Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
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.
Early 2000s Italian Modern Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Aluminum
1980s Italian Art Deco Vintage Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Marble, Copper
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Travertine, Copper
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Fabric, Wood, Lacquer
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Leather, Polyester
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Marble
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Leather, Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Minimalist Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Carrara Marble, Chrome
1970s Post-Modern Vintage Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Marble
1970s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Marble
1990s American Post-Modern Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Steel
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Modern Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Carrara Marble
1980s Canadian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Fabric
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Plastic
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Plastic
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Plastic
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Glass
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Leather, Wood, Lacquer
Late 20th Century Canadian Post-Modern Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Fabric, Wood
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Plastic
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Leather, Wood
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Plastic
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Steel
1980s American Modern Vintage Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Steel
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Marble
Late 20th Century Mid-Century Modern Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Plastic
1970s European Mid-Century Modern Vintage Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Travertine, Marble
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Steel
Late 20th Century Mid-Century Modern Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Cotton, Wood
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Plastic
Mid-20th Century Post-Modern Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Plastic
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Wood, Leather
1970s Canadian Post-Modern Vintage Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Steel
1980s Italian Modern Vintage Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Leather
21st Century and Contemporary Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Marble
1960s Italian Vintage Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Leather, Lacquer
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Plastic
1990s American Modern Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Metal
Late 20th Century Post-Modern Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Plastic
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Marble
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Leather
1960s Italian Modern Vintage Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Steel
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Polyester, Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Wood, Lacquer
Mid-20th Century Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Metal
1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Leather, Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Wood, Lacquer
1980s Italian Modern Vintage Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Leather, Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Leather, Wood, Lacquer
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Aluminum
Late 20th Century Italian Post-Modern Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Marble
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Leather, Wood, Lacquer
1980s Italian Post-Modern Vintage Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Leather
1980s Italian Modern Vintage Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Leather, Upholstery
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Metal, Gold Leaf
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Massimo and Lella Vignelli Furniture
Metal, Gold Leaf