Vladimir Kagan, Three-Piece Omnibus Sectional, USA, circa 1970s
View Similar Items
Vladimir Kagan, Three-Piece Omnibus Sectional, USA, circa 1970s
About the Item
- Creator:Vladimir Kagan (Artist)
- Design:Omnibus IOmnibus Series
- Dimensions:Height: 27 in (68.58 cm)Width: 91 in (231.14 cm)Depth: 33 in (83.82 cm)Seat Height: 17 in (43.18 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1970s
- Condition:
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU800818104312
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.
- Paul Evans, Sculpted Bronze Console, USABy Todd MerrillLocated in New York, NYThis large and impressive four-door Sculpted Bronze Console by Paul Evans from 1970 is one of the finest examples of this genre, commissioned directly from the Evans Studio. It has b...Category
Vintage 1960s American Cabinets
MaterialsBronze
Price Upon Request - Phillip Lloyd Powell, Unique Carved Desk, USABy Phillip Lloyd PowellLocated in New York, NYThis organic executive desk, a custom commission for a private collector, is one of the best examples of Powell’s affinity for natural wood and his mastery in creating unique works t...Category
Vintage 1960s American Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsIron
Price Upon Request - Paul Evans, Sculpted Steel Floor Lamp, USABy Paul EvansLocated in New York, NYA fantastic example of an early, commissioned sculptural steel lamp by Paul Evans, the L-shaped lamp’s square obelisk body is formed from rectili...Category
Vintage 1960s American Floor Lamps
MaterialsSteel
Price Upon Request - James Mont, Grey Cerused Fumed Oak King-Size Bed, USABy James MontLocated in New York, NYA large custom king-size low bed from James Mont. In traditional Mont style this large commanding bed is opulent with its dark fumed oak frame highlighted by a light gray ceruse. The tufted headboard has been newly reupholstered with Rose Cummings...Category
Vintage 1970s American Beds and Bed Frames
MaterialsOak
Price Upon Request - Karl Springer, JMF “C” BenchesBy Karl SpringerLocated in New York, NYThis exquisite pair of Jean-Michel Frank inspired “C” benches designed and made by Karl Springer feature elegant curved polished stainless steel legs and newly...Category
Late 20th Century American Benches
MaterialsSteel, Stainless Steel
Price Upon Request - Pedro Friedeberg, Hand Foot Stool, MEXBy Pedro FriedebergLocated in New York, NYPedro Friedeberg is a Mexican artist and designer known for his surrealist work filled with lines colors and ancient and religious symbols. His best known piece is the “Hand-Chair” a sculpture/chair designed for people to sit on the palm, using the fingers as back and arm rests. Friedeberg began studying as an architect but did not complete his studies as he began to draw designs against the conventional forms of the 1950s. His work caught the attention of artist Mathias Goeritz, who encouraged him to continue as an artist. Friedeberg became part of a group of surrealist artists in Mexico which included Leonora Carrington and Alice Rahon...Category
1990s American Stools
MaterialsMahogany
Price Upon Request
- Omnibus Sectional Sofa by Vladimir KaganBy Vladimir KaganLocated in Dorchester, MADesigned in 1953, Vladimir Kagan's modern Omnibus sectional offers capacious modular seating that floats upon a Lucite base. The components of this g...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsUpholstery, Lucite
$12,995 / set - Vladimir Kagan Omnibus Four Piece Sectional SofaLocated in New York, NYVladimir Kagan Omnibus Four Piece Sectional Sofa on lucite bases, apparently unmarked. Provenance: From a TriBeCa Penthouse Collection. Dealer: S138XXCategory
20th Century Sofas
MaterialsFabric
- Vladimir Kagan Serpentine Style Three-Piece Sectional SofaBy Vladimir KaganLocated in South San Francisco, CANewly re-upholstered in high-quality bouclé. durable and scotch guarded comes apart easily into three sections This is a consigned piece sold by a vintage seller...Category
Vintage 1970s Sofas
MaterialsBouclé
- Vladimir Kagan, Sofa, Velvet, Lucite, USA, 1970sBy Vladimir KaganLocated in High Point, NCA green velvet and lucite "Omnibus" sofa designed and produced by Vladimir Kagan, USA, 1970s. Seat height 18”Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsVelvet, Lucite
- Vladimir Kagan "Omnibus" Sectional Sofa, 1970By Vladimir KaganLocated in Chicago, ILVladimir Kagan "Omnibus" Two Piece Sectional Sofa. Circa .1970. Original fabric is in great condition. Measurements and a drawing is in pictures.Category
Vintage 1970s American Post-Modern Sectional Sofas
MaterialsUpholstery
- Vladimir Kagan by Preview 3 Piece Attached 'Sectional' SofaBy Preview, Vladimir KaganLocated in West Palm Beach, FLVladimir Kagan by Preview 3 Piece Attached 'Sectional' Sofa USA, Circa 1980's A quietly luxurious Vladimir Kagan for Preview 3 piece attached 'sectional' sofa from the 1980s, highli...Category
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sofas
MaterialsUpholstery