Vladimir Kagan Credenza or Sideboard
View Similar Items
Vladimir Kagan Credenza or Sideboard
About the Item
- Creator:Vladimir Kagan (Designer),Grosfeld House (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 31 in (78.74 cm)Width: 80 in (203.2 cm)Depth: 19 in (48.26 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Mid-20th Century
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Westport, CT
- Reference Number:Seller: SM5821stDibs: LU92891221118
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.
Grosfeld House
The New York City modern furniture manufacturer and retailer Grosfeld House, which had showrooms in Chicago and Los Angeles, forged enduring partnerships with celebrated designers and is known to collectors for its vintage Lucite furniture and other pieces made between the 1930s and the 1970s.
Following the introduction of Lucite in the 1930s, Grosfeld House used the acrylic plastic extensively in its manufacture of everything from coffee tables to chairs to mirrors — its “Glassic” line came to encompass all manner of furnishings. Owing to offerings that took on unconventional forms as well as an integration of flamboyant ornamentation such as lacquered parchment, gilt metal and ebonized wood, the brand became popular with decorators who worked in what we now call the Hollywood Regency style. Grosfeld House also produced chairs, end tables and other pieces in historical furniture styles such as Hepplewhite and Louis XV.
Grosfeld House prospered under the creative direction of furniture designer Lorin Jackson, whose collections of plastic furniture became popular with consumers, and enjoyed collaborations with designers such as distinguished German-American creator Vladimir Kagan.
Kagan, whose oft-copied furnishings for Directional are well-known to collectors, created nearly 150 pieces for Grosfeld House. Eugene Schoen, an American architect and designer most closely associated with the Art Deco style, also developed pieces for the company, while designer Marc Berge made understated mid-century modern furniture for Grosfeld House into the 1960s.
Find vintage Grosfeld House tables, seating and storage pieces for your home on 1stDibs.
- Mahogany Dresser by Brown Saltman, C. 1950sBy Brown SaltmanLocated in Westport, CTDresser or sideboard executed in mahogany manufactured by Brown Saltman, circa 1950-1959. Compltely restored, featuring three large center drawers and nickel dome pulls, the side doo...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsNickel
- Vladimir Kagan 'Sloane' Sofa in Wool, Model 7550By Vladimir KaganLocated in Westport, CTEarly 2000's "Sloane" sofa by Vladimir Kagan, fully restored down to its frame, all insides including foam, straps, and spring system have been updated. Re-upholstered in off-white w...Category
Early 2000s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsWool, Walnut
- 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
- Brutalist Walnut Dresser with Nickel Accents, C. 1960sLocated in Westport, CTA brutalist-style dresser executed in walnut featuring nickel accent corners and hardware. The nine drawers provide ample storage space. Completely restored. Other designers from...Category
Mid-20th Century Canadian Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsNickel
- Stacked Dresser in Limed OakBy Stamford ModernLocated in Westport, CTInspired by the iconic designer Paul Frankl, this rustic modern bedside table blends timeless elegance with contemporary flair. The oversized drawer frames and subtly curved fronts c...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsBrass
$18,000 / item - Stacked Bedside Tables in Limed OakBy Stamford ModernLocated in Westport, CTInspired by the iconic designer Paul Frankl, these rustic modern bedside tables blend timeless elegance with contemporary flair. The oversized drawer frames and subtly curved fronts ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Mid-Century Modern End Tables
MaterialsBrass
$12,000 / set
- Important Double Dresser by Vladimir Kagan for Kagan-Dreyfuss, 1950s, SignedBy Vladimir Kagan, Kagan-Dreyfuss, Inc.Located in Los Angeles, CAThis very rare and important sculptural double dresser was designed by Vladimir Kagan and handcrafted by Kagan-Dreyfuss Inc during the 1950s in New York. Each of the two chests are s...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsWalnut
$49,700 Sale Price22% Off - Important Cerused Oak Sideboard by Vladimir Kagan for Kagan-Dreyfuss, SignedBy Vladimir Kagan, Kagan-Dreyfuss, Inc.Located in Los Angeles, CAThis important piece of design history was not only designed by Vladimir Kagan and handcrafted by Kagan-Dreyfuss in circa 1949 New York... this was also owned by Kagan himself and kept throughout his entire adult life (see provenance notes below). Each of the two pieces (lower credenza and upper dry bar / hutch) are signed on the back with Kagan-Dreyfuss New York stamps. The expansive size provides exceptional storage and use options. Kagan-Dreyfuss (Vladimir Kagan's partnership with Hugo Dreyfuss from circa 1950-1960) stamped pieces are amongst the most sought after by collectors and investors of art and design. Furniture with Kagan-Dreyfuss stamps are extremely hard to find and demand exceptional value, and this credenza with hutch is double stamped (one on each piece). Featuring a cerused oak exterior, with tambour doors on the lower credenza, sculpted handles (which slide to reveal a keyhole, no key is present however can be rekeyed) on the upper hutch...Category
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Sideboards
MaterialsGlass, Mirror, Formica, Oak
- Vladimir Kagan Style Sideboard in Burlwood with Brass AccentsBy Vladimir KaganLocated in Dallas, TXThis is a gorgeous sideboard/dresser. We have fully restored to rediscover this beautiful burl wood finish. Curvilinear edges with an ultra thick band surround four doors. The trim i...Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sideboards
MaterialsMetal
- Important Mid-Century Modern Vladimir Kagan Sideboard / Buffet, Full Dining SetBy Vladimir KaganLocated in Stamford, CTVladimir Kagan (American, 1927-2016) The Kagan Family Copeland Dining Room Sideboard or Buffet, Vladimir Kagan Designs, Inc., USA, circa 1983. Part of a full dining room set...Category
Vintage 1980s American Mid-Century Modern Sideboards
MaterialsBrass
- Mid-Century Custom Vladimir Kagan Sideboard for JFK TWA Saarinen TerminalBy Vladimir KaganLocated in New York, NYMidcentury tiger maple sideboard / bar with tambour side shelves over two drawers and center with raising mechanism and wine storage. This piece ...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sideboards
MaterialsMaple
- Vladimir Kagan Exotic Wood Illuminated Sideboard Bar Cabinet, c 1970s, SignedBy Vladimir KaganLocated in Los Angeles, CAThis impressive Vladimir Kagan for Vladimir Kagan Designs illuminated sideboard and hutch cabinet, in an exotic wood with incredible wood grain was...Category
Vintage 1970s American Post-Modern Sideboards
MaterialsBrass
$8,300 Sale Price27% Off