Sofa in Mohair by Vladimir Kagan, 1970s
View Similar Items
Sofa in Mohair by Vladimir Kagan, 1970s
About the Item
- Creator:Vladimir Kagan (Designer)
- Design:
- Dimensions:Height: 28 in (71.12 cm)Width: 82 in (208.28 cm)Depth: 38 in (96.52 cm)Seat Height: 16 in (40.64 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1970s
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Los Angeles, CA
- Reference Number:Seller: SOFA-VINT-431stDibs: LU2256318192751
Serpentine Sofa
The voluptuous contours of Vladimir Kagan's (1927–2016) 1950 Serpentine sofa were designed to bring people together.
The S-shaped piece provided both flexible group seating on an armless form as well as a focal point for mid-century entertaining. Unlike most sofas, this one was not designed to be pushed against a wall. Also, people were not supposed to sit on the Serpentine in a row. Rather, the sofa presided over the center of the room as a swoosh of plush seating. The original design included casters so it could easily be maneuvered around for a party or to provide a better view of new art on the walls.
Born in Germany, Kagan’s interest in furniture began with his father, a Russian master cabinetmaker. Following the rise of the Nazis, a young Kagan immigrated to the United States in 1938 and shortly thereafter enrolled as an architecture student at Columbia University. Nearly 15 years later, Kagan opened his first furniture company. His concept of modern living was featured in the furniture designs at the Monsanto House of the Future, which was on view at Disneyland from 1957 to 1967.
Upholstered in inviting materials, such as seductively hued velvet and Alcantara, Kagan’s furniture demonstrated how modernism could be beguiling even while breaking with the rigid norms of the past. Reflecting the biomorphic shapes in art and sculpture that such creators as Isamu Noguchi promoted as well as celebrating Scandinavian design, each piece was made for both comfort and form in its organic shape.
Vladimir Kagan
The pioneers of modern furniture design in America in the mid-20th century all had their moments of flamboyance: Charles and Ray Eames produced the startling, biomorphic La Chaise; George Nelson’s firm created the Marshmallow sofa; Edward Wormley had his decadent Listen to Me chaise. But no designer of the day steadily offered works with more verve and dynamism than Vladimir Kagan. While others, it seems, designed with suburban households in mind, Kagan aimed to suit the tastes of young, sophisticated city-dwellers. With signature designs that feature sleekly curved frames and others that have dramatic out-thrust legs, Kagan made furniture sexy.
Kagan’s father was a Russian master cabinetmaker who took his family first to Germany (where Vladimir was born) and then to New York in 1938. After studying architecture at Columbia University, Kagan opened a design firm at age 22 and immediately made a splash with his long, low and sinuous Serpentine sofa. Furniture lines such as the Tri-symmetric group of glass-topped, three-legged tables and the vivacious Contours chairs soon followed.
Kagan’s choices of form and materials evolved through subsequent decades, embracing lucite, aluminum and burl-wood veneers. By the late 1960s, Kagan was designing austere, asymmetrical cabinets and his Omnibus group of modular sofas and chairs. For all his aesthetic élan, Kagan said that throughout his career, his touchstone was comfort. “A lot of modern furniture was not comfortable. And so comfort is: form follows function. The function was to make it comfortable,” he once commented. “I created what I called vessels for the human body.”
A diverse group of bodies have made themselves at home with Kagan designs. Among the famous names who commissioned and collected his designs are Marilyn Monroe, Gary Cooper, Andy Warhol, David Lynch, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, and firms such as Gucci and Giorgio Armani. His work is in numerous museum collections, including those of the Victoria & Albert and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Because of its idiosyncrasy, Kagan’s work did not lend itself to mass-production. Kagan never signed on with any of the major furniture-making corporations, and examples of his designs are relatively rare. As you will see from the offerings on 1stDibs, even decades after their conception, Kagan pieces still command the eye, with their freshness, energy, sensuality and wit.
- 1950s Italian Settee in Wool BoucleLocated in Los Angeles, CAA vintage 1950s Italian settee on walnut legs. Completely restored and reupholstered in a wool blend nubby boucle. The legs have been refinished s...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Settees
MaterialsWool, Bouclé, Walnut
- Pair of 1970s French Elm Stools in Sheepskin by SentouLocated in Los Angeles, CAPair of vintage 1970s stool in elm and recently reupholstered in a mossy-green colored sheepskin. Made by Sentou, France.Category
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Stools
MaterialsSheepskin, Elm
- Oak Bench Upholstered in a Vintage 1970s Moroccan Wool TextileBy Hollywood at HomeLocated in Los Angeles, CAA solid oak handcrafted bench in dark cerused finish- handmade here in Los Angeles. Upholstered in a vintage orange and off-white Moroccan wool textile from the 1970s. In overall exc...Category
2010s Moroccan Mid-Century Modern Benches
MaterialsWool, Oak
- Limestone Table Lamp by Albert Tormos, France, 1970sBy Albert TormosLocated in Los Angeles, CAA vintage carved limestone lamp by French designer Alber Tormos from the 1970s. Signed. Newly rewired.Category
Vintage 1970s French Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsLimestone
- Italian Marble Coffee Table, 1970sLocated in Los Angeles, CAItalian marble coffee table on pedestal base, 1970s. The lipped top sits freely on the pedestal base.Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsMarble
- Pair of Glass & Brass Floor Lamps by Hansen, NYC, 1970sBy Hansen Lighting Co.Located in Los Angeles, CAPair of glass floor lamps on brass bases by Hansen NYC, from the 1970s. New custom made shades in silk. Rewired in brown twisted silk cords. ...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
MaterialsBrass
- Serpentine Sofa in Chocolate Velvet by Vladimir Kagan, C. 1970sBy Vladimir Kagan, DirectionalLocated in Westport, CTExperience the timeless elegance of the Serpentine Sofa by Vladimir Kagan for Directional, circa 1970s. This iconic piece has been fully restored and reupholstered in luxurious choco...Category
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsVelvet, Lucite, Walnut
- Vladimir Kagan, Sofa, Velvet, Lucite, USA, 1970sBy Vladimir KaganLocated in High Point, NCA green velvet and lucite "Omnibus" sofa designed and produced by Vladimir Kagan, USA, 1970s. Seat height 18”Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsVelvet, Lucite
- Floating Seat and Back Sofa in Mohair by Vladimir KaganBy Vladimir KaganLocated in San Diego, CAThe Floating Seat and Back Sofa s a unique and iconic piece of furniture designed by the American furniture designer Vladimir Kagan. This sofa is known for its distinctive shape, whi...Category
Early 2000s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsMohair, Walnut
- Vladimir Kagan Serpentine Cloud Sofa in Holly Hunt MohairBy Vladimir KaganLocated in Dallas, TXVladimir Kagan serpentine sofa by Directional. Newly upholstered in a beautiful mohair fabric by Holly Hunt.Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsUpholstery, Lucite
- Vladimir Kagan Serpentine Cloud Sofa for Directional in Tan MohairBy Directional, Vladimir KaganLocated in Culver City, CAStep into the realm of luxury and design with this iconic Vladimir Kagan Cloud Sofa! Crafted with the finesse of a sculptor, this masterpiece is not just a piece of furniture; it's ...Category
1990s Modern Sofas
MaterialsMohair
$19,200 Sale Price20% Off - Bilbao Sofa by Vladimir KaganBy Preview, Vladimir KaganLocated in Danville, CABilbao sofa by Vladimir Kagan. These sofas were some of Kagan's most Avant Garde creations and are quite dramatic. There is wear to the upholstery and it ...Category
1990s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsUpholstery, Hardwood
$12,000 / set
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
A Short History of the World’s Most Iconic Designs
Of the million-plus items on 1stdibs, some seem to have transcended time, looking as fresh today as when they were first produced. The pieces highlighted on our new Iconic Designs page stand out for longevity, functionality and quality of design and manufacture — just the tonic for the present unsettled moment.
Martyn Lawrence Bullard Welcomes You to the Hotel Californian
A Spanish Colonial Revival gem in the heart of Santa Barbara has been reborn as a luxurious new boutique hotel.