Massimo Vignelli and Lella Vignelli are legendary names in branding and were prolific creators of home furnishings, products and interiors. The duo’s modernist furniture collaborations, which span 50 years, have also left a profound mark on design and wider visual culture. Furniture created by the couple 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 Massimo 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.”
After meeting in Italy, Lella (1934–2016) and Massimo 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.
Many of the Vignellis’ designs are considered modern masterpieces and are included in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York and other important institutions.
Find vintage Massimo Vignelli furniture today on 1stDibs.
VENINI - MASSIMO VIGNELLI - Murano glass chandelier - ITALY 1950s.
By Venini, Massimo Vignelli
Located in Milano, IT
VENINI -MASSIMO VIGNELLI - beautiful original murano glass chandelier 1950s . Perfect condition ,has been electrified and cleaned the brass
Brass
Multicolour glass pendant by Massimo Vignelli for Venini, 1950s
By Venini, Massimo Vignelli
Located in Rotterdam, NL
Hand-blown multicolour Model 4035 pendant designed by Massimo Vignelli at the start of his impressive career in design and produced by Murano glass specialist Venini. The model is al...
Brass
$3,120Sale Price / set|20% Off
Vintage Set of Six Handkerchief Armchairs by Vignelli for Knoll
By Massimo Vignelli, Knoll
Located in Pasadena, TX
Vintage set of (8) eight Knoll Handkerchief armchairs by Massimo Vignelli Inspired by the lightness and organic ease of a handkerchief drifting ...
Chrome
Set of 3 Multicolor Pendants by Massimo Vignelli for Venini, Italy, Mod. 4035
By Venini, Massimo Vignelli
Located in Argelato, BO
Rare and extraordinary set of 3 hand-blown multicolour Model 4035 pendants designed by Massimo Vignelli at the start of his impressive career in design and produced by Murano glass s...
Murano Glass
1964 MoMA Massimo & Lella Vignelli 11 Stackable Color Plates Heller Design
By Massimo Vignelli
Located in Chula Vista, CA
1964 MoMA Massimo & Lella Vignelli 11 Stackable Color Plates Heller Design 9.88 diameter x 1 h Preowned vintage condition See all images.
Plastic
Massimo Vignelli Pendant lamp
By Massimo Vignelli
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Massimo Vignelli fasce pendant lamp manufactured by venini
Blown Glass
Massimo Vignelli for Venini A Cane Pendant Lamp
By Massimo Vignelli
Located in New York, NY
A Cane Pendant lamp, model #4034, from a design by Massimo Vignelli for Venini, c. 1955. Internally decorated glass. Remnant of original Venini paper label affixed. Additional infor...
Brass
Large "Fungo" table lamp by Massimo Vignelli, Venini 1950's
By Venini, Massimo Vignelli
Located in Renens, CH
Large "Fungo" table lamp by Massimo Vignelli, Venini 1950's Iconic Fungo table lamp designed by Massimo Vignelli for Venini also called Zefiro in the Venini catalogue. This is the ...
Murano Glass, Blown Glass
Green, Yellow and White Dinnerware by Vignelli for Heller, Set of 32
By Massimo and Lella Vignelli, Massimo Vignelli, Heller
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...
Plastic
Lella and Massimo Vignelli Handkerchief Stacking Chairs, Set of 4 Knoll Chairs
By Massimo Vignelli, Knoll
Located in Miami, FL
Set of 4 Knoll Handkerchief Chairs, Lella and Massimo Vignelli Handkerchief Chairs Introduced in 1983, these chairs are very resilient wit...
Steel
No. 4029 Pendant by Massimo Vignelli for Venini
By Massimo Vignelli, Venini
Located in New York, NY
Blown glass, brass. Internally decorated blown glass shade. Brass mounts and 1 x E26 socket.
Brass
"F" Crystal Letter by Massimo Vignelli for Venini, Italy, 1980s
By Venini, Massimo Vignelli
Located in Milan, IT
"F" crystal and colored capital letter by Massimo Vignelli for Venini. Part of the "NEON" collection, with original fabric case. Also available from the same collection four other le...
Murano Glass
Set of 4 Handkerchief Armchairs by Massimo Vignelli for Knoll
By Massimo Vignelli, Knoll
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of 4 handkerchief armchairs by Massimo Vignelli for Knoll. In 1968 Vignelli was contracted by Knoll to re-envision the corporate identity ...
Steel, Chrome
Set of 4 Handkerchief Armchairs by Massimo Vignelli for Knoll
By Knoll, Massimo Vignelli
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of 4 handkerchief armchairs by Massimo Vignelli for Knoll. In 1968 Vignelli was contracted by Knoll to re-envision the corporate identity ...
Steel, Chrome
Set of 2 Cobalt Murano Glass Pendant Lights by Massimo Vignelli for Venini, 1960
By Massimo Vignelli, Venini
Located in Rijssen, NL
A beautiful and unique set of cobalt blue glass pendant lights, made in the 1960s by Massimo Vignelli for Venini. The lampshade is made of blue opaline glass with an inner white glaz...
Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Opaline Glass
Model 526/p table lamp by Massimo Vignelli for Arteluce, 1960s Italy.
By Massimo Vignelli, Arteluce
Located in Landgraaf, NL
Model 526/p table lamp by Massimo Vignelli for Arteluce, 1960s Italy. This iconic lamp is design for Gino sarfatti’s Arteluce in 1965. Made of 3 bent chrome metal sheets that each ho...
Metal, Chrome
Set of 4 Handkerchief Armchairs by Massimo Vignelli for Knoll
By Knoll, Massimo Vignelli
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Set of 4 handkerchief armchairs by Massimo Vignelli for Knoll. In 1968 Vignelli was contracted by Knoll to re-envision the corporate identity ...
Steel, Chrome
Pair of A Fasce Verticale Ceiling Lamps, Model 4040 Venini
By Massimo Vignelli
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Massimo Vignelli hanging pendants. Model #4040 with affixed original stickers marked 9132. Additional information: Materials: Glass Documentation: Ample Provenance Notes: Ve...
Glass
Massimo Vignelli x Supreme x Heller Bowls, Red, White, 1964, Spring 2023
By Supreme, Massimo Vignelli, Heller
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Massimo Vignelli x Supreme x Heller Bowls, Red, White, 1964, Spring 2023. New in original boxes. Set of 12. 6 red + 6 white (as pictured). Made exclusively for Supreme. Spring Summer 2023. This iconic dinnerware design was originally released in 1964 by designer Massimo Vignelli in Italy and won that year’s Compasso d’Oro award for good design. It swiftly became a touchstone of modern design and has been called an “icon of sixties utilitarian chic.” It was introduced to the United States in 1971 and has never been out of production, with the manufacturer still using its original molds. According to Vignelli, the inspiration for Hellerware came from seeing a client using plastic molds...
Plastic
$7,661Sale Price|30% Off
Poltrona Frau CEO Cube Meeting Table
By Massimo Vignelli, Poltrona Frau
Located in Basildon, London
Introducing the CEO Cube Meeting Table by Poltrona Frau, a luxurious addition to any modern office space. Crafted with the finest materials, this sleek and sophisticated table exudes...
Metal
Large Orange Hand Blown Fungo Table Lamp by Massimo Vignelli for Venini, 1950s
By Venini, Massimo Vignelli
Located in Rotterdam, NL
A hand blown orange colored glass Fungo table lamp designed by Massimo Vignelli at the start of his impressive career in design and executed by Murano glass specialist Venini. This is the largest size of the Fungo table lamp. The Fungo lamp...
Murano Glass
"Striade" Murano Glass Floor Lamp by Massimo Vignelli for Venini, Italy, 1950s
By Massimo Vignelli, Venini
Located in Milan, IT
"Striade" standard lamp by Massimo Vignelli for Venini. A large hand blown milky glass shade with red, green and blue stripes on crystal top edge.
Metal
"N" "E" "O" "N" Crystal Letters by Massimo Vignelli for Venini, Italy, 1980s
By Massimo Vignelli, Venini
Located in Milan, IT
N, E, O, N crystal and colored capital letters by Massimo Vignelli for Venini. Complete display set for Neon collection.
Murano Glass
Massimo Vignelli, Lampada a sospensione, prod. Venini anni '50
By Massimo Vignelli, Venini
Located in Rivoli, IT
Lampada a sospensione in vetro opalino e colorato disegnato da Massimo Vignelli e prodotto da Venti ì, anni '50
Brass
Venini Ceiling Pendant by Massimo Vignelli
By Massimo Vignelli
Located in New York, NY
Fasce Verticale ceiling lamp, model #4038 Venini Cataogue, c. 1955. Beige on white. This pendant works well as a single or could be paired with other Vignelli for Venini pendants w...
Brass
1965 Arteluce Large Chrome & Acrylic Table Lamp by Massimo Vignelli Italy
By Massimo Vignelli, Arteluce
Located in Miami, FL
Mid-Century Modern 1965 Arteluce Model 526/G large Chrome & Acrylic table lamp by Massimo Vignelli Italy. Concave chrome base holds 3 Light socket and topped with large white Lucite...
Chrome
21st Century Fungo Massimo Table Lamp in Grey/Milk-White by Vignelli
By Massimo Vignelli, Venini
Located in murano, IT
How can such a complex and sophisticated technique like "Canne" (canes) give life to such a natural and spontaneous shape? Only Massimo Vignelli knows. Designed in 1956, this unique ...
Glass
21st Century Fungo Pendant Light in Grey/Milk-White by Massimo Vignelli
By Venini, Massimo Vignelli
Located in murano, IT
How can such a complex and sophisticated technique like "Canne" (canes) give life to such a natural and spontaneous shape? Only Massimo Vignelli knows. Designed in 1956, this unique ...
Glass
White and Red Glass Pendant by Massimo Vignelli for Venini, 1950s
By Massimo Vignelli, Venini
Located in Rotterdam, NL
Hand blown white and red glass pendant no. 011.11 designed by Massimo Vignelli at the start of his impressive career in design and executed by Mura...
Brass