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.
$1,195 / set
H 1 in Dm 9.75 in
Massimo Vignelli for Heller Dinnerware 20 Large Plates and 20 Small Plates Light
By Massimo Vignelli
Located in Topeka, KS
Wonderful set of 20 large 10-inch dinner plates and 20 smaller 8-inch salad plates in light yellow by Massimo Vignelli for Heller. Beautiful conditio...
Plastic
Massimo Vignelli for Heller Mid Century Modern Plates and Mugs for Six
By Massimo and Lella Vignelli, Heller
Located in Chesterfield, NJ
Iconic sixties design by Massimo and Lella Vignelli of stacking plates and mugs manufactured by Heller. This set consists of 6 dinner plates and 6 mugs in a sunshine yellow color. Al...
Plastic
$300 / set
H 0.79 in Dm 7.49 in
Massimo Vignelli for Heller, Italy, a Set of 8 Plates in Yellow Melamine
Located in København, Copenhagen
Massimo Vignelli for Heller, Italy. A set of 8 plates in yellow melamine. 1970/80s. Stackable. In excellent condition. Marked. Measures: D 19,5 x...
Other
$300 / set
H 0.79 in Dm 7.49 in
Massimo Vignelli for Heller, Italy, a Set of 6 Plates in Yellow Melamine
Located in København, Copenhagen
Massimo Vignelli for Heller, Italy. A set of 6 plates in yellow melamine. 1970/80s. Stackable. In excellent condition. Marked. D 19,5 x H 2,0 cm.
Other
$200 / set
H 0.79 in Dm 7.49 in
Massimo Vignelli for Heller, Italy, a Set of 4 Plates in Yellow Melamine
Located in København, Copenhagen
Massimo Vignelli for Heller, Italy. A set of 4 plates in yellow melamine. 1970/80s. Stackable. In excellent condition. Marked. D 19,5 x H 2,0 cm.
Other
Massimo Vignelli x Supreme x Heller Bowls, Red, White, 1964, Spring 2023
By Heller, Massimo Vignelli, Supreme
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
$240 / set
H 0.79 in Dm 9.85 in
Massimo Vignelli for Heller, Italy. A set of 4 dinner plates in yellow melamine
Located in København, Copenhagen
Massimo Vignelli for Heller, Italy. A set of 4 dinner plates in yellow melamine. 1970/80s. Stackable. In excellent condition. Marked. D 25.0 x H 2.5 cm.
Other
$360 / set
H 0.79 in Dm 9.85 in
Massimo Vignelli for Heller, Italy, a Set of 6 Dinner Plates in Yellow Melamine
Located in København, Copenhagen
Massimo Vignelli for Heller, Italy. A set of 6 dinner plates in yellow melamine. 1970/80s. Stackable. In excellent condition. Marked. D 25.0 x H 2.5 cm.
Other
$480 / set
H 0.79 in Dm 9.85 in
Massimo Vignelli for Heller Italien, a Set of 8 Dinner Plates in Yellow Melamine
Located in København, Copenhagen
Massimo Vignelli for Heller, Italien. A set of 8 dinner plates in yellow melamine. 1970/80s. Stackable. In excellent condition. Marked. Measures:...
Other
$275 / set
H 1 in Dm 10 in
Space Age 1970s Heller by Massimo Vignelli Mixed set 4 plates, 5 cups, 2bowls
By Massimo Vignelli, Heller
Located in San Diego, CA
Colorful set of 4 dinner plates, 5 cups and 2 bowls, designed by Massimo Vignelli for Heller circa 1970s, in a navy blue color, yellow, pink, and purple. 11 pcs set total.
Plastic
Eero Aarnio for UPO Armchair, Finland 1970
By Eero Aarnio
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Red plastic frame with brown upholstered seat. Small crack on underside of chair. Does not affect stability.
Upholstery, Plastic
Fiberglass Gaia Chair, Carlo Bartoli for Arflex, 1960s
By Carlo Bartoli
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Fiberglass Gaia armchair in a creamy high-gloss finish by Italian designer Carlo Bartoli for Arflex. Refinished and in excellent condition.
Fiberglass
Sabrina Chairs by Gastone Rinaldi for Rima, 1970s Italy
By Gastone Rinaldi
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Chrome-plated steel wire frames. Show some wear but overall good condition.
Steel, Chrome
Kappa Coffee Table, Cesare Leonardi and Franca Staci for Fiarm, Italy
By Cesare Leonardi and Franca Stagi
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Rare vintage space age Kappa coffee table. Swooping, sleek curves reminiscent of an Italian sports car in a bright and joyous yellow fiberglass. Storage for books and magazines eleva...
Fiberglass
Shadow Armchair, Gaetano Pesce for Meritalia
By Gaetano Pesce
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Exceptionally rare Gaetano Pesce Shadow chair for Meritalia. Formed by pouring polyurethane resin into the specially designed fabric “bag” the res...
Fabric, Resin
Deadstock Tabletop Clock, Nathalie Du Pasquier and George Sowden for Neos Lorenz
By Nathalie du Pasquier
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Tabletop clock by Nathalie Du Pasquier and George Sowden for Neos of Lorenz. Iconic and rare piece in enameled steel and plastic. Maintains original pac...
Steel
