Italian design brand Zanotta has acquired the artistic archive of Carlo Mollino, alongside the exclusive licence to produce a selection of his works, marking a significant development in the preservation and reactivation of Italian design heritage.
© Zanotta
The agreement, secured through a public tender with the Italian State, grants Zanotta the rights to industrially produce 30 projects by the Turin-based architect and designer. The acquisition also includes original drawings, sketches and archival materials, expanding the company's historical collection.
Carlo Mollino (1905–1973) is widely recognised as a key figure in 20th-century Italian design, with a multidisciplinary practice spanning architecture, photography and furniture design. His work is characterised by organic, often zoomorphic forms and a design language that merges abstraction with surrealist influences.
The archive itself remains one of the most extensive of its kind, comprising thousands of technical drawings, photographs and documents preserved within the Polytechnic University of Turin. Through this initiative, Zanotta aims to bring selected works into contemporary production while reinforcing their cultural relevance.
The first outcome of the project will be presented during Milan Design Week 2026, where Zanotta will unveil the Tavolo Vertebra, a previously unrealised design by Mollino. The table exemplifies the designer's approach to furniture as an extension of movement and the human body, expressed through fluid, structural forms.
The presentation will take place at the brand's Milan flagship store, where an installation inspired by Mollino's interiors and design philosophy will contextualise the piece. Alongside the new production, a curated selection of existing Mollino designs produced by Zanotta, including seating, tables and mirrors, will also be on display.
The acquisition reinforces Zanotta's long-standing focus on design culture and the re-edition of historical works, building on its legacy of collaborating with both modern masters and contemporary designers. By bringing Mollino's projects into production, the company positions the archive not only as a historical resource but as an active component of its future design strategy.
More information:
Zanotta
www.zanotta.com
