Massimo and Lella Vignelli

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.

Average Sold Price

$4,522

Styles

Mid-Century Modern

Materials

Stone

Glass

Related Creators

Italian school XX ct.

Massimo and Lella Vignelli for Poltronova 'Saratoga' Two-Seater Sofa

$11,800

H 24.41 in W 59.06 in D 39.38 in

Massimo and Lella Vignelli for Poltronova 'Saratoga' Two-Seater Sofa

By Poltronova, Massimo and Lella Vignelli

Located in Waalwijk, NL

Massimo and Lella Vignelli for Poltronova, 'Saratoga' two-seat sofa, polyester lacquered wood, leather, Italy, 1964. This two-seat sofa named 'Saratoga' is designed by Italian desig...

Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Massimo and Lella Vignelli

Materials

Leather, Polyester

Massimo Vignelli for Knoll Intl 'Handkerchief' Set w Unique Provenance, Signed

$1,950Sale Price / set|22% Off

H 29.25 in W 22 in D 20.5 in

Massimo Vignelli for Knoll Intl 'Handkerchief' Set w Unique Provenance, Signed

By David Law, Massimo and Lella Vignelli, Knoll, Massimo Vignelli

Located in Los Angeles, CA

This classic Post-Modern design by Massimo and Lella Vignelli for Knoll International is called the 'Handkerchief' stacking chair, labelled underneath with early production (original) year labels. Great for stacking when you need more open space in the room and easy to unstack when you have guests. Perfect for those who require versatility in their space. Priced as a set of five (5). Unique provenance on this set - as it was ordered by David Law who worked with Vignelli Associates and participated in many of the designs they created for Knoll and Acerbis including the Serenissimo Table...

Category

1990s American Post-Modern Massimo and Lella Vignelli

Materials

Steel

Massimo and Lella Vignelli for Poltronova 'Saratoga' Cabinet

$4,700

H 23.63 in W 35.44 in D 36.62 in

Massimo and Lella Vignelli for Poltronova 'Saratoga' Cabinet

By Poltronova, Massimo and Lella Vignelli

Located in Waalwijk, NL

Massimo and Lella Vignelli for Poltronova 'Saratoga', cabinet, polyester lacquered wood, Italy, 1964. Chest of drawers made in a reflective polyester lacquer. The Vignelli's were kn...

Category

1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Massimo and Lella Vignelli

Materials

Wood, Lacquer

Set of 4 Impeccable Handkerchief Chairs by Lella & Massimo Vignelli for Knoll

$3,600 / set

H 29 in W 23 in D 22.5 in

Set of 4 Impeccable Handkerchief Chairs by Lella & Massimo Vignelli for Knoll

By Massimo and Lella Vignelli, Knoll

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Set of 4 stacking 'Handkerchief' chairs designed by Massimo and Lella Vignelli for Knoll International. This set was produced in 1991 and retains its original tags. Massimo and Lella Vignelli both studied architecture before founding the Vignelli Office of Design and Architecture in 1960. In 1971 they established Vignelli Associates, a vehicle for focusing on projects that incorporated their industrial, furniture and graphic design talents. Their diverse portfolio includes corporate identity work for IBM, American Airlines, and Bloomingdales as well as signage for the New York Subway system and Washington, D.C. Additionally, Vignelli Associates contributed two furniture designs to the Knoll portfolio: the Handkerchief chair (designed together with David Law) and the Paperclip table...

Category

1990s Italian Post-Modern Massimo and Lella Vignelli

Materials

Chrome

Massimo Vignelli for Knoll Intl 'Handkerchief' Stacking Chairs, Signed, 19 Avail

$490Sale Price / item|24% Off

H 29 in W 22 in D 22 in

Massimo Vignelli for Knoll Intl 'Handkerchief' Stacking Chairs, Signed, 19 Avail

By Massimo and Lella Vignelli, Massimo Vignelli, Knoll

Located in Los Angeles, CA

This classic Post-Modern design by Massimo and Lella Vignelli for Knoll International is called the 'Handkerchief' stacking chair, labelled underneath with early production (original...

Category

1990s American Post-Modern Massimo and Lella Vignelli

Materials

Steel

Multicolor Massimo Vignelli for Heller Dinnerware - Service for Four

$250 / set

H 1 in W 11 in D 11 in

Multicolor Massimo Vignelli for Heller Dinnerware - Service for Four

By Heller, Massimo and Lella Vignelli

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Winner of the prestigious Compasso d'Oro award for Good Design in 1964, Massimo Vignelli's iconic dinnerware for Heller (likely designed with his equally talented wife Lella) has bee...

Category

Late 20th Century Post-Modern Massimo and Lella Vignelli

Materials

Plastic

Metafora Square Coffee Table in Marble and Glass by Vignelli for Martinelli Luce

$7,698 / item

H 8.67 in W 47.25 in D 47.25 in

Metafora Square Coffee Table in Marble and Glass by Vignelli for Martinelli Luce

By Martinelli Luce, Massimo and Lella Vignelli

Located in Alcamo, IT

The Metafora coffee table by Martinelli Luce, designed by Vignelli Associates in 1979, is an iconic piece that translates the purity of Euclidean geometry into functional design. Th...

Category

2010s Italian Massimo and Lella Vignelli

Materials

Marble

Pair of Lella and Massimo Vignelli Saratoga Chairs, 1960s

$12,500 / set

H 25 in W 35.25 in D 36.25 in

Pair of Lella and Massimo Vignelli Saratoga Chairs, 1960s

By Massimo and Lella Vignelli, Poltronova

Located in Raleigh, NC

Pair of Saratoga chairs designed by Lella and Massimo Vignelli for Poltronova, featuring the distinctive wraparound frame construction that defines th...

Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Massimo and Lella Vignelli

Materials

Leather, Lacquer

Browse all Furniture from Massimo and Lella Vignelli

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Massimo and Lella Vignelli Sale Prices

Sold Date

Sold Price

Category

Material

Creation Year

2026	$5,382	Dining Room Tables	Metal, Glass	Anni 80
2026	$495	Dinner Plates	Plastic	circa 1980
2026	$1,275	Side Chairs	Steel, Fiberglass	1985
2026	$4,708	Coffee and Cocktail Tables	Glass, Marble	1979
2025	$7,410	Dining Room Tables	Marble	1970s
2025	$5,087	Coffee and Cocktail Tables	Copper, Glass, Marble	circa 1986
2025	$5,295	Coffee and Cocktail Tables	Stone, Glass	1970s
2025	$337	Dinner Plates	Plastic	circa 1980
2025	$7,480	Club Chairs, Lounge Chairs	Fabric, Wood	20th Century
2025	$8,171	Sofas	Faux Leather, Wood, Lacquer	circa 1978
2025	$4,100	Dining Room Tables	Travertine	1970s

$4,522

Average sold price of items in the past 12 months

$337-$8,171

Sold price range of items in the past 12 months

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The Italian Husband-and-Wife Duo Who Redefined Design in America

For six decades, the multidisciplinary New York City studio of Massimo and Lella Vignelli produced some of the most powerful visual expressions of our age, from graphics to jewelry to furniture.

Massimo And Lella Vignelli furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Massimo and Lella Vignelli furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of glass and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Massimo and Lella Vignelli furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 82 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 15 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by Massimo and Lella Vignelli were created in the mid-century modern style in italy during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Giovanni Offredi, Bernini, and Pier Luigi Colli. Prices for Massimo and Lella Vignelli furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $175 and can go as high as $37,200, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $5,579.

Questions About Massimo and Lella Vignelli

What was Massimo Vignelli most famous for?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertJanuary 19, 2025
Massimo Vignelli was perhaps most famous for the Handkerchief chair, a stackable office chair made of compression-molded plastic that has the look of a cloth floating in the air. It was created for Knoll in 1983. Vignelli and his wife, Lella Vignelli, are also legendary names in branding and were prolific creators of home furnishings, products and interiors. The duo’s modernist furniture collaborations, which spanned 50 years, also left a profound mark on design and wider visual culture. Furniture created by the couple is often labeled as Massimo Vignelli’s alone. However, he fought to have Lella recognized for her work, even throwing away magazines that neglected to give her due credit. Explore a range of Massimo Vignelli furniture on 1stDibs.