Know Your Sofas: The Serpentine Sofa

Yes, it's time once again for another installment of "Know Your Sofas" and this time we are looking at the classic yet thoroughly modern Serpentine Sofa designed by Vladimir Kagan.

Vladimir Kagan in his 100A Barrel Chair, circa 1950s

Here is an image of an original Serpentine Sofa from 1950, the year it was introduced. You can clearly see how the sofa relates to the freeform/kidney and boomerang shapes that were popular in the 1940s/1950s, and a bit into the 1960s.

Even though it was created within the Mid-Century Modern milieu, this sofa transcends the style of that era in a way that very few other Mid-Century Modern pieces do. It fell out of favor for a few decades, but, as styles swing like a pendulum, there has been a huge, renewed interest in the Kagan Serpentine Sofa, as evidenced by the stunning, beautiful, and quite modern applications used by some top interior designers. The sinuous and sensuous shape pairs well with elements as disparate as 1970s furnishings or Baroque antiques!

Serpentine Sofa in a room designed by Jean-Louis Deniot

Serpentine Sofa in a room designed by Julie Hillman

Serpentine Sofa in the Parisian apartment of designer Klavs Rosenfalck

Serpentine Sofa in a room designed by Robert Couturier

Serpentine Sofas in a room designed by Martyn Lawrence Bullard for Tommy Hilfiger's Miami home

Serpentine Sofas in a room designed by Francis D'Haene

Serpentine Sofas in a room designed by Ingrao, Inc.

Serpentine Sofa in the apartment of Amanda and Clayton Benchley

If you would like a Vladimir Kagan Serpentine Sofa of your very own, it is available through showrooms open to interior designers. Give me a call!

Happy designing!