An iconic ‘Metafora’ coffee table designed by Lella and Massimo Vignelli for Castigliani, Italy, circa 1980. A celebrated example of postmodern Italian design, the table features a thick square glass top resting on four sculptural marble geometric forms — a sphere, cube, cylinder, and pyramid — each beautifully veined in contrasting tones.

The interplay between pure geometric volumes and the floating transparency of the glass top creates a striking architectural statement. Both functional and conceptual, this design has become a recognised modern classic and remains highly sought after.

Massimo Vignelli (born January 10, 1931, Milan, Italy–died May 27, 2014, New York City) and Lella Vignelli (born Elena Valle, August 13, 1934, Udine, Italy–died December 22, 2016, New York City) were influential and prolific Italian designers and architects. This husband-and-wife couple made important contributions to graphic design and industrial design in the U.S. and Europe during the last half of the 20th century. Whether it is the iconic Bloomingdale’s brown paper bag; the American Airlines’ red, white, and blue logo; or the ubiquitous New York City Subway map, it all started in Milan, Italy, where the couple began their journey to the graphic, industrial, and furniture design fields. Together, they were awarded the 2003 National Design Award for Lifetime Achievement, the AIGA Gold Medal for 1982, the Architecture Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 2005, and the Compasso d’Oro award in 1964 and 1988.

These wonderful coffee tables were one of their most iconic designs. Vignelli’s ethos was, "If you can design one thing, you can design everything," and this was reflected in the broad range of his work. Vignelli worked firmly within the Modernist tradition and focused on simplicity through the use of basic geometric forms in all his work.

Condition: glass top in perfect condition. Very minor scrapes to the marble elements consistent with light use. Overall excellent condition. Please refer to photographs.

Dimensions: 115cm wide, 115cm deep, 22cm high