Vladamir Kagan Swan Sofa
View Similar Items
Vladamir Kagan Swan Sofa
About the Item
- Creator:Vladimir Kagan (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 30.5 in (77.47 cm)Width: 109 in (276.86 cm)Depth: 72.5 in (184.15 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1955
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Pawtucket, RI
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU90991202418
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.
- Rare Paul McCobb Symmetric Group Sofa for WiddicombBy Widdicomb Furniture Co., Paul McCobbLocated in Pawtucket, RIOne of Paul McCobb's final designs, this graceful floating sofa features a symmetrical silhouette on walnut legs. Manufactured by Widdicomb as part of the Symmetric Group. Recently e...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsTextile, Walnut
- Finn Juhl Sofa BO 46 BovirkeBy Finn JuhlLocated in Pawtucket, RIThe perfect Finn Juhl settee manufactured by Bovirke in 1946. Reupholstered with new Hallingdal fabric. Iconic Danish design in perfect restored condition.Category
Vintage 1940s Danish Scandinavian Modern Settees
MaterialsWool
$24,200 - Kaare Klint Sofa by Rud RasmussenBy Kaare KlintLocated in Pawtucket, RIKaare Klint three-seat sofa in original leather on a Cuban mahogany frame and produced by cabinetmaker Rud Rasmussen.Category
Vintage 1930s Danish Sofas
MaterialsLeather, Mahogany
- Casa Bella Sofa and Two Ottomans 1980'sBy Casa BellaLocated in Pawtucket, RIModular, 11 foot, all leather sofa is the manner of a De Sede Non-Stop sofa. Originally purchased from Casa Bella of Switzerland in the 1980's. Sofa ...Category
Vintage 1980s Swiss Post-Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather
- Poul Kjaerholm PK 31/2 SetteeBy Poul KjærholmLocated in Pawtucket, RIBeautifully patinated brown two-seat PK 31 settee designed by Poul Kjaerholm and Manufactured by E. Kold Christensen. Stamped to frame.Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Sofas
MaterialsSteel
- Barcelona Daybed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe for KnollBy Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, KnollLocated in Pawtucket, RIIconic Mies van der Rohe daybed manufactured by Knoll in walnut and red leather. Designed in 1930 by the renowned architect. Signed and in excellent vintage condition.Category
Vintage 1980s American Mid-Century Modern Daybeds
MaterialsSteel
- Crescent Sofa by Vladamir Kagan, 2005, Two AvailableBy Vladimir KaganLocated in Chicago, ILAn iconic Crescent sofa designed by Vladamir Kagan in 2005. This sofa has a striking curved profile with a right side facing pouf and a heightened backrest on the left hand side. It ...Category
Early 2000s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsUpholstery, Oak
$13,200 / item - Vladimir Kagan Swan Back SofaBy Vladimir KaganLocated in West Palm Beach, FLVladimir Kagan Swan back Sofa faux leather and steelCategory
20th Century American Sofas
MaterialsUpholstery
- Vladimir Kagan Unicorn SofaBy Vladimir KaganLocated in New York, NYCast aluminum, fabric. Model U522, fantastic sensual form and sculptural metal base. An iconic Kagan design. Provenance: Collection of the artist.Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsAluminum
$68,000 - Vladimir Kagan Bilboa SofaBy Vladimir KaganLocated in Pasadena, TXA sculptural modern sofa designed by Vladimir Kagan and inspired by the curves and undulations of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao Spain.Category
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather, Fabric
$4,960 Sale Price44% Off - Vladimir Kagan Crescent SofaBy Vladimir KaganLocated in New York, NYVladimir Kagan Crescent sofa in red upholstery with a brass base. Check out our other items listed separately (Paint Brushes Sculpture, D...Category
Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsBrass
$17,500 - Vladimir Kagan Serpentine SofaBy Vladimir KaganLocated in Los Angeles, CACurved 'model 150BS' sofa by Vladimir Kagan, c.2000s, USA. Vladimir Kagan (1927-2016) originally designed this sofa in the 1950s, this piece is from a later production. The sofa feat...Category
Early 2000s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsWalnut, Upholstery