Vladimir Kagan Auction Prices and Value Guide

Vladimir Kagan auction prices are tracked in Appraisily's artist market index, with source-directory coverage of 1,486 records. Use this page to review sold-lot activity, market context, and valuation factors before requesting a formal appraisal.

Vladimir Kagan auction prices: quick answer

Vladimir Kagan auction prices depend on medium, size, date, condition, provenance, edition details, attribution confidence, and recent comparable auction sales.

Artist
Vladimir Kagan
Source records
1,486
Market update
2026-02-06

Artist context

About Vladimir Kagan

Vladimir Kagan (1927–2016) was a German-born American furniture designer whose career spanned nearly seven decades. Born in Worms, Germany, he emigrated with his family to France in 1937 and then to New York in 1938. He began designing and producing furniture in the late 1940s and came to be regarded as one of the twentieth century's most successful furniture designers, known for sculptural forms and meticulous craftsmanship. Kagan spent most of his professional life in New York City, where his workshop produced distinctive seating, tables, and cabinetry that attracted collectors and interior designers worldwide. He was inducted into the Interior Design Hall of Fame in 2009, recognizing a career that had by then already spanned over sixty years. He later maintained a presence in Palm Beach, Florida, where he died in 2016 at the age of 88.

Furniture

Common works and media

Works by Vladimir Kagan commonly encountered at auction and in appraisal contexts include upholstered seating such as sofas and lounge chairs, dining and occasional chairs, coffee and dining tables, desks, consoles, and cabinetry. He worked with materials including hardwoods, lacquered finishes, upholstered fabrics, and transparent acrylic. Original workshop production, later authorized reissues, and custom commissions all appear in the secondary market, making attribution and period identification important in appraisal.

Market and appraisal context

Vladimir Kagan is one of the most liquid twentieth-century furniture designers in the secondary market, with 1,068 documented auction lots and 919 priced results spanning October 2003 through April 2026. His work trades regularly at specialist design houses—Rago Arts and Auction Center, Wright, Los Angeles Modern Auctions, and Toomey & Co.—as well as at international houses including Sotheby's, Bonhams, Freeman's | Hindman, Piasa, and Regency Auction House. The price distribution is wide but centered: the interquartile range runs from $1,300 (p25) to $9,500 (p75) with a median of $3,750, indicating that mid-quality Kagan pieces reliably trade in the four-figure range. Outliers stretch from $30 at regional estate sales to $96,000 for rare or important models. Annual liquidity is strong, with 85 lots in the trailing twelve months and 95 in the prior period, demonstrating sustained collector demand. Recent results include a sculpted rocking chair (model 175F) at Wright for $35,000, a floating-seat-and-back sofa at Barton's for $13,000, dining chairs at Barton's for $12,000, and a serpentine sofa with sculpted table at Wright for $12,000. Attributed ("Attr.") lots and later reissues consistently trade below authenticated original-production pieces, reinforcing the premium for confirmed provenance and period.

Auction categories and appraisal factors

Common auction categories

  • Design
  • Furniture
  • Decorative Art

Value drivers

  1. Provenance and attribution — whether a piece is original workshop production, a later authorized reissue, or a custom commission
  2. Period of production — original mid-century pieces are typically distinct from later reissues in the secondary market
  3. Materials, condition, and specific design model
  4. Model identification — iconic models (Serpentine, Omnibus, Cloud, Capricorn, Corkscrew, Erica, Key, Nautilus) command premiums; generic or less-recognized forms trade closer to the median
  5. Production period — original mid-century workshop pieces are typically worth multiples of later authorized reissues or unauthorized reproductions
  6. Attribution confidence — lots catalogued as "Vladimir Kagan" vs. "Vladimir Kagan (Attr.)" show significant price divergence in recent results

Appraisal caveats

  • The source pack does not include detailed auction records or realized prices. Specific valuation guidance requires comparable sale data from major auction houses.
  • Kagan furniture has been reproduced and reissued; attribution, authentication, and dating are critical factors in appraisal.
  • With 1,486 documented auction appearances, Kagan is a well-represented designer in the secondary market, but condition and authenticity vary significantly across lots.
  • Auction results include both authenticated lots and those catalogued as attributed ("Attr."), which trade at significant discounts; the aggregate price distribution mixes both tiers.

Evidence

Sources for artist context

This source-grounded artist context passed Appraisily's promotion threshold: high confidence, strong sources.

Source-grounded artist Markdown

Data basis

This page is built from Appraisily's public auction market index. Private transactions, incomplete sale feeds, and attribution changes may not be fully represented.

LLM-readable Markdown summary for Vladimir Kagan

LLM summary index · LLM full index

Artist value FAQ

How much is Vladimir Kagan worth?

Comparable public auction sales are the best starting point, but final value depends on the specific artwork, condition, size, medium, provenance, and attribution confidence.

Can Appraisily value my Vladimir Kagan artwork?

Yes. Appraisily can review photos, dimensions, signatures, condition, provenance, and comparable market data to prepare a current valuation.