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.
Matinee Sofa by Vladimir Kagan for American Leather
By American Leather, Vladimir Kagan
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 2000s. USA. Reupholstered in Maharam felt plaid fabric.
Fabric
Vladimir Kagan “Arc” Sofa for Directional, 1990s
By Vladimir Kagan, Directional
Located in Chicago, IL
Vladimir Kagan “Arc” Sofa for Directional, 1990s, fully restored in a wool velvet. Very good condition
Velvet
Vladimir Kagan Large Sectional Custom L Shaped Sofa Rust bouclé Vintage Certifed
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Exceptional and substantial Vladimir Kagan custom unique L shaped sectional. This piece is designed as a multi-directional sofa, allowing access and...
Brass
Curvy Vladimir Kagan Serpentine Sofa with Lucite Base
By Vladimir Kagan, Directional
Located in Bensalem, PA
Original Vladimir Kagan serpentine sofa with original Directional tags please feel free to reach out with any questions
Upholstery
Fiftyish Wingback Leather Sofa by Vladimir Kagan for American Leather
By American Leather, Vladimir Kagan
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 2000s. We also have another available with walnuts feet. Original leather with chrome legs. Extremely rare piece of design.
Leather
Vladimir Kagan “Zoe” Sofa
By American Leather, Vladimir Kagan
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 2000s for American Leather, signed - excellent vintage condition
Fabric
Vladimir Kagan Post Modern Marilyn Sofa in Ivory White Bouclé
By Directional, Vladimir Kagan
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Post modern Vladimir Kagan Marilyn Sofa by Directional for Vladimir Kagan in new ivory white bouclé upholstery. Whimsical and happy, Kagan's Marilyn line...
Bouclé, Upholstery
Vladimir Kagan Serpentine Sofa
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Dallas, TX
A 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...
Fabric
20th Century American Lucite Four Seater Serpentine Sofa by Vladimir Kagan
By Vladimir Kagan, Directional
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A vintage Mid-Century Modern American four seater Serpentine sofa with two pillows, designed by Vladimir Kagan and produced by Directional in good condition. The seat backrest of the...
Fabric, Bouclé, Upholstery, Lucite
Vintage White American Four Seater Nautilus Sofa - Settee by Vladimir Kagan
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A vintage Mid-Century modern American four seater nautilus sofa with four pillows, designed by Vladimir Kagan in good condition. The high seat backrest of the settee, canapé curves s...
Fabric, Bouclé, Upholstery, Wood
Vladimir Kagan Fiftyish Sofa in Super Soft Ivory White Bouclé
By American Leather, Vladimir Kagan
Located in Saint Louis, MO
A love for his 1950s wingback design motivated Vladimir Kagan to circle back and produce a more contemporary version he later named the Fiftyish Sofa. Vladimir Kagan's tendency to ov...
Stainless Steel
Vladimir Kagan Serpentine Sofa, Model 150 BS
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Raleigh, NC
An incredible serpentine sofa from Vladimir Kagan designed in 1950. This example was originally upholstered in white leather with white lacquer bases, circa 2000. Now restored in a...
Upholstery, Walnut
Vladimir Kagan, "Unicorn" Sofa, Lucite, Velvet, USA, c. 1975
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in High Point, NC
A curved velvet and lucite "Unicorn" sofa, designed by Vladimir Kagan and produced by Vladimir Kagan Designs, Inc. Model originally designed with metal base, present example is a ra...
Velvet, Lucite
Vladimir Kagan Wide Angle Tangent Sofa, Model 506
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Dallas, TX
Vladimir Kagan Wide Angle Tangent Sofa, Model 506. We recommend new upholstery on this beautiful and comfortable sofa. The last photo shows one we reupholstered that was sent to Swit...
Upholstery, Wood
Vladimir Kagan Matinee Sofa for American Leather
By Vladimir Kagan, American Leather
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Matinee sofa by Vladimir Kagan for American Leather, c.2000s, USA. Vladimir Kagan (1927-2016) designed this sofa which converts into a daybed when the back rest is removed. His desig...
Leather, Upholstery
Serpentine Wave Sofa by Vladimir Kagan for American Leather
By American Leather, Vladimir Kagan
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 2000s. Price is for the set. Contact us if you’d like to purchase a single item. Modular ottoman with attachable clips. Reupholstered in Bernhardt Marigold fabric. Ottoman: 45W ...
Fabric
Vladimir Kagan Tangent Sofa, Mid-Century Modern, Wood Legs, USA, 1980s
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...
Upholstery, Wood
Vladimir Kagan Serpentine Cloud Sofa in Plush Mohair
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Dallas, TX
Vladimir Kagan serpentine sofa by Directional. Newly upholstered in a beautiful plush lustrous mohair fabric. Light blue gray.
Lucite, Mohair
Vladimir Kagan Swan Back Sofa
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Vladimir Kagan Swan back Sofa faux leather and steel
Upholstery
Vladimir Kagan Large Custom Double Sided Sofa White Bouclé Vintage, Certified
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Exceptional and substantial Vladimir Kagan custom unique double sided sofa. This piece is designed as a multi-directional sofa, allowing access and co...
Brass
Fiftyish Wingback Leather Sofa, Vladimir Kagan for American Leather
By American Leather, Vladimir Kagan
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 2000s. We also have a matching chair available. Original leather with walnut legs. Extremely rare piece of design.
Leather
$12,000 / set
Bilbao Sofa by Vladimir Kagan
By Vladimir Kagan, Preview
Located in Danville, CA
Bilbao sofa by Vladimir Kagan. These sofas were some of Kagan's most Avant Garde creations and are quite dramatic. There is wear to the upholstery and it ...
Upholstery, Hardwood
Vladimir Kagan Restored "Fiftyish" Sofa for American Leather, 2000s
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Coronado, CA
"Fiftyish" sofa designed by Vladimir Kagan and produced by American leather in the 2000s. This contemporary design was influenced by Kagan's winged barrel chairs of the 1950s. This e...
Stainless Steel
Fabulous Sculptural Modern Vladimir Kagan Leather Bilbao Sofa Mid-century
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Pemberton, NJ
A sculptural modern sofa designed by Vladimir Kagan and inspired by the curves and undulations of the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao Spain. I do have a pair of these gorgeous sofa both ...
Wood, Leather
Vladimir Kagan Zoe Sofa for American Leather in Cinnabar Ultrasuede
By American Leather, Vladimir Kagan
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A pretty Zoe sofa designed by Vladimir Kagan for American Leather. The sofa is in a microfiber or ultra suede fabric in Cinnabar. It is tagged and dated 2006. The microfiber is wond...
Ultrasuede
Sofa by Vladimir Kagan for Directional
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Dallas, TX
A serpentine / cloud sofa designed by Vladimir Kagan for Directional. Fully restored and upholstered in Latimer Alexander / Nevada / Cinnamon mohair. Matching pair available.
Mohair
$22,000Sale Price / set|22% Off
Sloane Sectional Sofa by Vladimir Kagan
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Atlanta, GA
Established in 2008, the Vladimir Kagan Couture collection features a selection of the Classic Kagan designs from 1950s to his new designs from 21st century. One of the new designs on offer here is the New Moon sofa...
Fabric, Foam, Wood
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Organic Vladimir Kagan Bilbao Sofas, White Boucle
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Stamford, CT
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Organic Vladimir Kagan Bilbao Sofas, White Boucle Pair of handsome mid-century modern organic form sofas by Vladimir Kag...
Bouclé, Wood
Vladimir Kagan High 'Barrel Back' Sofa
By Kagan-Dreyfuss, Inc., Vladimir Kagan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
High back 'Barrel' sofa by Vladimir Kagan for Kagan-Dreyfuss, c.1950s, USA. The sofa is newly upholstered in a warm silver ribbed mohair Holly Hunt fabric. The luxurious three seater...
Upholstery, Mohair
Nautilus Sofa by Vladimir Kagan for Directional
By Directional, Vladimir Kagan
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 1980s. USA. Reupholstered in beige mohair. Tagged Directional. Original example designed by Vladimir Kagan
Mohair
Vladimir Kagan Sofa, Ochre, United States
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Barcelona, ES
Vladimir Kagan Sofa model “Directional” Manufactured by Vladimir Kagan Designs, Inc. United States Upholstery, walnut Measurements 244 cm x 147 cm x 75 cm 96 in x 58 in x 29.5 in ...
Upholstery, Walnut
Vladimir Kagan Unicorn sofa for Kagan Designs, 1967. Very Rare. One Owner.
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Kansas City, MO
This original Vladimir Kagan Curved Unicorn sofa has had only one owner and was purchased directly from Vladimir Kagan Designs, Inc. in 1967. The design ...
Aluminum, Wrought Iron
Vladimir Kagan “Matinee” Sofa in 100% Alpaca
By American Leather, Vladimir Kagan
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage, signed - excellent restored condition. This piece has been fully reupholstered in a 100% alpaca fabric
Fabric
Vladimir Kagan, "Unicorn" Sofa, Lucite, Velvet, USA, c. 1975
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in High Point, NC
A curved velvet and lucite "Unicorn" sofa, designed by Vladimir Kagan and produced by Vladimir Kagan Designs, Inc. Model originally designed with metal base, present example is a ra...
Velvet, Lucite
Hurricane Sofa by Vladimir Kagan for Directional
By Vladimir Kagan, Directional
Located in Chicago, IL
Hurricane Sofa by Vladimir Kagan for Directional c. 1990s. USA. Reupholstered in white boucle fabric.
Bouclé