Stacking Chairs, Handkerchief
- Designed by
- Lella Vignelli (1934–2016), Massimo Vignelli (1932–2014), and David Law (born 1937)
- Material
- Fiberglass-reinforced polyester, enameled steel
- Produced by
- Knoll Group, New York, New York
- Dimensions
- 73.7 x 56.2 x 46.4 cm
The Liliane and David M. Stewart Program for Modern Design, 2009.4.1–5
Best known for their graphics, packaging and interiors, the Vignellis also designed furniture, including these playful stacking chairs for Knoll, available in several bright colors, with or without arms. The name Handkerchief comes from contours of the seat, like a piece of floating fabric. Although the chair, with its slender steel frame, appears weightless, it is heavy enough to stay grounded in the wind for outdoor use.
The Vignellis, known for their minimalistic designs, maintained their adherence to modernist principles during the period of excess in the postmodern 1980s. This husband-and-wife team began collaborating in 1961 and started Vignelli Associates ten years later. Co-designer David Law worked for the firm between 1978 and 2000.
The Stewart Program for Modern Design, photo: Denis Farley.