Massimo Vignelli and Lella Vignelli’s legacy can be seen everywhere in the logos of Bloomingdale’s, Ford and American Airlines, among others. In addition to their work in branding, they were prolific creators of modernist home furnishings, products and interiors, and the duo’s collaborations, which span 50 years, have left a profound mark on design and wider visual culture.
After meeting in Italy, Lella (1934–2016) and Massimo (1931–2014) began working together in 1961 and a decade later formed Vignelli Associates in New York. A self-described “information architect,” Massimo was committed to streamlining complex ideas into clear, visually arresting forms. (Witness the graphic identity that he cocreated with Bob Noorda for the New York City Transit Authority as well as his influential 1972 subway map.) The Vignellis’ most recognizable piece, for example, may be the Handkerchief chair, a stackable office chair made of compression-molded plastic that has the look of a cloth floating in air. It was created for Knoll in 1983 after they designed the brand’s logo.
Evidence of the couple’s influence can also be found in their Saratoga line (1964), the first collection of lacquered furniture, which helped herald in the trendy “glossy” look of the decade (and beyond). When the Vignellis created the Poltrona Frau Interview chair in 1988 for an Italian television station, it became widely sought after, “which goes to show you the power of the TV media,” the couple once said. Much like their elemental graphic designs, the Kono (1984) and Pisa tables (1985) — both created for Casigliani — cull the form of the table down to geometric shapes.
Vignelli furniture is often labeled as Massimo Vignelli’s alone, though he fought to have Lella recognized for her work, even throwing away magazines that neglected to give her due credit. As he wrote of their lifelong collaboration in his book Designed By: Lella Vignelli: “It is not holding a pencil with four hands that makes a partnership; it is sharing the creative act and exercising creative criticism which is reflected in the end result.”
Find vintage Massimo and Lella Vignelli seating, tables and other furniture today on 1stDibs.
20th Century Renato Polidori Skipper Table Mod. Faraone Marble and Crystal, 80s
By Skipper
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Renato Polidori, an italian designer born in 1934, is not so know as many others. He worked for a long time alongside Angelo Mangiarotti at Skipper Ita...
Crystal, Marble, Steel
20th Century, Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte Coffee Table, 1950s
By Fontana Arte, Pietro Chiesa
Located in Torino, Piemonte
After an apprenticeship with the glassmaker Giannotti Pietro Chiesa opened his own glass workshop in 1921. In the early 1920s he participated in the Monza Biennale, the Venice Bienna...
Glass, Wood
20th Century Carlo Scarpa Table Mod. Doge Steel and Crystal, '60
By Simon Gavina Editions, Carlo Scarpa
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Carlo Scarpa was an Italian architect and designer, among the most important of the 20th century. Linked to art, in particular with the art of glassmaking, of which Venice is the Italian capital, is also his first prestigious position in the world of design, the artistic direction of Venini, a role he held between 1933 and 1947 and through which he brought the centuries-old tradition of Murano glass into modernity. His meeting with Gavina would lead him to create his most famous furnishings. Here we have a big dinner table made by Carlo Scarpa for Simon Gavina. Carlo Scarpa was inspired by the architectural structure, with the thick flat profiles supporting the crystal top. The drawn steel structure is enhanced by the transparency of the top. This item is perfect not only in the dining room but also as a meeting table...
Crystal, Steel
20th Century, Pietro Chiesa for Fontana Arte Crystal Coffee Table, 1930
By Fontana Arte, Pietro Chiesa
Located in Torino, Piemonte
After an apprenticeship with the glassmaker Giannotti Pietro Chiesa opened his own glass workshop in 1921. In the early 1920s he participated in the Monza Biennale, the Venice Bienna...
Crystal
Luigi Caccia Dominioni Pitagora Dining Table, Metal & Marble, 1991
By Simon Gavina Editions, Luigi Caccia Dominioni
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Luigi Caccia Dominioni was born in the Lombard capital in 1913. Much of his education takes place at the Jesuits, and then he enrolls in the Faculty of Architecture, at the Politecni...
Marble, Metal
20th century, Angelo Mangiarotti Marble Dining Table mod M1
By Angelo Mangiarotti
Located in Torino, Piemonte
Angelo Mangiarotti was an Italian architect and industrial designer, born in Milan in 1921. He studied architecture at the Politecnico in Milan and graduated in 1948. His designs wer...
Marble
Massimo and Lella Vignelli 'Metaphora' Coffee Table in Carrara Marble and Glass
By Massimo and Lella Vignelli
Located in Echt, NL
Impressive Metaphora coffee table in very good condition. This coffee table is designed by Massimo & Lella Vignelli in 1979 Four forms of the Euclidean geometry, the cube, the cyli...
Carrara Marble
Metafora Style Marble Occasional Coffee Table Attributed to Massimo Vignelli
By Massimo and Lella Vignelli
Located in London, GB
Statement coffee table comprising 3 white marble pieces and a contrasting black glass top. The trio of sculptural pieces include a pyramid, con...
Marble
Massimo & Lella Vignelli Stone Column Coffee Table for Casigliani
By Massimo and Lella Vignelli
Located in London, GB
Designed by Lella and Massimo Vignelli for Casigliani, this iconic statement coffee table features two carved black marble arcs and a single st...
Marble
Marble and Glass Coffee Table in the Style of Massimo Vignelli, 1970's
By Massimo Vignelli
Located in Antwerp, BE
Massimo Vignelli; Post-modern; Italy; Coffee table; Marble; Glass; Italian design; Postmodern Italian coffee table in the style of ...
Marble
'Vignelli' Metafora coffee table in white marble for Casigliani, Italy 1970s
By Massimo and Lella Vignelli
Located in London, England
Massimo & Lella Vignelli, 'Metafora' coffee table, Casigliani, Italy, 1970s The four forms of the geometry, the cube, the cylinder, the sphere and the pyramid, made of white marble, ...
Marble
Metafora coffee table by Massimo and Lella Vignelli for Casigliani Italy, 1970s
By Massimo and Lella Vignelli
Located in amstelveen, NL
Sculptural Metafora travertine coffee table designed by Lella and Massimo Vignelli. in the 1970s. Inspired by the four forms of Euclidean geometry, the cube, the pyramid, the cylinde...
Travertine, Marble
