Vladimir Kagan Serpentine Sofa Large Directional, 1999
View Similar Items
Vladimir Kagan Serpentine Sofa Large Directional, 1999
About the Item
- Creator:Vladimir Kagan (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 31.5 in (80 cm)Width: 141.74 in (360 cm)Depth: 39.38 in (100 cm)Seat Height: 16.93 in (43 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:1990-1999
- Date of Manufacture:1999
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor fading.
- Seller Location:Roosendaal, NL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU93306818093
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.
- Wittmann Atrium modular sofa Austria 1970By WittmannLocated in Roosendaal, Noord BrabantSuper cool Wittmann Atrium modular leather sofa manufactured in Austria 1970. This sofa is made of dark brown leather and consists of a 2-seater and 2 sin...Category
Vintage 1970s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather
$14,228 / set - Moveis Cimo sculptural sofa Brazil 1960By Moveis CimoLocated in Roosendaal, Noord BrabantBeautiful sculptural B082 sofa manufactured by Moveis Cimo in Brazil in 1960. This sofa is bulky and yet playful, with a strong wooden frame made of Jatoba wood. The frame is like a ...Category
Vintage 1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsUpholstery, Hardwood
- Pierre Paulin sofa 442/3 Artifort Netherlands 1962By Artifort, Pierre PaulinLocated in Roosendaal, Noord BrabantNice minimalistic model 442/3 sofa designed by Pierre Paulin and manufactured by Artifort, The Netherlands 1962. This is for a three-seater sofa model 442/3 which is the largest from...Category
Vintage 1960s Dutch Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsSteel
- Mario Bellini Quartet sofa Cassina Italy 1964By Mario BelliniLocated in Roosendaal, Noord BrabantExtremely rare 932 'Quartet' sofa designed by architect Mario Bellini and manufactured by Cassina in Italy in 1964. Very early model made up of five separate pieces. It's quite challenging to come across one in this large and impressive size. What makes it even more special is its gorgeous cognac colour. This sofa's modular design means you can arrange its elements in various ways to suit different settings. It's still in good original condition, considering its age, with some expected wear and tear that adds character and enhances its beautiful appearance and patina. There are no holes or tears in it. In the 1960s Mario Bellini reinterpreted the concept of classic furniture stuffing with the 932 model, transforming the padding of the traditional armchair into an item of furniture: four independent cushions connected by a belt passed around the outside. Bellini took as his starting point Le Corbusier’s Grand...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather
- Kazuhide Takahama Marcel Sofa Set Gavina, Italy, 1965By Kazuhide TakahamaLocated in Roosendaal, Noord BrabantVery nice and minimalistic set of 'Marcel' sofas designed by Kazuhide Takahama and produced in Italy by Gavina in 1965. This beautiful set is in very good condition and has been reup...Category
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsAluminum
- Luciano Frigerio Dragoni sofa made in Italy 1970By Luciano FrigerioLocated in Roosendaal, Noord BrabantExtremely rare and extraordinary lounge sofa designed by Luciano Frigerio and manufactured by his own company Frigerio di Desio in Italy in 1970. This sofa has a sturdy construction ...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather, Hardwood
- Vladimir Kagan Serpentine Cloud Sofa for Directional, SignedBy Vladimir Kagan, DirectionalLocated in Lambertville, NJIconic Mid Century Modern Vladimir Kagan serpentine cloud sofa for Directional, USA circa 1970's. This highly collectable and desirable modern designer sofa features original blue U...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsUltrasuede, Lucite, Wood
- Cloud Serpentine Sofa by Vladimir Kagan for DirectionalBy Directional, Vladimir KaganLocated in Chicago, ILc. 1980s. Reupholstered in charcoal fabric. Lucite leg on bottom in the middle. Tagged. A classic of postmodern design.Category
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Sofas
MaterialsFabric
- Vladimir Kagan Serpentine SofaBy Vladimir KaganLocated in Houston, TXThe Vladimir Kagan "Mini" version of the Serpentine Sofa stands as a pinnacle of beauty and sophistication, captivating any space with its timeless allure. While its name evokes admi...Category
Early 2000s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsFabric, Upholstery, Wood
- 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
MaterialsUpholstery, Walnut
- Vintage Brass "Serpentine" Sofa After Vladimir Kagan for DirectionalBy Vladimir Kagan, DirectionalLocated in North Hollywood, CAA stunning vintage "Serpentine" sofa after Vladimir Kagan for Directional. The sofa feature two brass bases and a distinctive curved frame that give this piece a delightful sculptura...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsBrass
$15,000 Sale Price20% Off - Vladimir Kagan Serpentine SofaBy Vladimir KaganLocated in Dallas, TXA large and iconic serpentine sofa designed by Vladimir Kagan. This sofa was purchased from Kagan about a decade ago and upholstered in a heathered lig...Category
Vintage 1950s Sofas
MaterialsFabric
$28,000