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.
"F" Crystal Letter by Massimo Vignelli for Venini, Italy, 1980s
By Massimo Vignelli, Venini
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
"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
$358
H 7.68 in W 5.12 in D 1.97 in
Italian modern Murano glass fish sculpture by Fulvio Bianconi for Venini, 1990s
By Venini, Fulvio Bianconi
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian modern Murano glass fish sculpture by Fulvio Bianconi for Venini, 1990s Fantastic and vintage fish-shaped sculpture, entirely made of Murano glass. The open mouth is yellow, ...
Glass, Murano Glass
$191Sale Price / set|64% Off
H 5.91 in W 3.15 in D 7.88 in
Glass Duck Sculptures, Crystal with 24-Carat Gold, Italy, 1980s
Located in Den Haag, NL
Two adorable little ducks. Made in Italy, 1980s. Hollywood Regency style. Chrystal glass with 24-carat gold. Very nice set. Excellent condition.
Crystal
$1,433 / item
H 8.67 in Dm 19.69 in
Pisolino Ceramic Sculpture by Massimo Giacon for Superego Editions, Italy
By Massimo Giacon, Superego Editions
Located in Milan, Italy
Limited edition ceramic part of "The Pop Will Eat Himself" designed by Massimo Giacon and produced by Superego editions, Italy. Signed and numbered. Biography Massimo Giacon was bo...
Ceramic
$12,034 / item
H 7.49 in W 11.82 in D 7.49 in
Venini Anatre Glass Duck Sculpture in Black & Crystal by Toni Zuccheri
By Venini, Toni Zuccheri
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Venini Anatre sculpture by Toni Zuccheri. Numbered edition for year. Sculpture hand-blown glass. Technique: Beaten, Canes and Filigree, Engraved Dimensions: Ø 30 cm, H 19 cm Y...
Blown Glass
$1,792 / item
H 14.57 in W 16.54 in D 16.54 in
Crucified Ceramic Sculpture by Massimo Giacon for Superego Editions, Italy
By Massimo Giacon, Superego Editions
Located in Milan, Italy
Limited edition ceramic sculpture part of the "Pop Will Eat Himself" designed by Massimo Giacon and produced by Superego editions, Italy. Signed and numbered. Biography Massimo Gia...
Ceramic
$1,911 / item
H 27.56 in W 11.82 in D 9.45 in
Coniglieschio Ceramic Sculpture by Massimo Giacon for Superego Editions, Italy
By Massimo Giacon, Superego Editions
Located in Milan, Italy
Coniglieschio model glazed ceramic sculpture from The Pop Will Eat Himself Collection by Massimo Giacon for Superego Editions. Limited edition of 50 pieces. Signed and numbered. Biography Massimo Giacon was born in Padova in 1961. Since 1980 he has been working in Milan, as a comic strip writer, illustrator, designer, artist and musician. Since the early 1980 he has contributed in the renovation of the Italian comic...
Ceramic
$1,792 / item
H 26.38 in W 13.78 in D 9.85 in
Woodbear Ceramic Sculpture by Massimo Giacon for Superego Editions, Italy
By Massimo Giacon, Superego Editions
Located in Milan, Italy
Limited edition ceramic part of "The Pop Will Eat Himself" designed by Massimo Giacon and produced by Superego Editions. Signed and numbered. Biography Massimo Giacon was born in P...
Ceramic
$191Sale Price / set|64% Off
H 8.67 in W 2.76 in D 4.34 in
Crystal Elephant Bookends, Hollywood Regency Style, 1980s
Located in Den Haag, NL
Two adorable little Elephants. 1980. Hollywood Regency style. Chrystal glass with 24-carat gold. Very nice bookends. Excellent condition. Smaller one h...
Crystal
$17,545 / item
H 21.26 in W 5.32 in D 5.32 in
Venini Ando Time Hourglass in Crystal and Aquamarine by Tadao Ando
By Venini, Tadao Ando
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Ando time hourglass, designed by Tadao Ando and manufactured by Venini, is a limited edition of 49 art pieces (per color) plus an additional 20 P.d.A. a...
Glass
Royal Crystal Rock Crystal "Ballerina" Sculpture, Italy, 1980s
Located in Roma, IT
Realized in 1980s by an italian manufacture in Colle Val D'Elsa (Siena). Crystal with 28% lead. Very good condition.
Crystal
Murano Glass Egg by Venini for 50° Anniversary Confartigianato, Italy 1997
By Venini
Located in Rome, IT
Amazing egg with white and grey twisted cane decorations by Venini for 50th anniversary of Confartigianato in 1997. A classic Murano manufacture, the egg remains a status symbol for...
Murano Glass, Art Glass
$10,394
H 34.65 in W 44.49 in D 13.39 in
Large Marble Sculpture by Angelo Mangiarotti for Skipper, Italy, 1980s
By Angelo Mangiarotti
Located in Brussels, BE
Large Marble Sculpture by Angelo Mangiarotti for Skipper, Italy, 1980s
Marble, Metal