Vladimir Kagan Desks
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
Vladimir Kagan Curved Lucite and Oak Desk
By Vladimir Kagan
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An elegantly curved desk with thick lucite legs and white oak top. Designed by Vladimir Kagan.
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Early Vladimir Kagan Custom Order Desk with Drawers. Walnut and Cane.
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Early, one of a kind, Vladimir Kagan Desk. Walnut case with cane modesty panel. Super cool and sleek design. Classic Kagan sculptural tripod legs support each side. We believe th...
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1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Vladimir Kagan Desks
Materials
Cane, Walnut
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Modular in nature, there is a dresser unit, that is flanked by a file cabinet, diagonally slatted drawers, and a drafting drawer for Kagan's pens. The unit has an attached drafting table with a drawer that features a multi-level adjusting lever where Vladimir Kagan himself used to sit and prepare his sketches.
Below the drafting table, you can see the groove to pullout the drawer was completely hand tooled.
This seat is comprised of hardwood, with rosewood veneer, brass legs and drawer pulls which have been polished back to their original glow, and a laminate top on the drafting table.
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Vladimir Kagan (1927-2016) was a German-born American furniture designer known for his sleek, modernist designs that combined organic shapes with high-tech materials.
Kagan began his career in the 1940s, working for his father's furniture business in Germany. He later immigrated to the United States and started his own design studio in New York City in 1949. Over the next several decades, Kagan created hundreds of iconic designs, including his signature "Sculptured Chair" and "Floating Sofa," which became icons of 1950s and 60s modernism.
Kagan's designs were celebrated for their sculptural quality and unique use of materials, such as fiberglass, lucite, and stainless steel. He also pioneered the use of ergonomics in furniture design, creating pieces that were not only beautiful but also comfortable to use.
Throughout his career, Kagan received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to design, including the American Society of Interior Designers' Designer of Distinction award in 1985 and induction into the Interior Design Hall of Fame in 2009.
Kagan's impact on the world of furniture design is incredibly significant. His work helped define the Mid-Century Modern aesthetic, and his innovative use of materials and focus on ergonomics continue to influence designers today. His designs are highly sought after by collectors and are displayed in museums around the world.
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Vladimir Kagan roll top writing desk.
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Vladimir Kagan desks for sale on 1stDibs.
Vladimir Kagan desks are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. Many of the original desks by Vladimir Kagan were created in the mid-century modern style in united states during the 1950s. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider desks by Edward Wormley, Harvey Probber, and John Van Koert. Prices for Vladimir Kagan desks can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $22,850 and can go as high as $22,850, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $22,850.