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.
Vladimir Kagan Dining Room Set, Table, Chairs, Sideboard, Labeled, Copeland
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Stamford, CT
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...
Birdseye Maple, Mahogany, Lacquer
Vladimir Kagan, Mid-Century Modern, Eva Dining Room Set, Maple, Black Lacquer
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Stamford, CT
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...
Birdseye Maple, Lacquer
1970s Mid Century Dining Room Set of 7
Located in North Hollywood, CA
This 1970s dining set is a striking example of American mid-century design, combining timeless style with thoughtful functionality. The set features a solid wooden dining table with ...
Wood
Lovely Dining Set, Four Chairs and a Dining Room Table
Located in New York, NY
This set includes a dining room table that includes an attachment. The table is approximately 53 inches long, but the extension adds 16 inches, making it nearly 70 inches in length. ...
Wood
$6,450 / set
H 32.88 in W 78.75 in D 63.19 in
Scandinavian Modern Dining Room Set with Table, Bench, Set of Chairs
By Rainer Daumiller
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Dining room set consisting of a dining table, bench, and pair of chairs, solid beech, Scandinavia, 1980s This expansive dining room set is a rare find, distinguished by its exceptio...
Beech
$3,850
H 18 in W 41.5 in D 41.5 in
Mid-Century Modern Sculptural Walnut Snail Cocktail Table by Vladimir Kagan 1970
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous design from the sixties by Vladimir Kagan and Associates. Snail walnut cocktail table with a choice of two different configurations, round or square. Round being 38" in diam...
Glass, Walnut
$19,900Sale Price|30% Off
H 28.5 in W 48 in D 48 in
VK201 Rosewood Dining Table by Vladimir Kagan for Kagan-Dreyfuss, 1958, Signed
By Kagan-Dreyfuss, Inc., Vladimir Kagan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This rare and important model #VK-201 sculptured Rosewood and Walnut 'Round Extension Dining Table' by Vladimir Kagan for Kagan-Dreyfuss was designed in 1958, this example produced between 1958 and 1960, during Kagan's partnership with Hugo Dreyfuss which ended in 1960. This rare example is stamped with the Kagan-Dreyfuss branded marks on the underside of the table and under one of the two leaves, and serves as an important early example of this sought-after design, perfect for collectors, art and design investors, and interior designers working on high profile projects. This Model VK-201, described in Kagan's early catalogues as a 'Round Extension Dining Table in walnut with rosewood top' has Kagan's signature gorgeous sculpted legs in solid walnut along with a magnificent vivid-grained Rosewood top. Just look at the closeup photos of the sculpted edges and tailored legs... this table looks more like a sculpture than merely just furniture. Quality of materials and craftsmanship you don't find in todays products - this table is the epitome of the saying 'they don't make them like they used to'. Ultra refinement in this gorgeous collectors piece which extends from a dining or card / game / cafe table seating for four, to a larger dining or meeting table suitable for eight. With no leaves - the table is 48" round and with both leaves extends to 96" while retaining a very nice 48" width. Vladimir Kagan's works have been highly valued by collectors and art / design investors, and his earlier works in the 1950s partnership with Hugo Dreyfuss (Kagan-Dreyfuss from 1950 to 1960) are among the most sought after by 'purist collectors' like myself. Why do I prize his 1950s works above all else? I can write a short book on this, but one easy to explain reason is that this was a period unlike the rest of his career, where items produced in this time are hallmarked within that period - a distinction that his later works lacked. Essentially, everything post the early 60s blended together with the decades thereafter. A novice Kagan collector is content with anything by Kagan, even items produced by Directional and American Leather Company...
Walnut, Rosewood
$4,250 / set
H 39.5 in W 23.5 in D 21 in
Vintage Chinese Harwood Chinoiserie Dining Room Set Table 8 Chairs - 9 Pc Set
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Chinese Harwood Chinoiserie Dining Room Set Table 8 Chairs - 9 Pc Set. Listing includes (1) 24" leaf, (2) armchairs, (6) side ch...
Mother-of-Pearl, Hardwood
Mid Century Modern Heywood Wakefield 8 Piece Dining Set
By Heywood-Wakefield Co.
Located in Chicago, IL
Mid Century Modern Heywood Wakefield 8 Piece Dining Set The Mid Century Modern Heywood Wakefield 8 Piece Dining Set is a timeless representation of mid-century design excellence. Th...
Fabric, Wood
$41,700Sale Price / set|40% Off
H 31 in W 54 in D 15 in
Mid-Century Modern Sideboards / Cabinets by, Vladimir Kagan in 1961.
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in North Miami, FL
Presenting a remarkable pair of custom Mid-Century Modern sideboards/cabinets meticulously crafted by the renowned designer Vladimir Kagan in 1961. These exquisite pieces are constru...
Stone, Travertine, Brass
$6,500
H 23 in W 21.75 in D 21.75 in
Vladimir Kagan Modernist End Table in Rosewood, Kagan-Dreyfuss, c. 1950
By Kagan-Dreyfuss, Inc., Vladimir Kagan
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pedestal end table, model 6722, comprising an open square body in lacquered rosewood finished with a .75-inch, tinted glass top with radiused corners, designed by Vladimir Kagan for ...
Glass, Rosewood
Vladimir Kagan Walnut and Glass End Tables
By Selig, Vladimir Kagan
Located in Brooklyn, NY
We can bring this item to you curbside for local, in-person viewing. Inquiries welcome. Handsome midcentury pair of tables featuring gracefully curved walnut veneer panels, contra...
Chrome
$10,000Sale Price|28% Off
H 13 in W 84 in D 21 in
Vladimir Kagan for Kagan-Dreyfuss Table w Alexandra Kasuba Tiles, c 1949, Signed
By Kagan-Dreyfuss, Inc., Vladimir Kagan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This rare collectors piece is a documented and signed low table designed in 1949 by Vladimir Kagan and produced through the 1950's while Kagan was partnered with Hugo Dreyfuss. Signed underneath with the Kagan-Dreyfuss stamp as can be seen in the photos, which reads Kagan-Dreyfuss New York, A Vladimir Kagan Design. Featuring Alexandra Kasuba ceramic art tiles over rough-etched oak and brass sheet legs. The Kasuba tiles feature a design of modernist horses and trees in colors of red, orange, yellow and green over a black background. This example is the larger 84" width of the design and ideal either as a long coffee or cocktail table or a low console / media table placed against a wall. Excellent option to place a sculpture or pottery and plant while displaying the beautiful Kasuba art tiles. This piece is functional fine art for your floor. Extremely rare and sought-after by collectors, this early production Kagan design produced during the Hugo Dreyfuss years. Items stamped with the Hugo-Dreyfuss stamp are exceptional pieces held in collections of fine art and design connoisseurs. Interior designers, get this for your most difficult-to-please high-profile client. *The Paul Evans Patchwork Copper sideboard and the emerald green velvet Togo sofa...
Brass
$5,378 / set
H 31.89 in W 18.9 in D 19.69 in
Charles Ray Eames Herman Miller Dining Room Set 4 La Fonda Chairs & Dining Table
By Herman Miller, Charles and Ray Eames
Located in Sherborne, Dorset
A rare set of four 1960s Charles & Ray Eames “La Fonda” DSL dining chairs for Herman Miller with fibreglass shells, original red naugahyde with black piping on a four column pede...
Metal, Aluminum
Important Vladimir Kagan Documented Mosaic Dining Set with Signed Sketch
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This rare and important, fully documented, mosaic tile dining set by Vladimir Kagan includes the rare and highly sought after mosaic tile dining table, four 'Cycle II' dining armchairs, a signed and framed sketch by Kagan himself which he made for his friend when he originally conceptualized this design, along with a copy of the original receipt and five authentication tags from Kagan's design studio for each piece in the set. Provenance to be provided upon purchase. This custom dining set features a 38" diameter dining table with mosaic tiles of varying shades of reds, oranges and yellows wrapped in a stainless steel band floating atop a 3/4" thick cylinder lucite base. The four (4) dining armchairs are custom '6706 Cycle II' chairs upholstered in red 'Elmo' leather channel tufted over curved walnut frames. This set comes along with a signed hand-sketch by Vladimir Kagan when he conceptualized this design originally for his friend. This sketch was professionally framed and matted and is included in the sale. Also included is a copy of the original receipt and serialized authentication tags. The authentication tags were provided by Kagan's design studio and while they have not been attached to each piece, does correspond numerically to the registrations numbers provided on the receipt. We can attach these plastic authentication plaques for you prior to shipping or provide them loose in which you can either store away or attach yourself to each item. Simply let us know, and we are happy to help. Per the original owner of this set, who previously owned a famous NYC apartment that Kagan had designed, which also was featured in an interior design magazine, Kagan had discussed the idea with her to create a mosaic table for her "like the ones he used to make in the 50's". He then proceeded to sketch out his ideas in front of her on paper and signed it for her to keep. What makes this set extra special, besides the full documentation and provenance, besides the custom mosaic design which is extremely rare and highly sought after by collectors, and besides having a Kagan signed colored sketch included with the set... what makes this set so incredibly special is that this is not just one of the many designs that Kagan made which was then later produced in various colors, finishes and options by his studio.... this set was completely envisioned by Kagan himself and then executed by Kagan for a friend, from the colors, leather and wood finish selection, and the complete design of the mosaic top. Every artistic detail was personally selected and put together by Valdimir Kagan himself. Kagan fans and collectors - rejoice, this is the dream dining set you have been waiting for, a connection to the intimate world of Vladimir Kagan. Consider using this Vladimir Kagan dining set...
Stainless Steel
Sold
H 29 in Dm 41 in
Vladimir Kagan for Kagan Dreyfuss "Capricorn" Outdoor Dining Set 1950s, Restored
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Known for his eye-catching, modernistic, dynamic designs, Vladimir Kagan's work attracted a stream of notable design projects, along with a lengthy list of celebrity clientele, inclu...
Steel
Vladimir Kagan Dining Set
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Vladimir Kagan indoor or outdoor dining set.
Steel
Le Dome Table by Charle Hollis Jones from the Dorothy McGuire Estate
By Charles Hollis Jones, Vladimir Kagan
Located in Palm Springs, CA
For your consideration a custom ordered Charles Hollis Jones Le Dome table from the Dorothy McGuire Estate. ( Dorothy of the McGuire Sist...
Metal
Dining Table By Vladimir Kagan
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Sagaponack, NY
Round dining table expands with two leaves to accommodate seating for eight. Shown with Kagan shield-back chairs available a la cart via list...
Walnut, Upholstery