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.
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 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
$1,980Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 32 in W 26 in D 21 in
Set of Four Armchairs by Ettore Sottsass for Knoll Memphis Era
By Ettore Sottsass, Knoll
Located in San Diego, CA
Nice set of four Mandarin chairs designed by Sottsass for Knoll, in red fabric on foam black enameled tubular legs and silver pipping arms, simple and elegant by this master architect.
Metal
$5,920Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 16 in W 26 in D 21.25 in
Set of 6 Tulip Armchairs by Eero Saarinen for Knoll, plumb upholstery, 1960's
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Chicago, IL
Eero Saarinen Tulip armchairs, with plumb upholstery. Knoll Associates, 1960's Set of 6 chairs Manufacturer "320 Park Avenue" labels attached underneath cushions, which dates back t...
Fiberglass
$5,995 / set
H 32 in W 23.25 in D 23 in
Set of Four Bentwood Upholstered Armchairs by Bill Stephens for Knoll
By Knoll, Bill Stephens
Located in Dallas, TX
This incredible armchair set, model 1305-U, is the works of the legendary mid-century artist: William 'Bill' Stephens, the young Knoll designer whose 1300 series of chairs took off a...
Bentwood, Upholstery
Set of 4 Black Leather and Chrome "Brno" Armchairs
By Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Knoll
Located in Buffalo, NY
Set of 4 black leather and chrome "Brno" armchairs. Nice original condition, unknown maker, possibly Italian, quality construction,.
Chrome
$7,955 / set
H 31.5 in W 33.47 in D 31.5 in
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Ocher Model 65A Armchairs by Florence Knoll, 1960s
By Florence Knoll, Knoll
Located in GORINCHEM, NL
Designed by Florence Knoll in 1956, model 65A Lounge Chair is one of the most recognizable and enduring expressions of mid-century modern design. Influenced by the clean lines and ra...
Chrome
Four Bill Stephens For Knoll Black Lacquered Armchairs
By Bill Stephens, Knoll
Located in Dallas, TX
This vintage set of 1300 Series armchairs designed by William 'Bill' Stephens for Knoll. The unique style of Stephens feature gorgeous bent wood frames. Previously lacquered and re-u...
Velvet, Wood
$2,400Sale Price / set|38% Off
H 29 in W 26 in D 22.5 in
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
$6,250 / set
H 31.75 in W 25.75 in D 22 in
Set of Six Mandarin Dining Chairs by Ettore Sottsass for Knoll
By Knoll, Ettore Sottsass
Located in Kansas City, MO
Set of six dining chairs designed by Ettore Sottsass, the founder of the Memphis Group, Milan, Italy. These chairs are in very good completely original condition. Super sturdy constr...
Steel
$2,880Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 31.5 in W 22.75 in D 22.5 in
Set of 4 Mies Van Der Rohe for Knoll Brno Chairs in Cato Upholstery 60 available
By Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Knoll
Located in Hudson, NY
Set of 4 Knoll Brno chairs designed by Mies Van der Rohe. These chairs are upholstered in Knoll's Cato upholstery. Color is 'natural'- which reads as a pale oatmeal color. These chai...
Steel
$10,926 / set
H 32.29 in W 26.38 in D 20.48 in
Armchairs by Eero Saarinen for Knoll Swiss Production, 1970s – Set of 4
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Renens, CH
A set of four iconic “Pedestal” swivel armchairs designed by Eero Saarinen for Knoll International, produced in Switzerland during the 1970s. Each chair features a molded white fibe...
Aluminum
Single Handkerchief Chair Designed by Vignelli for Knoll Studio
By Knoll, Massimo Vignelli
Located in San Diego, CA
Single iconic chair designed by Massimo Vignelli for Knoll, circa 1996, for Knoll studio great condition complete with rubbers, the seats are very clean this chair is nice and comfy....
Metal
$800 / set
H 29 in W 22 in D 22 in
Handkerchief Chairs in White by Massimo Vignelli for Knoll Post Modern a Pair
By Massimo Vignelli, Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Iconic design by Massimo Vignelli for Knoll. These ethereal chairs, seeming floating in air are fully labeled with an embossed Knoll, Vignelli design and a paper Knoll Label. This...
Fiberglass
$465Sale Price / item|28% 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...
Steel
Set of 18 Mies Van Der Rohe Tubular Brno Chairs by Knoll
By Knoll
Located in Dallas, TX
Completely restored set of eighteen tubular Brno chairs by Mies van der Rohe for Knoll. Professionally re-upholstered in camel color and the chrome is in great condition. "Knoll Inte...
Chrome
$3,305 / set
H 28.75 in W 23.5 in D 21 in
Massimo Vignelli for Knoll International Postmodern Handkerchief Chairs, Twelve
By Massimo Vignelli, Knoll
Located in South Bend, IN
A stylish set of twelve Postmodern stacking "handkerchief" chairs By Massimo Vignelli for Knoll International USA, 1980s Molded fiberglass seat...
Steel
Sold
H 23.63 in W 35.44 in D 35.44 in
Massimo Vignelli for Poltronova Pair of "Saratoga" Cube Armchairs, Italy 1960s
By Poltronova, Massimo Vignelli
Located in Naples, IT
Pair of armchairs mod. Saratoga in white lacquered wood with cushions in beautiful purple-red fabric. If you can design one thing, you can design everything, said Massimo Vignelli (1...
Fabric, Wood
Postmodern Sunar Hauserman Rotunda Tub Chair by Massimo Vignelli 1979
By Massimo Vignelli, Sunar
Located in Baltimore, MD
Captivating Postmodern Rotunda vintage barrel back "guest" armchair by Massimo Vignelli for Sunar Hauserman,1979. It features a gently curved back and sides with floating seat fully ...
Steel
Sold
H 29.5 in W 26.38 in D 22.4 in
Set of Four Lella and Massimo Vignelli "Handkerchief" Armchairs for Knoll
By Massimo Vignelli, Knoll
Located in Miami, FL
Four bright yellow sculpted dining or office chairs on a black enameled steel frame with cushion armrests by Lella and Massimo Vignelli for Knoll.
Steel
Set of Four Massimo Vignelli Handkerchief Armchairs
By Massimo Vignelli
Located in Brooklyn, NY
manufactured by Knoll
Steel