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Vladimir Kagan Furniture

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.

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Creator: Vladimir Kagan
Dealer: Greenwich Living Design
Vladimir Kagan, Directional, Mid-Century Modern, Serpentine Cloud Sofa, Velvet
By Directional, Vladimir Kagan
Located in Manhasset, NY
Vladimir Kagan, Directional, Mid-Century Modern, Curved Cloud Sofa, Beige Velvet, Lucite, USA, 1980s The Cloud Sofa, designed by Vladimir Kagan and produced by Directional in the 19...
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1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vladimir Kagan Furniture

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Vladimir Kagan, Mid-Century Modern, Dining Table, Zebrawood, Glass, USA, 1967
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Manhasset, NY
Vladimir Kagan, Mid-Century Modern, Dining Table, Zebrawood, Glass, USA, 1967 The Model 6705 extendable dining table, designed by Vladimir Kagan for Vladimir Kagan Designs, Inc. in ...
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1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vladimir Kagan Furniture

Materials

Glass, Zebra Wood

Pair of Mid-Century Modern Organic Vladimir Kagan Bilbao Sofas, White Boucle
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Manhasset, NY
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Organic Vladimir Kagan Bilbao Sofas, White Boucle Pair of handsome mid-century modern organic form sofas by Vladimir Kag...
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Early 2000s American Mid-Century Modern Vladimir Kagan Furniture

Materials

Bouclé, Wood

Vladimir Kagan, Mid-Century Modern, Sideboard, Burlwood, Chrome, Lacquer, 1970s
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Manhasset, NY
Mid-Century Modern Waterfall Sideboard / Dresser by Vladimir Kagan, Burlwood   Burlwood, Chrome, Lacquer United States, 1970s   Vladimir Kagan burl wood and lacquered sideboard or console with 2 file cabinet drawers having interior locks. The two center shelved doors flanked by a pair of file cabinets...
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Late 20th Century American Modern Vladimir Kagan Furniture

Materials

Wood

Vladimir Kagan, Mid-Century Modern Dining Table, Maple, Lacquer, USA, 1980s
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Manhasset, NY
Vladimir Kagan (American, 1927-2016) The Kagan Family Copeland Dining Room Set, Vladimir Kagan Designs, Inc., USA, circa 1983, This stunning dining table sold on its own has a complementing set of dining chairs and a matching sideboard sold separately. This Hexagonal shaped table of Birdseye maple is finely inlaid having bronze mounts and two tone base with two additional 24 inch leaves. A one of a kind table made exclusively for the Kagan family. One of two complete Kagan dining sets...
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Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Vladimir Kagan Furniture

Materials

Brass

Vladimir Kagan, Mid-Century Modern, Eva Dining Room Set, Maple, Black Lacquer
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Manhasset, NY
Vladimir Kagan (American, 1927-2016) Eva Dining Room Set, Vladimir Kagan Designs, Inc., USA, circa 1983 Pieces can be purchased separately. Please inquire for separate pricing. Provenance: Property from the Personal Collection of Vladimir Kagan Birdseye maple veneer, painted and lacquered wood, Fully Refinished Table...
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1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vladimir Kagan Furniture

Materials

Birdseye Maple, Lacquer

Vladimir Kagan Mid-Century Modern, Six Eva Dining Chairs, Lacquer, Maroon Fabric
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Manhasset, NY
Set of Six Vladimir Kagan Mid-Century Modern 'Eva' Dining / Side Chairs, Labeled Vladimir Kagan (American, 1927-2016) Eva Dining Room Set, Vladimir Kagan Designs, Inc., USA, circa 1...
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1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vladimir Kagan Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Lacquer

Mid-Century Modern Eva Dining Table by Vladimir Kagan, Labeled Full Dining Set
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Manhasset, NY
Vladimir Kagan (American, 1927-2016) Eva Dining Room Table, Vladimir Kagan Designs, Inc., USA, circa 1983. Labeled, Fully Refinished Investment grade Important Designer Dining Set -...
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1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vladimir Kagan Furniture

Materials

Birdseye Maple, Lacquer

Mid-Century Modern Eva Sideboard by Vladimir Kagan Birdeye Maple, Lacquer, 1983
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Manhasset, NY
Vladimir Kagan (American, 1927-2016) Eva Dining Room Set, Vladimir Kagan Designs, Inc., USA, circa 1983 The sideboard (Model 83-210) comprising a center bow front section of two doors having a fitted interior, containing one shelf and one drawer fitted with a cloth flatware organizer, flanked by two side sections, the left with vertical platter organizers, the right with two shelves. Applied label to interior of drawer: "Hand made in the workshops of Vladimir Kagan, Vladimir Kagan Designs, New York" Seen in the last pictures in its original unfinished condition. Birdseye maple veneer, painted and lacquered wood United States, c. 1983 Provenance Property from the Personal Collection of Vladimir Kagan Part of a complete dining room set...
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Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Vladimir Kagan Furniture

Materials

Birdseye Maple, Ebony

Important Mid-Century Modern Vladimir Kagan Sideboard / Buffet, Full Dining Set
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Manhasset, NY
Vladimir 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...
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1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vladimir Kagan Furniture

Materials

Brass

Vladimir Kagan Dining Room Set, Table, Chairs, Sideboard, Labeled, Copeland
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Manhasset, NY
Vladimir Kagan (American, 1927-2016) The Kagan Family Copeland Dining Room Set, Vladimir Kagan Designs, Inc., USA, circa 1983 Can purchase separately Birdseye maple veneer, mahogan...
Category

1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vladimir Kagan Furniture

Materials

Birdseye Maple, Mahogany, Lacquer

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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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