Standing apart from other mid-century modernists, Vladimir Kagan was known for creating distinctive interiors and furnishings. His sinuous wooden frame designs were as much inspired by nature and antiques as the strict “purist” principles of the Bauhaus. In many ways, these iconic sofas, armchairs, tables, etc. signaled a shift into organicism, not just the late modernist Amoebic style of the 1950s and 60s, but the move toward sculpted forms championed by the Studio Movement of the 1970s and 80s: influential talents likes Wendell Castle, Wharton Esherick, and George Nakashima.
This type of limited-run or even one-off furniture was almost always destined for comprehensively imagined interiors, not the great outdoors. Kagan’s Capricorn Collection was the expectation when it first launched in 1952 and still is in many ways. While “garden furniture” has gained more consideration as of late, it’s still mostly bland and complacent. The maverick-talent’s contribution to the typology – just re-edited by his studio and relaunched by HOLLY HUNT – is far more artistic and distinctive; sculptural gestures for one’s backyard or poolside patio that are also fully functional.
The innovative wire-framed designs – defined by their curved, shell-like contours – both contrast and embed-within these settings. Though bold, the original collection was intended to evoke an architectural lightness. Chris Eitel, design director of Vladimir Kagan Design Group and the late master’s protege, sought to channel that treatment in the reimagined offering. His main intervention, streamlining the production of the tensile mesh structures; a process that had previously become cost-prohibitive. Initially produced by a fire-escape company in durable stainless steel, the first collection was discontinued in 2013. Searching far and wide for the right manufacturing partner, Eitel and his team were able to re-engineer the various designs with a much more efficient seamless welding technique in mind.
“Throughout the development process, we wanted to ensure that all edits and refinements made to the pieces were done so with careful intentionality and Vladi’s spirit in mind,” Eitel says. “We worked intimately with the manufacturing team to maintain that connection between designer and craftsman which is at the heart of Kagan’s design DNA.”
In order to meet the demand of today’s clientele, light adjustments were also made to proportioning and pitch. For some of these amendments, the design director delved deep into the studio’s archives to uncover experiments Kagan had tried out but didn’t ultimately include in the final design.
For the “kinetic” Capricorn Chaise Lounge, a flowing back leg was added to better support the single wheel configuration, preserving the integrity of its lines and custom reproducing the wheel’s exact form. The new collection also comprises a sofa, lounge chair, bistro table, bar stool, round dining table, square dining table, dining chair, cocktail table, and two-tiered end table.
A broader range of finishes were also added. While the Crema colorway is a sun-washed neutral denoting warmth and serenity, Espresso is a rich, earthy tone that roots each piece within its surroundings.
“I’ve always felt that these pieces deserve a place in today’s design landscape, and I’m proud of the work this team has done to revive the Capricorn Collection,” says Jo Annah Kornak, SVP and executive creative director at HOLLY HUNT. “Chris and Mark have preserved the essence of the Vladimir Kagan brand while thoughtfully advancing its design language, spending years perfecting the production. This process truly pays homage to Kagan’s innovative spirit.”
To learn more about The Capricorn Collection by Vladimir Kagan, reissued by HOLLY HUNT, please visit hollyhunt.com.
Photography courtesy of Holly Hunt.
