In 1947 when he was barely 20 Kagan created his first design: a barrel-shaped chair set on organic sculpted legs that became his signature piece. He also landed his first commission, design of the delegates’ cocktail lounges at United Nations headquarters, then located in Lake Success, New York. Two years later, he took a bold step and opened a shop on Manhattan’s fashionable 65th Street (the next year, he moved to 57th Street) that attracted a celebrity clientele including Marilyn Monroe, Gary Cooper and opera singer Lily Pons. He also introduced his Tri-Symmetric collection of three-legged designs. Early bases were made of wood, later changing to aluminum. In 1950, retired Swiss textile manufacturer Hugo Dreyfuss joined Kagan in a partnership that continued until 1960.

In 2004 Kagan penned his autobiography, The Complete Kagan: A Lifetime of Avant-Garde Design. Writing in the preface, Tom Ford commented: “Kagan’s sofas, tables and chairs manage to be so connected to their time and yet are also so timeless.”

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Doris Goldstein is a New York correspondent for Art & Antiques.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

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►Christie’s New York
212.636.2000
www.christies.com

►David Rago Modern Auctions
Lambertville, N.J.
609.397.9374
www.ragoarts.com
 
►Dennis Miller
New York
212.684.0070
www.dennismiller.com

►Los Angeles Modern Auctions
Los Angeles
323.904.1950
www.lamodern.com
 
►Ralph Pucci
New York
212.633.0452
www.ralphpucci.com

►Sotheby’s New York
212.606.7000
www.sothebys.com
 
►Todd Merrill Antiques
New York
212.673.0531
www.merrillantiques.com

►Vladimir Kagan Design Group
New York
212.289.0031
www.vladimirkagan.com
 
►Wright
Chicago
312.563.0020
www.wright20.com

BOOKS

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The Complete Kagan: A Lifetime of Avant-Garde Design by Vladimir Kagan and Tom Ford (Printed Leaf Press, New York, 2004).