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.
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'Wagneriana' Floor Lamp by Lella and Massimo Vignelli
By Massimo and Lella Vignelli
Located in Los Angeles, CA
'Wagneriana' marble floor lamp by Lella and Massimo Vignelli. Designed and manufactured in Italy, 1986. A monolithic black marble floor lamp adorned with a brass bowl-shaped shade. T...
Marble, Brass, Copper
Massimo Vignelli for Venini Yellow Onion Glass Uplighter Wall Sconce
By Venini, Massimo and Lella Vignelli
Located in Hanover, MA
Since yellow Murano glass wall lamp designed by Massimo Vignelli for Venini, mid-1950s. Original hefty brass wall bracket. Porcelain socket for single standard Edison screw lightbulb...
Brass
Massimo & Lella Vignelli, Floor Lamp in Copper & Marble, Wagneriana, Italy, 1986
By Massimo and Lella Vignelli
Located in Odense, DK
The "Wagneriana" floor lamp, a masterpiece of design crafted by the renowned Italian duo Massimo & Lella Vignelli in 1986, seamlessly blends the timeless elegance of copper and marble to create a truly fascinating piece of functional art. The Wagneriana floor lamp...
Marble, Copper
Massimo & Lella Vignelli “Sette Magie” Floor Lamp for Morphos, 1970
By Morphos, Massimo and Lella Vignelli
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Massimo & Lella Vignelli “Sette Magie” floor lamp for Morphos, gold leaf and metal, Italy, 1970. The “Sette Magie” floor lamp from Massimo & Lella Vignelli for Morphos repre...
Gold Leaf
Martinelli Luce Metafora 1979 Table by Lella and Massimo Vignelli
By Massimo and Lella Vignelli, Martinelli Luce
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The four forms of the Euclidean geometry, the cube, the cylinder, the sphere and the pyramid, made of four different marbles, represent the basis of the table finished with a big she...
Carrara Marble
Massimo & Lella Vignelli “Sette Magie” Floor Lamps for Morphos, 1970, Set of 2
By Massimo and Lella Vignelli, Morphos
Located in Lonigo, Veneto
Massimo & Lella Vignelli “Sette Magie” floor lamps for Morphos, gold leaf and metal, Italy, 1970, set of two. This pair of “Sette Magie” floor lamps from Massimo & Lella Vig...
Metal, Gold Leaf
Marble Floor Lamp "Wagneriana" by Lella and Massimo Vignelli
By Massimo and Lella Vignelli
Located in Brussels, BE
Marble Floor Lamp "Wagneriana" by Lella and Massimo Vignelli The "Wagneriana" floor lamp, a masterpiece of design crafted by the renowned Italian duo Massimo & Lella Vignelli in 1986, seamlessly blends the timeless elegance of copper and marble to create a truly fascinating piece of functional art. The Wagneriana floor lamp...
Marble, Copper
Vintage First Edit Table Metafora by Massimo Vignelli for Martinelli Italy, 1970
By Massimo and Lella Vignelli
Located in Biella, IT
Metafora by Martinelli Italy design Massimo Vignelli year ’70 This large coffee table is the really first edition original for measure the glass s...
Travertine, Carrara Marble
Midcentury Floor Lamp, 1970s
Located in Praha, CZ
- Made in Czechoslovakia - Made of metal - Fully functional - 1x E26 or E27 socket - Good, original condition.
Metal
1970s Lightolier floor lamp
By Lightolier
Located in Montréal, QC
Lightolier floor lamp, 1970s. Enameled composite metal head, chromed steel stem, enameled steel foot. 40 to 60 watt E-26 Edison medium base incandescent bulb or higher if LED/CFL. ...
Aluminum, Steel, Chrome
Chandelier Mod. "1800" Design Elio Martinelli for Martinelli Luce, 1970s
By Elio Martinelli, Martinelli Luce
Located in taranto, IT
Rare "1800" model chandelier designed by Elio Martinelli for Martinelli Luce, 1970s made of acrylic with aluminum elements it measures 60 cm in diameter by 60 cm in height, bey...
Aluminum
Postmodern Vertebrae Floor Lamp by Elio Martinelli for Martinelli Luce
By Elio Martinelli
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
1980s Postmodern Vertebrae floor lamp by Elio Martinelli Flex floor lamp, also known as Vertebrae, Model 2164 by Elio Martinelli for Martinelli Luce. The lamp is full flexible with swivel shade. Organic shape of the flexible arm is similar to a human spine. First designed for the Turin exhibition 1970. metal base and bracket, "backbone" body movable in both rotation and bending, Condition: Good working order, minor scratches to hood and some cracks (Please see pictures) Given the age, this vintage lamp in good condition, normal usage by age. Normal cap into E27 / Max. 100W. Material: plastic, aluminum, metal and chrome. Marked: Martinelli Luce. Martinelli Flex desk lamp...
Metal
Mezzoracolo Table of Floor Lamp by Gae Aulenti for Artemide, 1970s
By Gae Aulenti, Artemide
Located in Rotterdam, NL
Mezzoracolo table or floor lamp by Italian architect Gae Aulenti, executed by Artemide. This is the smaller version, but it is still 67 cm high. The other version is named Oracolo, a...
Metal
1970s Floor lamp , Hungary
Located in Praha, CZ
- Good original condition with minor signs of use - In working order - E26-E27bulb - US wiring compatible
Chrome
Venini Art Glass Bowl 'Diamante' by Paolo Venini, Murano 1930s
By Venini, Paolo Venini
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Venini Art Glass Bowl 'Diamante' by Paolo Venini, Murano 1930s A rare Venini art glass bowl of the 'Diamante' series. Heavy transparent glass with a ...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
Italian White Acrylic Table Lamp by Elio Martinelli
By Martinelli Luce, Elio Martinelli
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Polish white Acrylic “Flogia” table lamp design in the 1969 by Italian designer Elio Martinelli. It takes one regular 60m max Edison lightbulb. On/off in line switch. In beauti...
Acrylic
$811
H 23.63 in W 23.63 in D 5.91 in
Bolla Flush Mount or Wall Lamp by E. Martinelli for Martinelli Luce, 1960s
By Elio Martinelli, Martinelli Luce
Located in Antwerp, BE
Mid-Century Modern Bolla light by E. Martinelli.This timeless design Classic wall lamp was designed by Elio Martinelli for Martinelli Luce in 1960.Th...
Aluminum
Venini Art Glass Vase with Inciso Decoration Paolo Venini, Murano 1956
By Venini, Paolo Venini
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Venini Art Glass vase with Inciso Decoration Paolo Venini, Murano 1956 A vintage art glass vase in erba pesante (grass green) glass with layered...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
Chrome and Black Floor lamp by Robert Sonneman
By Robert Sonneman
Located in Palm Springs, CA
1960’s three polish chrome and black lacquered floor lamp by Robert Sonneman. Newly rewire, with new rotating switch. It takes three 75w max Edison light bulbs. Wired for US. Dim...
Chrome
$2,125
H 3.35 in Dm 20.08 in
Very Large Vetro Soffiato Glass Dish by Vittorio Zecchin for Venini Murano
By Venini, Vittorio Zecchin
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Very large Vetro Soffiato glass dish by Vittorio Zecchin for Venini Murano ca. 1925 A very large 'vetro soffiato' glass dish in amethyst transparent glass, designed by Vittorio Zecchin in 1925 and manufactured by Venini, Murano Venice. Acid stamped signature 'venini murano' on the base. Venini model number 1306. The dish has been manufactured in different sizes, this is the larges version which is very rare. One of the early 20th century designs of Zecchin for Cappellin and Venini which motivated the muranese glass companies to set out for new shores. Good condition with some surface scratches. The last picture shows it together with a mid size version with 14.29" inches as comparison of the sizes. Measures: Height: 3.35" (8.5 cm) Diameter: 20.08" (51 cm) Literature Reference: Marino Barovier, Vittorio Zecchin: Transparent Glass for Cappellin and Venini, Milano 2017, pages 326, 336 and 357 Vittorio Zecchin (1878 - 1947) was a native Muranese and son of a glasswork technician. He graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Venice. Together with the painter Teodoro Wolf Ferrari...
Art Glass
Sold
H 70.48 in W 9.85 in D 9.85 in
Mid Century Floor Lamp in Travertine, Chrome and Murano Glass by Venini, 1970s
By Venini, Massimo and Lella Vignelli
Located in Zagreb, HR
A Mid-century Modern floor lamp by Massimo & Lella Vignelli for Venini, consisting of three individual lamps, made from a travertine base, metal stem, and Murano glass globes. Sold a...
Travertine, Metal
Mid Century Venini Sigaro Pendant Light c 1950's
By Venini, Massimo and Lella Vignelli
Located in New York, NY
Stunning Massimo Vignelli designed Sigaro pendant shade, made by Venini, circa 1950's. The oblong glass shade has a blue body with a polychrome tip ( like a lit cigar ). This example...
Art Glass
Table Lamp "526g" by Massimo Vignelli for Arteluce, 1960s
By Arteluce, Massimo and Lella Vignelli
Located in bruxelles, BE
Lamp with metal leg and white Plexiglass shade. Wear due to time and age of the lamp. Stamped Arteluce.
Metal
Wagneriana Floor Lamp by Lella and Massimo Vignelli
By Massimo and Lella Vignelli
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wagneriana marble floor lamp by Lella and Massimo Vignelli. Designed and manufactured in Italy, 1986. A monolithic black marble floor lamp a...
Marble, Brass, Copper
Sold
H 70.87 in W 15.75 in D 15.75 in
Floor Lamp with Travertine Feet, Metal and Murano Glass Globes by Vignelli
By Massimo and Lella Vignelli
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid Century 3 parts Floor Lamp with travertine feet, metal and Murano glass globes by Massimo and Lella Vignelli for Venini - Italy 1970s.
Travertine, Metal
Sold
H 70.01 in W 19.49 in D 19.49 in
Marble Floor Lamp "Wagneriana" by Lella and Massimo Vignelli, Italy, 1980s
By Massimo and Lella Vignelli
Located in Brussels, BE
Marble floor lamp "Wagneriana" by Lella and Massimo Vignelli, Italy, 1980s.
Marble
Massimo Vignelli Fringe Chandelier for Arteluce 1964 Model 2049/4
By Arteluce, Massimo and Lella Vignelli
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Massimo Vignelli Fringe chandelier for Arteluce 1964. Both Frattini and Vignelli designed lighting for Arteluce. Vignelli designed chandeliers in various designs, ceiling mounted and...
Aluminum
Massimo Vignelli Sigaro Pendant Lamps Venini Italy 1950s
By Paolo Venini, Massimo and Lella Vignelli
Located in London, GB
Opaline glass pendant lamp with colored bands also known as the "Sigaro" model 4035 Designed by Massimo Vignelli for Venini Murano glass 1954-1955.
Blown Glass
Massimo Vignelli Sigaro Pendant Lamps Venini, Italy, 1950s
By Paolo Venini, Massimo and Lella Vignelli
Located in London, GB
Opaline glass pendant lamp with colored bands also known as the "Sigaro" model 4035 Designed by Massimo Vignelli for Venini Murano glass, 1954-1955.
Blown Glass
Floor Lamp Model 'Wagneriana' by Lella And Massimo Vignelli
By Massimo and Lella Vignelli
Located in Brussels, BE
Floor lamp model 'Wagneriana' by Lella and Massimo Vignelli.
Marble
Sold
H 15.75 in Dm 15.75 in
Elegant Large Tessuto Pendant Lamp by Massimo & Lella Vignelli for Venini, 1970s
By Venini, Massimo and Lella Vignelli
Located in München, DE
Beautiful large Italian Tessuto pendant lamp by Massimo & Lella Vignelli. Made by Venini Italy from the 1970s. Great Minimalist Italian design. Makes a very nice pleasant light. T...
Brass
Italian Venini Pendant Light by Massimo Vignelli
By Massimo and Lella Vignelli
Located in Tarrytown, NY
Italian venini pendant light by Massimo Vigelli.
Glass
