Wentz
Located in Geneve, CH
Volta Side Table 70 by Wentz Dimensions: D 70 x W 70 x H 55 cm Materials: Wood, Plywood, MDF, Veneer, Steel The Volta table references nature in its impermanence. The detail on the...
Steel
Weight of Shadow Side Table by Atelier V&F
Located in Geneve, CH
Weight of Shadow Side Table by Atelier V&F Dimensions: D 39 x W 47.5 x H 49 cm. Materials: Ash. Available in black or grey. Please contact us. The weightiness and the fine curves of the blocks which are characteristic of this collection show our admiration and appreciation of weight and volume, light and shadow. The clean-cut silhouettes of the long chair...
Ash
Tribeca Side Table by Giacomo Tomazzi Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Tribeca Side Table by Giacomo Tomazzi Studio Dimensions: W 60 x D 60 x H 50 cm Materials: Wood. ABOUT Giácomo Tomazzi graduated in architectur...
Wood
