Pair of Vladimir Kagan for Directional 'Cloud' Sofas w Lucite Pane, 1980s Signed
View Similar Items
Pair of Vladimir Kagan for Directional 'Cloud' Sofas w Lucite Pane, 1980s Signed
About the Item
- Creator:Directional (Manufacturer),Vladimir Kagan (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 29 in (73.66 cm)Width: 97 in (246.38 cm)Depth: 48 in (121.92 cm)Seat Height: 18.5 in (46.99 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:1980-1989
- Date of Manufacture:1980s
- Condition:Good vintage condition with light age and wear.
- Seller Location:Los Angeles, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1330225435222
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.
- Vladimir Kagan Pair of Corkscrew Swivel Chairs for Directional in Bouclé, SignedBy Directional, Vladimir KaganLocated in Los Angeles, CANewly reupholstered in a soft and nubby white bouclé, this pair of 'Corkscrew' swivel chairs by Vladimir Kagan for Directional, circa 1980 are signed with a Directional labels undern...Category
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Swivel Chairs
MaterialsBouclé
$8,800 Sale Price / set20% Off - Vladimir Kagan for American Leather 'Zoe' Sofa in Grey Alcantara, SignedBy Vladimir Kagan, American LeatherLocated in Los Angeles, CAThis spectacular example of Vladimir Kagan design was produced by American Leather in 2012, in its original Alcantara (ultrasuede) in a medium grey color called 'Otter', signed under...Category
2010s American Modern Sofas
MaterialsUltrasuede
$8,600 Sale Price21% Off - Tan Leather Cloud Style Sofa with Lucite Leg by Weiman, c 1980s, SignedBy WeimanLocated in Los Angeles, CAThis beautiful curvy and fluid Post-Modern sofa by Weiman is in soft and luxurious tan colored leather, features a single lucite leg and is signed underneath with a Weiman label. Designed by Robert L. Ebel and produced by Wieman in the 1980s and 90s, this curvaceous sofa was inspired by Vladimir Kagan's designs such as the 'Cloud' sofa by Directional, the 'Serpentine' sofa by Kagan...Category
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather, Lucite
$4,300 Sale Price32% Off - Early Year LC2 Black Leather Three-Seat Sofa by Le Corbusier for Cassina, SignedBy Charlotte Perriand, Le Corbusier, Cassina, Pierre JeanneretLocated in Los Angeles, CAThis incredibly comfortable Le Corbusier for Cassina 'LC2' three-seat sofa (authentic signed and earlier year production example with low number production number stamped on the fram...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Bauhaus Sofas
MaterialsSteel
$11,500 Sale Price25% Off - Vladimir Kagan Handmade Postmodern Dining Chairs, Set of Eight, 1980s, SignedBy Vladimir KaganLocated in Los Angeles, CAThis set of 1980s Postmodern lacquered black dining chairs by Vladimir Kagan, comprised of a set of eight side chairs, are extremely high quality - these chairs have significant heft, not overly heavy but very solid hefty chairs demonstrating the high quality construction you would expect from Vladimir Kagan's handmade workshop. Signed with Vladimir Kagan labels. *Note, we have another set of 8 chairs in this same style, 2 of the set are armchairs. The upholstery is slightly different so would be best to reupholster if you wish to combine the sets. These hard to find handmade dining...Category
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsLacquer, Fabric, Wood
$7,700 Sale Price / set54% Off - Rare 'Unicorn' Leather and Aluminum Curved Sofa by Vladimir Kagan, c. 1963By Vladimir KaganLocated in Los Angeles, CAThis extremely rare and highly sought-after collectors piece by Vladimir Kagan is his Model #U-522 'Unicorn' curved sofa by Vladimir Kagan Designs Inc. designed and produced circa 1963, shortly after Kagan separated from Hugo Dreyfuss of Kagan-Dreyfuss. This investment grade collectible design features soft and supple light grey tufted leather over two aluminum 'Unicorn' bases, large enough to seat four people. There is not much comparison for this awe inspiring statement piece, ideal for an interior designer looking for a show-stopper that is fitting for the most demanding and critical client. Incredible design of utmost rarity and fabulous ready-to-use condition with that light patina you want to see. From an art/ design collector's perspective - this sofa is simply the bees knees...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsAluminum
$50,800 Sale Price22% Off
- Vladimir Kagan Serpentine Cloud Sofa for Directional, SignedBy Vladimir Kagan, DirectionalLocated in Lambertville, NJIconic Mid Century Modern Vladimir Kagan serpentine cloud sofa for Directional, USA circa 1970's. This highly collectable and desirable modern designer sofa features original blue U...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsUltrasuede, Lucite, Wood
- Vintage Vladimir Kagan Directional Cloud Sofa 1980sBy Vladimir KaganLocated in Chicago, ILThis spectacular Vladimir Kagan 'Cloud' sofa was produced by Directional Furniture in the 1980s and was just newly reupholstered in a gorgeous two toned velvet, and has the lucite ce...Category
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Sofas
MaterialsTextile
- Cloud Serpentine Sofa by Vladimir Kagan for DirectionalBy Directional, Vladimir KaganLocated in Chicago, ILc. 1980s. Reupholstered in charcoal fabric. Lucite leg on bottom in the middle. Tagged. A classic of postmodern design.Category
Vintage 1980s American Post-Modern Sofas
MaterialsFabric
- Pair White / Ivory Curved Leather Zoe Cloud Sofas by Vladimir Kagan, SignedBy Vladimir Kagan, American LeatherLocated in Kansas City, MOSet of two, mirror image, Ivory leather Zoe cloud sofas designed by Vladimir Kagan for American Leather. These were manufactured in 2009 and have had very little use. We have tried t...Category
Early 2000s American Modern Sofas
MaterialsLeather
- Vladimir Kagan Serpentine Cloud Sofa for Directional in Heavy BoucleBy Directional, Vladimir KaganLocated in Culver City, CAThis Vladimir Kagan sofa is simply stunning. The entire sofa has been upholstered in a heavy ivory bouclé, including the double disc bottom. This heavily textured sofa is not only vi...Category
1990s American Modern Sofas
MaterialsBouclé
- Vladimir Kagan Serpentine Cloud Sofa for Directional in Tan MohairBy Directional, Vladimir KaganLocated in Culver City, CAStep into the realm of luxury and design with this iconic Vladimir Kagan Cloud Sofa! Crafted with the finesse of a sculptor, this masterpiece is not just a piece of furniture; it's ...Category
1990s Modern Sofas
MaterialsMohair