Zanotta
Founded in 1954, Zanotta has spent seven decades at the intersection of art and furniture, collaborating with over 140 designers to produce pieces that have entered museum collections worldwide. From the Sacco bean bag to the Mezzadro stool, Zanotta’s catalog is a living archive of Italian radical design. BeDESIGN is an authorized Zanotta dealer in Houston, Texas. Visit our showroom or request a custom quote.
About Zanotta
Zanotta was founded in 1954 by the young entrepreneur Aurelio Zanotta in Nova Milanese, where the company's manufacturing plant remains today. Originally called Zanotta Poltrona, the company began with fairly traditional upholstered furniture. But Aurelio Zanotta had an instinct that would change the trajectory of the business: he saw furniture design as a form of cultural expression, worthy of the same seriousness as painting or sculpture.
That conviction brought him into contact with the most radical designers of the Italian postwar generation. The results were not safe. They were extraordinary.
The iconic pieces
Mezzadro (1957, produced 1971): Designed by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, the Mezzadro is a tractor seat mounted on a steel stem and wooden crosspiece. The Castiglioni brothers originally created it as one of three prototypes for stools using found objects. It took fourteen years before Zanotta put it into production, a measure of how far ahead of the market it was.
Sacco (1968): Designed by Piero Gatti, Cesare Paolini, and Franco Teodoro, the Sacco was the world's first bean bag chair. A leather or fabric sack filled with expanded polystyrene beads that conforms to the sitter's body, it rejected every assumption about what a chair should look like. It became an icon of 1960s counter-culture and remains in production today.
Throw-Away (1965): One of the first sofas made with polyurethane foam and upholstered with stretch fabric. Designed by Willie Landels.
Legacy and museum presence
Over its history, Zanotta has collaborated with more than 140 designers from 18 countries, producing over 550 products. Three hundred and thirty-six of those pieces are held in the permanent collections of 60 museums worldwide, a record few furniture companies can match.
After Aurelio Zanotta's death in 1991, the company remained in his family. Since 2002 it has been run by his three children: Eleonora, Francesca, and Martino.
Why designers specify Zanotta
Zanotta is specified when the project calls for pieces with design pedigree, furniture that carries the authority of museum collections and the credibility of half a century of radical experimentation. The current catalog balances heritage reissues (Mezzadro, Sacco, the Castiglioni pieces) with contemporary work, offering designers a range from the historically significant to the newly relevant.
“Zanotta is like an encyclopedia of the world’s best design. From Carlo Mollino to other legendary designers, they have pieces gracing museums worldwide, truly functional works of art. Zanotta balances timeless, iconic masterpieces with fresh, trendsetting collections. They’ve always been incomparable, and now, they’re both classic and cutting-edge, ensuring every new collection is as remarkable as their storied past.”
Adrian Dueñas, Co-founder, BeDESIGN
Why Buy Zanotta at BeDESIGN
BeDESIGN is Houston's authorized Zanotta dealer, offering the full collection with custom configuration, trade pricing, and delivery throughout Texas. Zanotta's catalog is one of the deepest in Italian design, from sofas and beds to the iconic accent pieces that define a room's personality.
Visit our showroom at 2016 W Alabama St to see Zanotta furniture in person.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is BeDESIGN an authorized Zanotta dealer?
Yes. BeDESIGN is an authorized Zanotta dealer in Houston, Texas. We carry the full Zanotta collection and work directly with the manufacturer on custom orders, trade pricing, and project specification.
When was Zanotta founded?
Zanotta was founded in 1954 by Aurelio Zanotta in Nova Milanese, Italy, where the company still manufactures today. The company has been family-owned for seven decades and is currently run by Aurelio Zanotta's three children.
What is Zanotta best known for?
Zanotta is known for iconic pieces of Italian radical design, including the Sacco bean bag (1968), the world's first bean bag chair, and the Mezzadro stool (1957) by the Castiglioni brothers. Over 336 Zanotta products are held in the permanent collections of 60 museums worldwide.
Who has designed for Zanotta?
Zanotta has collaborated with over 140 designers from 18 countries. Notable collaborators include Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, Piero Gatti, Marco Zanuso, Ettore Sottsass, Joe Colombo, and many contemporary designers. The brand functions as a platform for experimental and authored design.
How long does a Zanotta order take?
Zanotta furniture is manufactured in Nova Milanese, Italy. Lead times typically range from 8 to 14 weeks depending on the piece and upholstery. BeDESIGN provides detailed timelines with every custom quote.
Is the Sacco bean bag still in production?
Yes. The Sacco bean bag, designed in 1968 by Piero Gatti, Cesare Paolini, and Franco Teodoro, remains in continuous production at Zanotta. It is available in multiple fabrics and leathers through BeDESIGN.
Schedule a Consultation
Every piece at BeDESIGN is custom-quoted for your project. Contact us for a complimentary design consultation at our Houston showroom, or request pricing by phone or email.
BeDESIGN | 2016 W Alabama St, Houston, TX 77098 | (713) 623-1177 | hello@be-design.us