What color is it?
The Casigliani Kyoto dish set, designed by Massimo and Lella Vignelli in 1979, was manufactured in four colors: white, beige, red, and black. But the beige color seems to have an identity problem. The original boxes are stamped “ivory” but the documents in the archives all refer to “beige.” We found some of the color samples from the archives, as well as the dishes in question. Beige and ivory are in fact one and the same. But why the discrepancy? Perhaps the real answer is deeper in the archives…
When Massimo and Lella Vignelli donated their life’s work to the archives at the Vignelli Center for Design Studies, they also donated some new vintage stock for their Casigliani Kyoto dinner ware. Now you can be the proud owner of this rare set. Rochester Institute of Technology’s own ShopOne2 has a limited quantity of sets available for purchase in three colors:
white https://www.rit.edu/fa/shopone2/store/casigliani-kyoto-white-dish-set
ivory (aka beige) https://www.rit.edu/fa/shopone2/store/casigliani-kyoto-ivory-dish-set
red https://www.rit.edu/fa/shopone2/store/casigliani-kyoto-red-dish-set
You probably recognize the name Casigliani from the other numerous furniture and products designed by the Vignellis! We’ve posted about other Casigliani artifacts a bunch of times: http://vignellicenter.tumblr.com/search/casigliani
If you’re in Rochester come and visit us! The Casiglinani Kyoto set is always on view in the gallery! And if you want to study these dishes or anything else we have in the archives, just contact us for an appointment!
Stay tuned as we dig out more Kyoto artifacts from the archives! And be sure to pick up your very own set from ShopOne2 before they are gone!
Casigliani Kyoto advertisements
box 554, Massimo and Lella Vignelli Papers
Vignelli Center for Design Studies
Rochester, New YorkCasigliani Kyoto sketch details and imprint drawing
Box 270, Massimo and Lella Vignelli papers
Vignelli Center for Design Studies
Rochester, New YorkCasigliani Kyoto dinnerware, 1979
Massimo and Lella Vignelli Papers
Vignelli Center for Design Studies
Rochester, New York
