Vladimir Kagan Swan Back Sofa
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Vladimir Kagan Swan back Sofa faux leather and steel
20th Century American Sofas
Upholstery
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 Swan Back Sofa
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Vladimir Kagan Swan back Sofa faux leather and steel
Upholstery
Vladimir Kagan High 'Barrel Back' Sofa
By Vladimir Kagan, Kagan-Dreyfuss, Inc.
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
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 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
Bilbao Sofa by Vladimir Kagan
By Preview, Vladimir Kagan
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 Attributed Sofa and Swivel Chair
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Dallas, TX
This is a unique design attributed Vladmir Kagan that we believe he did for boutique hotels. The swivel chair butts up to the sofa and can fit two people. The swivel turns 360 degree...
Upholstery
Vladimir Kagan for Preview Three-Seat Wave Sofa, 1985c.
By Vladimir Kagan, Preview
Located in Chicago, IL
Vladimir Kagan for Preview Three-Seat Wave Sofa, 1985c. Designer/Manufacturer • Manufactured by Preview Furniture Corp., High Point, NC (label affixed underside) Construction & Uphol...
Upholstery, Wood
American Weiman Bilbao Four Seater Sofa, Canapé by Vladimir Kagan
By Weiman Preview Furniture, Vladimir Kagan
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A vintage Mid-Century Modern American Bilbao four seater sofa with two pillows, designed by Vladimir Kagan and produced by Weiman in good condition. The back rest of the sculptural c...
Fabric, Cotton, Upholstery, Wood
Vladimir Kagan Angle Tangent Chaise Sofa
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...
Alpaca, Wood
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

Mahogany Bar Cart by Vladimir Kagan for Kagan-Dreyfuss
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in San Francisco, CA
A bar cart with folding black Micarta top and matching tray. Mahogany frame with brass details, and caster feet. Designed by Vladimir Kagan for Kagan-Dreyfuss. The Micarta surfaces ...
Brass

Frits Henningsen Mahogany Three-Seater Sofa, Denmark, 1938
By Frits Henningsen
Located in San Francisco, CA
Mahogany frame sofa with eight legs and exposed wood panels on either side. Designed and made circa 1938 by Danish cabinetmaker Frits Henningsen. Fully restored to reveal the mahoga...
Upholstery, Mahogany
Model #109 Sofa by Theo Ruth Sofa for Artifort
By Theo Ruth
Located in San Francisco, CA
This expertly restored beech frame Model #109 sofa by Theo Ruth features luxurious textured Sandra Jordan Prima Alpaca "Nomad Taupe" upholstery. The fabric is cleverly reversed on th...
Upholstery, Beech
Sofa by Ludvig Pontoppidan
By Ludvig Pontoppidan
Located in San Francisco, CA
An elegant two seat sofa by Danish cabinetmaker Ludvig Pontoppidan. The sofa features curved edges and sloped arms, mahogany legs and upholstered seat, back and sides.
Upholstery, Mahogany