Design by passion
When Aurelio Zanotta opened the doors to his eponymous label in 1954, its initial focus was on the production of sofas and armchairs which, at the time, were overwhelmingly the domain of upholstery workshops. But Zanotta’s vision far exceeded the largely utilitarian scope of local upholsterers. Beyond its surface functionality, he recognizedin furniture design a new form of cultural expression—a venerable creative outlet worthy of the same respect afforded to traditional artistic exploits like painting and sculpture. Bolstered by instinct, charisma, and a natural interest in emerging materials and technologies, his unique and, at the time, revolutionary path brought Zanotta into contact with some of the now legendary icons of Italian design.
The Masters
With more than 200 currently available items incorporating the visions of 131 designers hailing from 18 countries, Zanotta’s catalogue is marked by a distinct, and indeed exceptional, degree of heterogeneity. But the common thread running through those items, and perhaps the cornerstone of the Zanotta project, is a flair for originality— whether it issues from the masters and unsung heroes of history, or those still destined to be discovered, as in the case of Roberto Barbieri in the 1990s and Damian Williamson and Frank Rettenbacher more recently.
Product types include sofas, beds, chairs, tables, accessories, and a bevy of creations for outdoor, among them numbered and limited editions.
Discover Zanotta designersAwards
Acca, Allunaggio, Aster, Berlino, Birillo, Brasilia, Butterfly, Cassia, Castiglietta, Cumano, Dan, Drop, Echino, Elipse, Fly, Gilda, Globulo, Grand’Italia, Guscio, Invisibile, Jack, Joy, Lia, Loto, Louise, Maggiolina, Marcuso, Mezzadro, Ninfea, Oliva, Petalo, Poker, Quaderna, Raw, Ricreo, Sacco, Santina, Sciangai, Servento, Servobandiera, Servolibro, Servomanto, Servomostre, Servostop, Soft, Speed, Spiffero, Tempo, Throw-Away, Toi, Tonietta, Tucano, Unanotte, Veryround, Za:Za, Zurigo.
Representing landmark innovations in typology, technology, and form, many of Zanotta’s products are recognized today as true icons in the annals of design, referenced in academic books and exhibited in the most prestigious decorative arts institutions around the world. Some of its longtime, multi-awarded best sellers—the Sacco, Mezzadro, Sciangai, Quaderna, Tonietta, Leonardo and others—remain just as relevant and sought after now as in previous decades.
Discover the awarded products that are currently in the Zanotta collection:
58 award-winning designs
9 international recognitions
4 Compassi d’Oro awards
330 pieces in the permanent collections of 56 museums
Museums
The Montréal Museumof Fine Arts - Montréal, Canada (15) | The Chicago Athenaeum Chicago, U.S.A. (3) | Dallas Museum of Art - Dallas, U.S.A. (3) | Denver Art Museum Denver, U.S.A. (2) | Indianapolis Museum of Art Indianapolis, U.S.A. (5) | Los Angeles County Museum of Art Los Angeles, U.S.A. (1) | Brooklyn Museum New York, U.S.A. (2) | Metropolitan Museum New York, U.S.A. (1) | The Museum of Modern Art New York, U.S.A. (12) | Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum New York (3)| Philadelphia Museum of Art Philadelphia, USA (2) | The Saint Louis Art Museum St. Louis, U.S.A. (3) | The Design Museum London, Great Britain (6) | Victoria & Albert Museum London, Great Britain (4) | Museum Boijmans-Van Beuningen Rotterdam,The Netherlands (1) | Design Museum Gent, Belgium (12) | CID au Musée du Grand Hornu Hornu, Belgium (2) | Musée des Arts Décoratifs Bordeaux, France (4) | Cité de l'architecture & du patrimoine Paris, France (1) | Fonds Régional d’Art Contemporain Dunkerque, France (5) | Fond National d’Art Contemporain Paris, France (2) | Musée des Arts Décoratifs Paris, France (6) | Musée Nationald’Art Moderne Paris, France (13) | Fond National d’Art Contemporain Puteaux, France (2) | Musée d’Art Moderne Villeneuve d’Ascq, France (1) | Musée de la ville de Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines Montigny le Bretonneux (1)| Nordenfjeldske Kunstindustriemuseum Trondheim, Norway (2) | Designmuseum Danmark Copenhagen, Denmark (2) | Trapholt Museum Kolding, Denmark (1) | Kunstgewerbemuseum Berlin, Germany (17) | Lippisches Landesmuseum Detmold, Germany (1) | Kunstmuseum Düsseldorf, Germany (9) | Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg, Germany (7) | Gustav-Lübcke Museum Hamm, Germany (3) | Museum für Angewandte Kunst Köln, Germany (15) | Die Neue Sammlung München, Germany (21) | Vitra Design Museum Weil am Rhein, Germany (20) | Design Museo Helsinki, Finland (6) | Uméleckoprumyslové Muzeum Praha, Czech Republic (4) | Museum für Angewandte Kunst Wien, Austria (2) | Freud Museum Wien, Austria (1) | Museum für Gestaltung Zürich, Switzerland (9) | M.A.X. Museo Chiasso, Switzerland (6) | Fondazione Triennale Design Museum Milano, Italy (17) | Civiche Raccolte d’Arte Applicata Milano, Italy (1) | ADI Design Museum Milano, Italy (3) |LAB Museo del Design - fondazione Anna Querci Calenzano, Italy (3) | Centro per l’arte contemporanea Luigi Pecci Prato, Italy (1) | Museo del Design 1880-1980 Milano, Italy (9)|Museo tattile statale Omero Ancona, Italy (3) | Powerhouse Museum Sydney, Australia (1) | National Gallery of Victoria Melbourne, Australia (1) | Thessaloniki Design Museum Saloniki, Greece (27) | Israel Museum Jerusalem, Israel (16) | Tel Aviv Museum of Art Tel Aviv, Israel (1) | Museum of Modern Art Saitama, Japan (6)