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Vladimir Kagan

American, German, 1927-2016

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.

Average Sold Price
$10,967
Styles
Materials
Related Creators
Iconic Designs from Vladimir Kagan
Explore timeless pieces that have earned their place in history.
Serpentine Sofa
Serpentine Sofa
Vladimir Kagan Omnibus I
Vladimir Kagan Omnibus I
Barrel Chair 100a
Barrel Chair 100a
Vladimir Kagan Crescent Chair
Vladimir Kagan Crescent Chair
Iconic Vladimir Kagan ‘Serpentine’ Sofa in Beige Upholstery
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Vladimir Kagan, sofa model ‘Serpentine’, fabric, chrome-plated metal, United States, design 1950s, later production This sofa is designed by Vladimir Kagan (1927-2016) and clearly e...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vladimir Kagan

Materials

Metal, Chrome

Vladimir Kagan Attributed Sofa for Preview
By Vladimir Kagan, Preview
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 1980s, fully restored in a wool velvet. This item is unsigned
Category

1980s American Post-Modern Vintage Vladimir Kagan

Materials

Velvet

Pair of Vladimir Kagan 'Cubist' Side Chairs in Walnut, c 1967, New York
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A beautiful set of Vladimir Kagan model #6724 sled based 'Cubist' chairs, circa 1967 New York. These side chairs feature walnut frames in an angular geometric form. Designed in 1967...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vladimir Kagan

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Vladimir Kagan Angle Tangent Sofa
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Dallas, TX
A rare find, the Tangent sofa with an open chaise feature by Vladimir Kagan Angle Tangent Sofa for Preview is an exquisite addition to any mid-century modern collection. This sofa bo...
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Vladimir Kagan

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

Vladimir Kagan Angle Tangent Sofa
Vladimir Kagan Angle Tangent Sofa
H 35 in W 101 in D 39 in
Pair of Vladimir Kagan Swivel Lounge Chairs
By Weiman, Vladimir Kagan
Located in Chicago, IL
Dimensions H: 29.5" W: 36" D: 34" Seat H: 17.5" Vladimir Kagan asymmetric lounge chairs, a distinctive find for enthusiasts of unique design. Created for Weiman, these chairs exempl...
Category

1980s American Post-Modern Vintage Vladimir Kagan

Materials

Upholstery

Sofa by Vladimir Kagan for Directional
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Dallas, TX
Sofa designed by Vladimir Kagan for Directional. Label to underside. Fully restored and upholstered in Holly Hunt / Fuzzy Wuzzy / Honey Bear plush mohair.
Category

1970s Vintage Vladimir Kagan

Materials

Mohair

Vladimir Kagan #4891-J Sofa for Directional
By Directional, Vladimir Kagan
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 1980s for Directional in its original microsuede. There is some light scratching to the microsuede consistent with how microsuede wears along with general wear from use and age. I...
Category

1980s American Post-Modern Vintage Vladimir Kagan

Materials

Fabric

Important Cerused Oak Sideboard by Vladimir Kagan for Kagan-Dreyfuss, Signed
By Kagan-Dreyfuss, Inc., Vladimir Kagan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This 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

1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vladimir Kagan

Materials

Glass, Mirror, Formica, Oak

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Creators Similar to Vladimir Kagan

More Vladimir Kagan Designs
Serpentine Sofa
Serpentine Sofa
Average Price
$18,756
Number Available
15
Serpentine Sofa
By Vladimir Kagan
Materials
Fabric, Upholstery
Styles
Mid Century Modern
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 includ...
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Vladimir Kagan Omnibus I
Vladimir Kagan Omnibus I
Average Price
$23,611
Number Available
8
Vladimir Kagan Omnibus I
By Vladimir Kagan
Materials
Fabric, Lucite, Plastic, Upholstery
Styles
Mid Century Modern
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Barrel Chair 100a
Barrel Chair 100a
Average Price
$14,850
Number Available
4
Barrel Chair 100a
By Vladimir Kagan
Materials
Fabric, Upholstery, Walnut, Wood
Styles
Mid Century Modern
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Vladimir Kagan Crescent Chair
Vladimir Kagan Crescent Chair
Average Price
$13,900
Number Available
4
Vladimir Kagan Crescent Chair
By Vladimir Kagan
Materials
Fabric, Metal, Upholstery, Chrome
Styles
Mid Century Modern
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Vladimir Kagan furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Vladimir Kagan furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of fabric and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Vladimir Kagan furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. We have 281 vintage editions of these items in-stock, while there is 8 modern edition to choose from as well. Many of the original furniture by Vladimir Kagan were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Florence Knoll, and Directional. Prices for Vladimir Kagan furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $1,190 and can go as high as $110,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $12,500.

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