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.
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
$2,400Sale Price / set|38% 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
Handkerchief Chairs in White by Massimo Vignelli for Knoll Post Modern
By Knoll, Massimo Vignelli
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.
Fiberglass
Massimo Vignelli for Knoll Postmodern Handkerchief Chair, 7 Available
By Massimo Vignelli, Knoll
Located in South Bend, IN
A stylish postmodern stacking "handkerchief" chair By Massimo Vignelli for Knoll International USA, 1980s Molded fiberglass seat, with powder coated steel base. Measures: 23.5"W ...
Steel
Massimo Vignelli for Knoll Postmodern Handkerchief Chair, 19 Available
By Knoll, Massimo Vignelli
Located in South Bend, IN
A stylish postmodern stacking "handkerchief" chair By Massimo Vignelli for Knoll International USA, 1980s Molded fiberglass seat, with powder coated steel base. Measures: 23.5"W ...
Steel
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
Post Modern Knoll Swivel Desk, Office, Chairs 11 Available
By Knoll, Don Chadwick
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional Knoll swivel desk chair(s) from the 1970's, in rich brown formed foam upholstery, on five star base. The chair swivels a full 360, and the base is on double wheel coaster...
Plastic
$559Sale Price|53% Off
H 32 in W 25 in D 22 in
Don Pettit for Knoll #1105 Bentwood Armchairs Set of Five
By Knoll
Located in East Freetown, MA
Set of five bentwood office chairs by Don Pettit for Knoll International with tag and label. With original orange fabric and cushions (stiff).
Fabric, Bentwood
Otto Zapf for Knoll Swivel Desk Chair in Black Leather
By Knoll, Otto Zapf
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Otto Zapf for Knoll International, desk chair, leather, lacquered metal, United States, design 1974 When Bobby Cadwallader, the former president of Knoll, encountered the German des...
Metal
$1,400 / set
H 33.25 in W 26.25 in D 28.25 in
Charles Pollock for Knoll International Model 1258 Swivel Tilt Desk Chairs, 1965
By Knoll, Charles Cecil Pollock, Charles Pollock
Located in Chicago, IL
Charles Pollock for Knoll International Model 1258 Swivel Tilt Desk Chairs, 1965 Iconic executive chair designed by Charles Pollock for Knoll International, model 1258. A hallmark of...
Chrome
Eero Saarinen for Knoll Executive Armchair, Mid-Century Modern
By Eero Saarinen, Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Eero Saarinen for Knoll Executive Armchair on wheels. Very nice original condition. Four Chairs currently available. These are all ...
Metal
$1,100 / item
H 34.5 in W 27.75 in D 27 in
1977 Pearson Executive Desk Chair by Max Pearson for Knoll International
By Max Pearson, Knoll
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Pearson Executive Chair, designed in 1966 by Max Pearson for Knoll. While Pearson had worked for Knoll for several years behind the scenes, this was first debuted in his fi...
Steel
$875
H 31.25 in W 27.5 in D 22 in
Mid-Century Modern Eero Saarinen for Knoll Executive Armchair on Chrome Legs
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in St. Louis, MO
Classic Eero Saarinen for Knoll, executive armchair in original but soiled Knoll Fabric, on chrome legs. Needs to be reupholstered, and foam replaced, otherwise solid. Chrome can be ...
Chrome
Desk Chair by Max Pearson for Knoll
By Knoll, Max Pearson
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A desk chair with the original channel-stitched upholstery, on an X-form caster base.
Upholstery
$23,300Sale Price / set|27% Off
H 38.5 in W 25 in D 24 in
Robert Venturi 'Queen Anne' Chair for Knoll International, C. 1985, Signed
By Knoll, Robert Venturi, Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This rare and sought after set of four (4) collectors pieces are called the 'Queen Anne' chairs by Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown for Knoll International, circa 1985 and feature a faux olive burl design with tan leather seats. Post-Modern functional art ready to be used as stand-alone collectible sculptures or as chairs. Signed underneath three chairs with Knoll International labels. Please note, the color amongst the 4 chairs are consistent however due to the studio lighting they appear slightly different from chair to chair, this is simply due to the angle and position of the studio photography lights...
Laminate, Plywood
Swiveling Armchair by Eero Saarinen for Knoll
By Knoll, Eero Saarinen
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A Mid-Century Modern sculptural swiveling armchair designed by Eero Saarinen featuring a cruciform chromed steel base with casters. The seat retains its original textured wool uphols...
Stainless Steel
$25,200Sale Price / set|21% Off
H 37.5 in W 25 in D 24 in
Robert Venturi Post-Modern 'Chippendale' Chairs for Knoll International, c. 1985
By Robert Venturi, Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown, Knoll
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This rare and sought after set of collectors chairs is called the 'Chippendale' chair by Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown for Knoll International, circa 1985 featuring a black c...
Leather, Laminate, Plywood
$1,600 / set
H 29.25 in W 22 in D 20.5 in
Lella and Massimo Vignelli Handkerchief Chairs for Knoll, Set of Four
By Massimo and Lella Vignelli, Knoll
Located in Miami, FL
Black high-gloss lacquered Handkerchief chairs on black lacquered frames by Lella and Massimo Vignelli for Knoll. In 1968 Vignelli was contracted by Knoll to re-envision the corpo...
Steel