This article is part of Not In Milan, a multi-media festival of culture running alongside Milan Design Week.
The Mezzadro stool, also known as the “springy metal seat,” is a mash-up of industrial components that, together, create an unconventional stool: its metal seat and steel crossbow are inspired by farming equipment, the fixing pin is taken from cycling, and the beech wood crosspiece has a nautical background.
The seat is the work of two brothers, Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni, who formed a pioneering design duo during the 1950s and ‘60s Italian design Renaissance, and Highsnobiety has given it a unique twist.
As part of our multi-platform cultural festival, Not In Milan, we have partnered with Zanotta, the manufacturer of this iconic design, to release a limited-edition Mezzadro stool.
Building on the industrial background of the original design, the stool features red rubber applied to one side of its seat, inspired by work tools and gloves that are rubberized for protection and increased grip.
The Mezzadro stool is one of the Castiglioni brothers' most famous works, having been exhibited by esteemed galleries such as MoMA and the Vitra Design Museum, and it’s an example of how the duo repurposes elements from mass-produced equipment.
This exclusive collaboration comes as Zanotta celebrates 70 years at the forefront of design, known for its Italian craftsmanship and pioneering creations. The brothers started working with the Milanese furniture company in 1964 and the Mezzadro has become one of its best-selling products. The brother's time together was unfortunately cut short by the death of Pier in 1968, however, Achille carried on the work he started with his older brother, becoming known as a master of industrial design and winning the prestigious Compasso d'Oro prize nine times.
The Zanotta x Highsnobiety Mezzadro stool is available to shop now from the Highsnobiety Shop and iOS app, and is part of a series of collaborations created for Not In Milan.
