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 Frankl Dresser and Nightstand for Johnson Furniture, 1950s
By Paul Frankl, Johnson Furniture Company, John Stuart
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fantastic 1950s ten-drawer double dresser and nightstand was designed by Paul Frankl for Johnson Furniture and retailed by John Stuart duri...
Metal
Important Cerused Oak Sideboard by Vladimir Kagan for Kagan-Dreyfuss, Signed
By Kagan-Dreyfuss, Inc., Vladimir Kagan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This important piece of design history was not only designed by Vladimir Kagan and handcrafted by Kagan-Dreyfuss in circa 1949 New York... this was also owned by Kagan himself and kept throughout his entire adult life (see provenance notes below). Each of the two pieces (lower credenza and upper dry bar / hutch) are signed on the back with Kagan-Dreyfuss New York stamps. The expansive size provides exceptional storage and use options. Kagan-Dreyfuss (Vladimir Kagan's partnership with Hugo Dreyfuss from circa 1950-1960) stamped pieces are amongst the most sought after by collectors and investors of art and design. Furniture with Kagan-Dreyfuss stamps are extremely hard to find and demand exceptional value, and this credenza with hutch is double stamped (one on each piece). Featuring a cerused oak exterior, with tambour doors on the lower credenza, sculpted handles (which slide to reveal a keyhole, no key is present however can be rekeyed) on the upper hutch...
Glass, Mirror, Formica, Oak
George Nelson for Herman Miller 'Basic Cabinet Series' Dresser, c. 1955, Signed
By George Nelson
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This fantastic chest of drawers was designed by George Nelson for Herman Miller, part of the 'Basic Cabinet Series' and also called 'Primavera', t...
Wood
Vintage Italian Mid-Century Modern Cabinet / Bar Credenza with Drop-Down Door
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This vintage cabinet, likely Italian and dating to the 1960s–1970s, features a clean Mid-Century Modern design with a functional, multi-purpose layout ideal for use as a bar cabinet,...
Glass, Formica, Wood
Caned Sculptural Cabinet by Vladimir Kagan for Grosfeld House, 1950s, Signed
By Vladimir Kagan, Grosfeld House
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This very rare sculptural caned cabinet was designed by Vladimir Kagan and crafted by Grosfeld House during the 1950s in New York, documented in early Grosfeld House advertisements (see photos). Featuring sculpted legs, a caned door (with original unaltered caning in excellent vintage condition) with brass handle, and interior outfitted with two compartments, one side with an adjustable shelf. While the cabinet is small in size, it is huge in personality. Vladimir Kagan's works have been highly valued by collectors and art / design investors, and his earlier works in the 1950s for Grosfeld House and Kagan-Dreyfuss are among the most sought after by 'purist collectors' like myself. Why do I prize his 1950s works above all else? I can write a short book on this, but one easy to explain reason is that this was a period unlike the rest of his career, where items produced in this time are hallmarked within that period - a distinction that his later works lacked. Essentially, everything post the early 60s blended together with the decades thereafter. A novice Kagan collector is content with anything by Kagan, even items produced by Directional and American Leather Company...
Walnut, Cane
Børge Mogensen for P. Lauritsen & Son Sideboard Cabinets, 1950s Denmark, Signed
By P. Lauritsen & Son 1, Børge Mogensen
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This stunning well preserved all-original pair of BM-59 sideboard cabinets by Børge Mogensen for P. Lauritsen & Son are in mint condition. Sourced from the original owner, who is...
Brass
Mid Century Modern Kipp Stewart & Stewart MacDougall Dresser / Credenza
By Kipp Stewart & Stewart MacDougall
Located in Las Vegas, NV
This Beautifully Professionally restored Ten-drawer dresser / credenza by Kipp Stewart and Stewart MacDougall for their Drexel Declaration collection. It has four exposed drawers wi...
Walnut
Kipp Stewart & Stewart MacDougall for Drexel Declaration Mid-Century Dresser
By Kipp Stewart & Stewart MacDougall, Drexel
Located in North Hollywood, CA
An exceptional Mid-Century Modern walnut dresser designed by the celebrated duo Kipp Stewart and Stewart MacDougall for Drexel’s iconic Declaration Collection, one of the most recogn...
Brass
Mid Century Modern Lowboy Dresser from Perspective by Lane Furniture
By Lane Furniture
Located in Freehold, NJ
This mid century modern lowboy dresser from Perspective line by Lane Furniture features hardwood construction, walnut veneer with original finish, nine dovetailed drawers with unique...
Walnut
T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings Double Dresser by Widdicomb
By T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Widdicomb Furniture Co.
Located in Highland, IN
This stunning double dresser by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb is impeccably designed and expertly crafted. The walnut case has is exquisitely detailed with the curved front an...
Walnut
Mid-Century Sideboard Credenza Dresser by Stanley
By Stanley Furniture
Located in Baltimore, MD
Stylish 1960s era sideboard/ credenza, dresser by Stanley Furniture. A Minimalist Danish Modern inspired profile, with exceptional construction and style. Features rectangular top ov...
Walnut
1960s Heywood Wakefield Contessa Series Mid-Century Lowboy Dresser
By Heywood-Wakefield Co., J.B. Van Sciver Company
Located in Brooklyn, NY
An exceptional 1960s Heywood-Wakefield Contessa Series lowboy dresser, showcasing the sophisticated lines and outstanding craftsmanship that have made the Contessa collection one of ...
Wood
