roll-top writing desk by Kagan
View Similar Items
roll-top writing desk by Kagan
About the Item
- Creator:Vladimir Kagan (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 36 in (91.44 cm)Width: 43 in (109.22 cm)Depth: 23 in (58.42 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960's
- Condition:very good.
- Seller Location:Sagaponack, NY
- Reference Number:Seller: 79131stDibs: U1202218903793
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.
- Roll Top Writing Desk by Edward WormleyBy Dunbar Furniture, Edward WormleyLocated in Sagaponack, NYA stately and elegant rosewood and mahogany campaign desk having three drawers and two rosewood roll-top compartments flanking a central writing surface with a flip-down back splash,...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsBrass
- Writing Desk by George NelsonBy Herman Miller, George NelsonLocated in Sagaponack, NYA single pedestal writing desk by George Nelson for Herman Miller with a built-in pivoting lamp. Lamp is 18" H.Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsSteel
- Mahogany Writing Desk by Edward Wormley for DunbarBy Edward Wormley, Dunbar FurnitureLocated in Sagaponack, NYAn octagonal mahogany writing desk designed by Edward Wormley with a single drawer. Made by Dunbar in the USA, circa 1957.Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsMahogany, Walnut
- Drop Leaf Executive Desk by Willy BeckBy Willy Beck, Aksel Bender Madsen, Ejner LarsenLocated in Sagaponack, NYA rectangular teak executive desk with a demi-lune drop leaf.Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsTeak
- Modernist Desk by John Van Koert for DrexelBy Drexel, John Van KoertLocated in Sagaponack, NYA boldly angled modernist single pedestal desk having a distinctive raised gallery with sliding doors and a warm dark grey leather surface.Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsBrass
- Teak and Steel Desk by Larsen and MadsenBy Aksel Bender Madsen, Ejner LarsenLocated in Sagaponack, NYA teak desk with steel frame and pulls, with a left side return housing filing shelves designed by Ejner Larsen & Aksel Bender Madsen. Return dimensions; 39.5" W, 17.5" D, 26.5" H.Category
Vintage 1960s Scandinavian Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsSteel
- Mastercraft Compact Brass Cylinder Roll Top Desk Writing TableBy MastercraftLocated in Rockaway, NJMid-Century Modern brass cylinder top faux bamboo base legs, embossed black leather pull out top two drawers desk writing table by Mastercaft.Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsBrass
- Mid 19th Century Mahogany Roll Top Writing DeskLocated in Dusseldorf, DERoll bureau or roll secretary. Mid 19th century. Solid mahogany and veneered on oak. Standing on 4 twisted turned table legs with 5 long frame d...Category
Antique Mid-19th Century French Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsMahogany, Oak
- Vladimir Kagan DeskBy Vladimir KaganLocated in West Palm Beach, FLA Vladimir Kagan Desk. Quilted maple, brass and Leather. Beautiful Pistachio color Leather. Label present.Category
Vintage 1970s North American Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsMaple
$32,500 - Free Standing Mahogany English Regency Tambour Roll Top Writing DeskLocated in Kastrup, DKAn elegant 19th century freestanding mahogany roll top writing desk. Tambour top rolls back to reveal a fitted interior with drawers, pigeon holes and a slant lid leather writing su...Category
Antique Early 19th Century English Regency Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsBrass
- 19th century William IV mahogany roll top writing deskLocated in Debenham, SuffolkFine quality English mahogany roll top desk circa 1830. Rare piece of English furniture we found on our travels to Sweden. Tambour roll top is in good working order. Top rolls back ...Category
Antique Mid-19th Century English William IV Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsBrass
- Secretary Desk, Tambour Roll TopBy Bombay Furniture Co.Located in Clermont, FLSecretary desk by Bombay Furniture Co. Beautiful veneer mahogany finish. Dated 2004. Table maintains it s sturdy structure, with good wood surface ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Neoclassical Desks and Writing Ta...
MaterialsWood