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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
$11,560
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
Contour Rocking Chair 175f
Contour Rocking Chair 175f
Vladimir Kagan Serpentine Cloud Sofa in Holly Hunt Mohair
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Dallas, TX
Vladimir Kagan serpentine sofa by Directional. Newly upholstered in a beautiful mohair fabric by Holly Hunt.
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Vladimir Kagan

Materials

Upholstery, Lucite

Pair of Mid Century Documented Walnut "Barrel" Chairs by Vladimir Kagan, 1947
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in New York, NY
This sculptural and iconic pair of low back "Barrel" chairs were designed and executed by Vladimir Kagan, in 1947. They feature amorphic arms; subtly scalloped tops; and splayed coni...
Category

1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vladimir Kagan

Materials

Fabric, Walnut

Vladimir Kagan Erica Chaise Lounge Chair in New Holly Hunt Mohair
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in San Diego, CA
The Erica Chaise was first designed in 1969 and named after Vladimir Kagan’s wife, beloved needlework maven Erica Wilson. Redesigned with the clean lines and classic feel of the prot...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vladimir Kagan

Materials

Acrylic

1970s Vladimir Kagan Burl Walnut, Lucite and Glass Low Table
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Charleston, SC
A striking design in rich and innovative materials, this coffee table by Vladimir Kagan has terrific presence in the room. The thick Lucite legs support a top of highly figured burle...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vladimir Kagan

Materials

Glass, Lucite, Burl

Vladimir Kagan Boucle Cloud Sofa
By Weiman, Vladimir Kagan
Located in Chicago, IL
Introducing the Vladimir Kagan 3-Piece Cloud Sectional: A contemporary masterpiece that seamlessly combines style and comfort. This sectional invites up to six individuals to enjoy i...
Category

1980s American Modern Vintage Vladimir Kagan

Materials

Bouclé

Vladimir Kagan Boucle Cloud Sofa
Vladimir Kagan Boucle Cloud Sofa
H 29.5 in W 134 in D 80 in
Vladimir Kagan Serpentine Sofa, Directional
By Vladimir Kagan, Directional
Located in Raleigh, NC
Expertly restored with new mohair upholstery on this iconic sofa. A classic designed by Vladimir Kagan and manufactured by Directional.
Category

1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vladimir Kagan

Materials

Upholstery

Vintage Vladimir Kagan for Preview Sectional Sofa
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Palm Desert, CA
Vintage Vladimir Kagan sectional sofa Modular sofa Postmodern MCM Minimalist Retro 1970s-1980s The sofa comes in 2 sections. Newly Upholstered with...
Category

1970s Unknown Post-Modern Vintage Vladimir Kagan

Materials

Bouclé

Pair of Vladimir Kagan Corkscrew Nautilus Swivel Chairs for Directional
By Directional, Vladimir Kagan
Located in Wayne, NJ
Pair of Vladimir Kagan corkscrew swivel chairs for Directional. If you are in the New Jersey , New York City Metro Area , please...
Category

1990s American Mid-Century Modern Vladimir Kagan

Materials

Fabric

Browse all Furniture from Vladimir Kagan
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Creators Similar to Vladimir Kagan

More Vladimir Kagan Designs
Serpentine Sofa
Serpentine Sofa
Average Price
$20,798
Number Available
13
Serpentine Sofa
By Vladimir Kagan
Materials
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood, Boucle, Lucite, Plastic
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
$23,750
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
$16,146
Number Available
7
Barrel Chair 100a
By Vladimir Kagan
Materials
Fabric, Mohair, Upholstery, Wool
Styles
Mid Century Modern
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Contour Rocking Chair 175f
Contour Rocking Chair 175f
Average Price
$41,700
Number Available
2
Contour Rocking Chair 175f
By Vladimir Kagan
Materials
Fabric, Walnut, Wood, Alpaca, Animal Skin, Boucle, Hide, Wool
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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