Designer: Lella Vignelli (1934– 2016) and Massimo Vignelli (1931 – 2014)

Item: Silver Letter Opener

Manufactured by: San Lorenzo

Country of origin: Italy

Year made: Designed in 1971.  This example produced in 1982.

Materials: Sterling silver

Dimensions: 8 ¼” x 1 ¼” 

Condition: Very good to excellent with some minor scratches and polishing marks.

References: Hiesinger, Kathryn B., Design Since 1945; Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia Museum of Art, 1983; Stern, Jewel, Modernism in American Silver: 20th Century Design, Yale University Press, 2005.

Description:  A rare and important sterling silver letter opener by Lella and Massimo Vignelli crafted from a a single piece of sterling silver.  This outstanding design series was introduced in 1972 for the San Lorenzo firm, which produces high-end jewelry and design items.  It appears that a limited production of this series continued through the 1990s.  This example bears the Italian sterling silver hallmark year-letter "L" for 1982.  It also bears the San Lorenzo hallmark, the initials of the designers “lmv”, the marks for Italy and sterling silver.  Related designs for San Lorenzo by the Vignelli’s in this line include a bar serving set and a coffee pot.  The knife in the bar set is a very similar design to this letter opener, but with different dimensions.  Examples from this design series can be found in the collections of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Dallas Art Museum of Art and others.