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.
Rare Vladimir Kagan Solid Walnut Laminate Top Rolling Serving Tea Cart Bar MINT!
By Kagan-Dreyfuss, Inc., Vladimir Kagan
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Rare Vladimir Kagan Solid Walnut Laminate Top Rolling Serving Tea Cart Bar MINT!
Walnut
$614
H 25.6 in W 21.66 in D 14.97 in
1960s Czechoslovak Mid-Century Folding Bamboo Serving Trolley Bar Cart
Located in Praha, CZ
Elegant folding serving trolley produced in Czechoslovakia during the 1960s. This refined Mid-Century Modern design combines a black lacquered metal frame with woven bamboo accents ...
Metal
Art Deco 2-layer Glass Rare Rolling Bar Cart, 1940s, Italy
Located in Hagenbach, DE
Art Deco 2-layer Glass rare Rolling Bar Cart with ball top handle, 1940s Measurtements : Height: 58 cm Height with handle: 79 cm Diameter top: 44,5 cm Diameter bottom: 38,5 cm Ple...
Metal
Edward Wormley for Drexel Precedent Rolling Bar Cart
By Drexel, Edward Wormley
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pistachio green rolling bar cart from the Precedent series by Edward Wormley for Dunbar circa 1960. 3 tiered rolling cart featuring a textured glass top and casters. Precedent by Drexel...
Wood
Giuseppe Scapinelli Tea Bar Cart
By Giuseppe Scapinelli
Located in Washington, DC
An elegant and highly sculptural bar cart by Giuseppe Scapinelli, one of the most celebrated figures of Brazilian Mid-Century Modern design. Executed in solid caviúna wood with white...
Formica, Wood
Midcentury Italian Marble and Brass Bar or Serving Cart
Located in Water Mill, NY
Italian Mid-Century marble and brass bar or serving cart.
Marble, Brass
Red Goatskin Serving Bar Cart by Aldo Tura, 1960s
By Aldo Tura
Located in Brussels, BE
This Aldo Tura bar trolley with removable tray is in original and good condition, the wheels still roll well so you can easily drive around your house with it. The silver is somewhat...
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Rolling Bar/Serving Cart, Belgium design
Located in Antwerp, BE
Cubist Industrial solid chromed metal frame with inset white Formica and wengé shelves. In original good condition.
Metal
$1,024
H 22.64 in W 25.2 in D 19.3 in
English Teak Tea Bar Cart in Oak with Twisted Legs and Glass Top, 1950s
Located in Nørre Aaby, DK
Striking English tea bar cart from the 1950s in oak, featuring beautifully twisted legs and an elegant glass top. A highly sculptural and distinctive design with a refined vintage ch...
Glass, Oak
Modern Italian Black Faux-Bamboo Rolling Bar Cart
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Chic Italian rolling bar cart having a black anodized metal faux bamboo frame. Hollywood Regency design with a modern twist. Constructed with two tiers inset with black tempered glas...
Brass, Metal
$2,162
H 26.78 in W 26.38 in D 18.12 in
Italian Bamboo and Rattan Serving Bar Cart w/ Removable Top Tray, 1960s
Located in Roma, IT
Marvelous mid-century rectangular bar cart trolley with removable top tray fully made in curved bamboo and rattan. This incredibly unique French Riviera style cart was hand-made with perfect proportions, great example of fine Italian craftsmanship from the 60s. In spectacular condition, this wonderful piece with incredible details, the structure is fully made in curved rattan the two curved handles were perfectly designed to hold the removable top tray. The end result is an extremely charming and unique bar cart...
Metal
$6,750 / item
H 32 in W 36 in D 16 in
Blackened Steel, Cast-Concrete and Solid Walnut Wood Handsome Bar Cart
By Stefan Rurak
Located in Biddeford, ME
This bar cart is composed of a welded steel frame with lower steel shelf. Upper shelf is a mix of cast-concrete with a removable walnut surface that is finished to be food safe and u...
Concrete, Steel, Cut Steel
Mid-Century Danish Modern Sculpted Teak Expanding Serving Bar Cart
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Original Vintage Condition Dimensions: 28”H x 31”-48”W x 22”D
Formica, Teak
Vintage Bamboo and Rattan Bar Cart Serving Trolley
By Franco Albini
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a vintage bamboo and rattan bar cart (or serving trolley), typically found in coastal, bohemian, or Mid-Century Modern decor styles. These carts often date ba...
Rattan
$2,230
H 25.99 in W 37.01 in D 16.93 in
Rare Glass Bar Cart or Serving Trolley by Gallotti & Radice, Italy 1970's
By Gallotti & Radice
Located in Steenwijk, NL
This elegant bar cart or serving trolley was made by Gallotti & Radice in Italy in the 1970's. A design of Pierangelo Galotti and part of wide range of designs. It consists out of 3 ...
Stainless Steel, Chrome
German Mid-Century Folding Chrome Serving Bar Cart, 1960s
Located in Praha, CZ
Distinctive folding serving trolley produced in Germany during the 1960s, combining a lightweight chrome-plated tubular metal structure with two wood-effect molded plastic serving tr...
Metal, Chrome
Sold
H 29 in W 38 in D 19 in
Vladimir Kagan Rare Serving Cart with Incredible Hand-Thrown Ceramic Tiles, 1950
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Rare and important serving cart on castors in walnut with retractable top incorporating inset hand-thrown ceramic tiles showing posed dancers by Alexandra Kasuba for Vladimir Kagan, ...
Brass
Mosaic Tile Side Table by Vladimir Kagan for Kagan-Dreyfuss, circa 1955
By Kagan-Dreyfuss, Inc., Vladimir Kagan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This rare gem of a side table is by Vladimir Kagan, during his early years with Hugo Dreyfuss featuring his highly-sought-after-by-collectors mosaic tiles on the table top and sculpt...
Ceramic, Walnut
Iconic Serving Cart in Walnut by Vladimir Kagan
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Iconic serving cart in walnut with white laminate top and interior, also with original ice bucket, by Vladimir Kagan, American, 1950s (has authentication label inside).
Rare Walnut Serving Cart with Tiles by Vladamir Kagan
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Rare sculptural serving cart in walnut with unique figural tiles (designed by Alexandra Kusaba) by Vladamir Kagan for Kagan-Dreyfuss, American c.1949