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.
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
Fantastic Sectional Omnibus Sofa by Vladimir Kagan
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Atlanta, GA
The sectional sofa with Lucite supporting legs features three units, a right arm section, a middle corner return and an ottoman. Plush cushions and all upholstered body. One of the i...
Monumental Omnibus Sectional Sofa Designed by Vladimir Kagan, 1970s
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Hamburg, PA
A monumental three-piece sectional Omnibus sofa by Vladimir Kagan, 1970s. This very large sofa would look great in any Mid-Century Modern or Contemporary home. The scale is wonderful, however, new upholstery is recommended. The lucite bases are in good condition with age-appropriate wear. A classic masterpiece! From the Complete Vladimir Kagan book...
Upholstery, Lucite
Vladimir Kagan Wide Angle Tangent Sofa, Model 506
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Dallas, TX
Vladimir Kagan Wide Angle Tangent Sofa, Model 506. We recommend new upholstery on this beautiful and comfortable sofa. The last photo shows one we reupholstered that was sent to Swit...
Upholstery, Wood
3 Piece Modular Sofa by Vladimir Kagan for Preview, 1988
By Preview, Vladimir Kagan
Located in Chicago, IL
3 Piece Modular sectional sofa by Vladimir Kagan for Preview, 1988. Original white fabric is in good condition. There is a spot on one cushi...
Fabric
Vladimir Kagan "Omnibus" Sectional Sofa, 1970
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Chicago, IL
Vladimir Kagan "Omnibus" Two Piece Sectional Sofa. Circa .1970. Original fabric is in great condition. Measurements and a drawing is in pictures.
Upholstery
$9,600Sale Price|40% Off
H 32 in W 168 in D 120 in
Vladimir Kagan Bilbao Sectional Sofa, Mid-Century Modern, 1980s
Located in Dallas, TX
This is a dramatic Bilbao sofa designed by Vladimir Kagan was made by Preview. Sofa is five sections. The seat is upholstered in black micro-fiber and the back is a gray weave.
Upholstery
Nautilus Sofa by Vladimir Kagan for Directional
By Directional, Vladimir Kagan
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 1980s. USA. Reupholstered in beige mohair. Tagged Directional. Original example designed by Vladimir Kagan
Mohair
Vladimir Kagan, Sofa, Fabric, Wood, USA, 1990s
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in High Point, NC
A green velvet and dark-stained wood sofa designed by Vladimir Kagan and produced by Kagan Design Group, USA, c. 1990s. Reupholstered in brand new fabric. Pre-restoration images ava...
Fabric, Wood
Mid-Century Modern Manhattan Sofa by Jorge Zalszupin, 1960
By Jorge Zalszupin
Located in New York, NY
The iconic Manhattan is a series composed of a sofa and armchair designed by Jorge Zalszupin (1922-2020) in 1960 and produced by his company, L'atelier. The piece is made of a wood structure entirely upholstered, with an organic shape achieved by the curvy lines of the single volume. The work of Jorge Zalszupin (1922-2020) presented itself as one of the most versatile in the late 1950s and early 1960s. His designs are an example of a transition process from the artisanal production mode to serial industrial production. L'atelier Móveis...
Upholstery, Faux Leather
Omnibus Settee by Vladimir Kagan
By Vladimir Kagan
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A geometric, uncommon and finely proportioned demi-backed sofa from the Omnibus collection having a waterfall edge and covered in a plush grey velvet upholstery.
Upholstery
Sofa by Jens Risom for Risom Manufacturing
By Jens Risom
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A three (3) seat sofa on a teak frame base retaining the original yellow upholstery.
Teak, Upholstery
Cab Settee by Mario Bellini for Cassina, 1977
By Mario Bellini, Cassina
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A black leather "Cab" settee, in the original leather.
Leather
Tight Back Sofa by Ole Wanscher for A.J. Iversen
By Ole Wanscher, A. J. Iversen
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A sofa with a raised, tight back and sloping arms, retaining the original upholstery, on Cuban mahogany legs.
Mahogany, Wool
High-Backed Sofa by Peter Hvidt & Orla Mölgaard-Nielsen, 1950s
By Hvidt & Mølgaard
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A tailored and sculptural high-backed button-tufted sofa, the upholstered body resting on substantial turned teak dowel legs.
Upholstery, Teak
Roll Arm Sofa by Hans J. Wegner for AP Stolen
By A.P. Stolen, Hans J. Wegner
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A straight-back roll arm sofa retaining its original brown wool strie´ upholstery, the seating element having a comfortable pitch and elevated by solid squared teak legs.
Teak, Upholstery
