Saratoga lounge chair by Massimo and Lella Vignelli for Poltronova Italy 1960's
About the Item
- Creator:Massimo and Lella Vignelli (Designer),Poltronova (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 24 in (60.96 cm)Width: 35.5 in (90.17 cm)Depth: 35.5 in (90.17 cm)Seat Height: 15 in (38.1 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1964
- Condition:Reupholstered. Wear consistent with age and use. Overall good condition. Various small chips to the lacquer as seen in the photos, most of which are on the bottom edge. Cushions has just been reupholstered in Knoll "Ferry" fabric. Chair is very stable and comfortable.
- Seller Location:Chicago, IL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU7362239493682
Massimo and Lella Vignelli
Massimo Vignelli and Lella Vignelli’s legacy can be seen everywhere in the logos of Bloomingdale’s, Ford and American Airlines, among others. In addition to their work in branding, they were prolific creators of modernist home furnishings, products and interiors, and the duo’s collaborations, which span 50 years, have left a profound mark on design and wider visual culture.
After meeting in Italy, Lella (1934–2016) and Massimo (1931–2014) 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.
Vignelli furniture 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 he 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.”
Find vintage Massimo and Lella Vignelli seating, tables and other furniture today on 1stDibs.
Poltronova
Poltronova is known for embracing the creativity that opposites can introduce to a space. Its radical modernist furniture and lighting fixtures are simultaneously grounded in classic aesthetics and inspired by what were then new and provocative artistic movements in mid-century Italy, when the company was founded. This tension resulted in unique and extraordinary pieces at the manufacturer, from eccentric, glove-shaped armchairs to striking dining tables that feature a mix of materials and textures.
Italian designer Sergio Cammilli founded Poltronova in Tuscany in 1957. That same year, it won the Compasso d’Oro for the Panchetto chair designed by Luciano Nustrini. Revolutionary Italian architect Ettore Sottsass — a maestro of postmodern design who would later establish the Memphis Group — came on board as an art director in 1958. Poltronova manufactured many of his furniture and ceramic designs. Sottsass’s lighting, seating and other works for Poltronova showcase the designer’s bold experimentation with solid wood, glass, metal and laminate materials.
Other established names in Italian furniture design collaborated with Poltronova’s Sottsass and Cammilli, including Giovanni Michelucci, Gae Aulenti and Angelo Mangiarotti. However, the company truly set itself apart in its collaborations with Superstudio and Archizoom Associati, groups that were part of an irreverent, avant-garde movement in art and design that took shape during the 1960s in Florence, Turin and Milan. Collectives associated with the movement — which would one day be called Italian Radical design — drew on Pop art and minimalism and explored working with unconventional materials to create colorful, quirky and uniquely shaped objects and furnishings. At the time, Poltronova also worked with up-and-coming names in the art world, like painter Max Ernst and sculptor Mario Ceroli.
Poltronova showcased its groundbreaking designs in many exhibitions, such as “La Casa Abitata,” which was held in Florence in 1965. At Milan's Eurodomus trade show in 1970, Poltronova debuted an entire bedroom collection designed by Sottsass — including his sensuous Ultrafragola mirror. The brand’s furnishings were included in a 1972 exhibition at New York’s Museum of Modern Art called "Italy: The New Domestic Landscape," and in 1977, Poltronova again won the Compasso d’Oro for a book called Fare Mobili con Poltronova (Making Furniture with Poltronova).
Poltronova's enduring and acclaimed furniture designs came to be loved far outside Italy. During the 1960s, importer Charles Stendig represented the company and helped introduce it to the American market.
In 2005, Poltronova established the Centro Studi Poltronova to recreate some of the company's iconic furniture. The brand has also recently collaborated with English architect Nigel Coates, who worked with a Poltronova master craftsman in Italy to design a series of limited-edition furniture in 2011, including the Domo chair.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Poltronova tables, seating, storage cabinets and more.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Chicago, IL
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
- Set of 2 Warren Platner Lounge Chairs for Knoll International, blue upholsteryBy Warren PlatnerLocated in Chicago, ILPair of Warren Platner Lounge Chairs for Knoll International. Blue upholstery, nickel frame. Earlier editions. The Platner Collection (1966) reflects his belief that there’s room i...Category
Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsNickel
- Pair of Geoffrey Harcourt Model 042 Lounge Chairs by Artifort 1965By Geoffrey D. HarcourtLocated in Chicago, ILA pair of Geoffrey Harcourt lounges chairs model 042 for Artifort. United Kingdom / The Netherlands, circa 1965 Chrome-plated steel, enameled steel, microfiber upholstery These very...Category
Vintage 1960s Danish Space Age Lounge Chairs
MaterialsChrome
- Knoll Barcelona Lounge Chairs by Mies van der Rohe, Ivory LeatherBy Ludwig Mies van der RoheLocated in Chicago, ILKnoll Barcelona Chairs, set of 2. Designed by Mies van der Rohe, originally in 1929. Volo "Ivory" leather This set is Knoll's latest production. Manufacturer's stamp/ signature o...Category
2010s Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsStainless Steel
- Knoll Barcelona Lounge Chairs by Mies van der Rohe, Black LeatherBy Ludwig Mies van der RoheLocated in Chicago, ILKnoll Barcelona Chairs, set of 2. Designed by Mies van der Rohe, originally in 1929. Black leather. Knoll manufacturer tags are dated 1987 on bottom of seat cushions. One of the ...Category
Vintage 1980s Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsStainless Steel
- 1960 Alvar Aalto Cantilever Chair Model 406 by Artek in Birch and Cane WebbingBy Alvar Aalto, ArtekLocated in Chicago, ILAlvar Aalto, cantilevered chair model 406. Laminated birch, cane. circa 1960 The model 406 chair was originally designed in 1938-39. 35"H x 24"W x 27...Category
Vintage 1960s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsCane, Birch
- 1960 Alvar Aalto Cantilever Chair Model 406 by Artek in Birch and Cane WebbingBy Alvar Aalto, ArtekLocated in Chicago, ILAlvar Aalto, cantilevered chair model 406. Laminated birch, cane. circa 1960 The model 406 chair was originally designed in 1938-39. Measures: 35"H x...Category
Vintage 1960s Finnish Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsCane, Birch
- Pair of Massimo and Lella Vignelli for Poltronova Saratoga Lounge ChairsBy Poltronova, Massimo and Lella VignelliLocated in Rio Vista, CAMid-century modern pair of "Saratoga" lacquered cube lounge chairs designed by Massimo and Lella Vignelli for Poltronova circa 1960's. The lounge club chairs feature a thick lacquere...Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Wood
- Massimo and Lella Vignelli for Poltronova 'Saratoga' SofaBy Poltronova, Massimo and Lella VignelliLocated in Waalwijk, NLMassimo and Lella Vignelli for Poltronova, 'Saratoga' three-seat sofa, polyester lacquer and red leather, Italy, 1964. Lovely sofa named 'Saratoga' is by Italian designer couple Lel...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather, Polyester
- Massimo and Lella Vignelli "Saratoga" Living Room Set Poltronova, 1960sBy Poltronova, Massimo and Lella VignelliLocated in Padova, ITExceptional Saratoga set designed by Massimo and Lella Vignella, produced by Poltronova, Italy 1960s. A beautiful living room set composed of two sofas (three-seater/two-seater) and...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Living Room Sets
MaterialsLeather, Wood
- Massimo and Lella Vignelli "Saratoga" Living Room Set Poltronova, 1960sBy Massimo and Lella Vignelli, PoltronovaLocated in Padova, ITExceptional Saratoga set designed by Massimo and Lella Vignella, produced by Poltronova, Italy 1960s. A beautiful living room set composed of two sofas (three-seater/four-seater), a ...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Living Room Sets
MaterialsLeather, Wood
- Massimo and Lella Vignelli for Poltronova 'Saratoga' Living Room SetBy Massimo and Lella Vignelli, PoltronovaLocated in Waalwijk, NLMassimo and Lella Vignelli for Poltronova 'Saratoga' living room set, four-seat sofa, three-seat sofa, two two-seat sofas, cabinets, polyester lacquer and red leather, Italy, 1964. ...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather, Polyester
- Massimo and Lella Vignelli for Poltronova 'Saratoga' Living Room SetBy Massimo and Lella Vignelli, PoltronovaLocated in Waalwijk, NLMassimo and Lella Vignelli for Poltronova 'Saratoga' living room set three-seat sofa, two-seat sofa, and cabinet, polyester lacquer and red leather, Italy, 1964. Captivating lounge ...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather, Polyester