Vladimir Kagan Nautilus Swivel Lounge Chairs for Directional
View Similar Items
Vladimir Kagan Nautilus Swivel Lounge Chairs for Directional
About the Item
- Creator:Vladimir Kagan (Designer),Directional (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 30 in (76.2 cm)Width: 37 in (93.98 cm)Depth: 35 in (88.9 cm)Seat Height: 18 in (45.72 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Post-Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Period:1980-1989
- Date of Manufacture:1980's
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Wear/Stain to ultra-suede trim fabric (See Photos). Patterned fabric in good condition.
- Seller Location:Lambertville, NJ
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU114921677722
Vladimir Kagan
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.
Directional
A brand known to vintage mid-century modern furniture collectors everywhere, Directional Furniture opened its doors after American furniture designer Paul McCobb created the high-end Directional Modern line of sofas distributed by the New York–based Modernage Company.
In his pivotal introduction of postwar modernism to the mass market, the revered Massachusetts-born McCobb had established several lines, from the affordable and refined Planner Group for Winchendon to the swooping and unexpected arms of the Symmetric Group for Widdicomb, a Shaker-inspired collection that included a sofa and a lounge chair. Like all of McCobb’s designs, the Directional pieces for Modernage are defined by a sleek aesthetic in which the focus is on elegant functionality, frequently using fine materials such as brass and walnut. In 1949, in partnership with New York furniture salesman B.G. Mesberg, McCobb set up the Directional Furniture Company.
The pair’s first pieces were upholstered chairs, intended to harmonize with the modular Multiplex pieces designed by Martin Feinman. McCobb then designed an array of furniture including storage, dining, seating, desks and other pieces with details such as leather tops, wood finishes and Roman Travertine surfaces. While Directional stopped production of McCobb’s work in the early 1960s, it still released numerous pieces by leading designers manufactured by a variety of companies.
Designer Paul Evans led the factory for a time after joining in 1964. His provocative work for the company often reflected his understanding of materials from his early training as a silversmith, such as the popular Cityscape series — a milestone in brutalist design — with its blocky forms accented with brass and chrome. At his shop in Lambertville, New Jersey, he collaborated with a design team to clad furniture pieces in metallic surfaces, like the Argente line that began production in 1968 and involved an acetylene torch to give its aluminum material a textural quality. He also worked on the Sculpted Bronze series with hand-formed resin shaped over plywood or steel that was then coated with atomized bronze.
Other Directional designers included Vladimir Kagan, who contributed biomorphic sofas and swivel chairs; Milo Baughman, who created tables and dressers inspired by Scandinavian modernism; and Jack Lenor Larsen, who covered sofas in dynamically patterned fabric.
Find authentic Directional Furniture seating, tables, case pieces and storage cabinets from top sellers around the world on 1stDibs.
- Sculptural Spiral Leather Lounge ChairLocated in Lambertville, NJModern sculptural black leather accent lounge chair. Made in Canada.Category
1990s Canadian Modern Chairs
MaterialsSteel
$840 Sale Price30% Off - 1980’s Post Modern Sculptural Black Upholstered Lounge Rounded Arm ChairLocated in Lambertville, NJSculptural 1980's lounge armchair fully upholstered in a black satin fabric. This Post Modern curved chair features a tight back and seat. Perfect ...Category
Vintage 1980s Post-Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery
- James Mont Hollywood Regency Style Chinoiserie Lounge Chairs, 1970'sBy Century Furniture, James MontLocated in Lambertville, NJJames Mont Style horseshoe Chinoiserie accent lounge chairs. These Hollywood Regency style chairs feature beautiful honey wood curved fra...Category
Vintage 1970s Hollywood Regency Armchairs
MaterialsBrass
- Organic Faux Bois Carved Wood Lounge Arm Club Chair, Casa StradivariBy Casa StradivariLocated in Lambertville, NJFaux bois carved wood lounge arm club chair by New York furniture manufacturer Casa Stradivari. This generous sized chair features sloped arms and fantastic carved faux bois detailing in organic natural wood...Category
Vintage 1980s Hollywood Regency Lounge Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Wood
$1,200 Sale Price20% Off - Italian Pietro Constantini for Ello Draped Black Lacquer Side Accent ChairBy Ello Furniture, Pietro CostantiniLocated in Lambertville, NJFabulous Hollywood Regency Style Italian black lacquer side chair designed by Pietro Costantini for Ello Furniture. This sculptural accent or desk chair features a graphic draped bac...Category
Vintage 1980s Italian Hollywood Regency Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Wood
- Hollywood Regency James Mont Style Lacquer Lounge Armchair by CenturyBy Century Furniture, James MontLocated in Lambertville, NJHollywood Regency style lounge accent chair by Century Furniture. This James Mont style armchair features a gloss black lacquer wood frame with brass hardware accents. Cushion is new...Category
Vintage 1970s Hollywood Regency Lounge Chairs
MaterialsBrass
- Vladimir Kagan Nautilus Swivel ChairsBy Vladimir KaganLocated in Providence, RIUp for sale is a pair of Nautilus chairs attributed to Vladimir Kagan, one of his most iconic designs. These chairs feature a unique curved shell shape that is both stylish and comfortable, with a plush padded seat and backrest. The chairs are upholstered in their original pastel fabric. These chairs are in excellent condition overall. The upholstery is original, but shows barely any detectable wear. These Vladimir Kagan Nautilus...Category
20th Century American Post-Modern Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery
On Hold$2,800 - Vladimir Kagan for Directional Hurricane ChairBy Directional, Vladimir KaganLocated in Houston, TXVladimir Kagan for Directional hurricane chair. Stunning post modern sculptural hurricane chair designed by Vladimir Kagan for Directional in the...Category
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather
$2,650 Sale Price27% Off - Pair of Vladimir Kagan for Directional Attributed Nautilus Swivel ChairsBy Milo Baughman, Directional, Vladimir KaganLocated in Houston, TXOutstanding pair of Vladimir Kagan for Directional Style Nautilus swivel chairs. This stunning true opposing pair of Kagan Postmodern Nautilus swivel chairs or corkscrew swivel chair...Category
Vintage 1970s American Post-Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsBouclé
- Pair of Vladimir Kagan Corkscrew Nautilus Swivel Chairs for DirectionalBy Vladimir Kagan, DirectionalLocated in Wayne, NJPair of Vladimir Kagan corkscrew swivel chairs for Directional. If you are in the New Jersey , New York City Metro Area , please...Category
1990s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric
$5,200 Sale Price / set20% Off - Post Modern Vladimir Kagan for Directional Style Swivel Lounge ChairBy Milo Baughman, Directional, Vladimir KaganLocated in Houston, TXPost Modern Vladimir Kagan for Directional swivel lounge chair. This unusual iconic Kagan swivel chair has a high b...Category
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Swivel Chairs
MaterialsBouclé
$3,360 Sale Price20% Off - Pair of leather Vladimir Kagan for Directional 'Nautilus' lounge chairs 1970sBy Vladimir Kagan, DirectionalLocated in Hastings, GBA rare pair of Vladimir Kagan 'Nautilus' lounge chairs, in original black leather. Designed for Directional USA (fully labelled), 1970s. Directional is the only producer of authentic...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Wood