Work: Mezzadro

Description

“The Mezzadro project is perhaps the clearest expression of the desire to take a piece of an existing object, retain its original form, but completely change its function and context—repurposing a tractor seat designed in the early twentieth century into a stool for our homes.” — Chiara Alessi

The Mezzadro (meaning “sharecropper”) is not just a single object, but a clever assembly of various components appropriated from completely different contexts to forge an entirely new concept. This approach directly mirrors the artistic principles of the 1930s avant-garde movement, specifically the “ready-made,” which recontextualizes everyday items into works of art. Designed by Achille and Pier Giacomo Castiglioni and produced by Zanotta since 1957, the stool is composed of four distinct pre-existing elements.

First, there is the enameled sheet-metal tractor seat that gives the stool its name. This is secured by a bicycle wheel locking pin and wingnut, allowing the components to be joined tightly without the need for screwdrivers or keys. Supporting the seat is a stainless-steel leaf spring—a curved leg that provides suspension—which connects the seat to a stabilizing beechwood crossbar, a subtle nod to the nautical world. In total, the stool stands about half a meter tall.

While the perforated seat of the Mezzadro featured in our collection is finished in vibrant red, the Zanotta catalog has expanded over the years to offer the stool in various other colors.

As Alessi notes regarding the unique user experience: “The most delightful thing about the Mezzadro is certainly sitting on it, because of the springy effect—just like on a tractor, where the elasticity of the seat was designed to maximize shock absorption.”