New York, NY | March 2025 – Vladimir Kagan Design Group is pleased to reintroduce three archival pieces from the Barrel series. Designed after the original Barrel Chair (1947) – one of Kagan’s most iconic silhouettes – these reintroductions embody the designer’s signature approach of blending sculptural, organic forms with inviting comfort. The designs, which include the Barrel Chaise with Footstool, Barrel Pull-Up Chair, and Barrel Unicorn Chair, will be available at HOLLY HUNT and HOLLY HUNT partner showrooms nationwide from March 2025.

Inspired by the rounded shapes of the Zeppelins that Kagan observed during his early childhood in Frankfurt, Germany, the original Barrel Chair was a pioneering design that redefined modern furniture aesthetics. Its fabric-covered frame was revolutionary, and in 1950, when Kagan partnered with textile designer Hugo Dreyfuss to open the first Kagan-Dreyfuss store on 57th St. in New York, it appeared in the inaugural product catalog and quickly became his signature design. To this day, the Barrel Chair is one of Kagan’s most important creations and remains a symbol of timeless elegance for contemporary designers.

“The Barrel Chair represents Kagan’s earliest exploration into sculptural furniture forms,” says Chris Eitel, Director of Design and Production at Vladimir Kagan Design Group. “While it seems like such a simple concept now, Kagan’s intuition to apply upholstery fabric to a sculpted wooden chair frame – much like the construction of a Zeppelin – was a groundbreaking idea that has solidified the Barrel Chair as a design staple for over seventy years.”

Following the success of the Barrel Chair, Kagan naturally explored this design concept further with new iterations to offer his clients a broader selection. Now available for the first time in 60 years through HOLLY HUNT, these reintroductions are directly inspired by Kagan’s personal archive, recreated using original upholstery and casting techniques from the 1950’s. This launch offers fresh access to the full range of Barrel designs that Kagan developed throughout his career, reimagined to meet the needs of modern interiors.

“The Barrel Chair was a true cornerstone of Vladimir Kagan’s career,” says Jo Annah Kornak, SVP and Executive Creative Director of HOLLY HUNT. “By revisiting this iconic design, we are honoring his visionary spirit and reintroducing modern heirlooms for a new generation.”

Each reintroduction stays true to the shape and aesthetic of the original Barrel designs, entirely handcrafted and upholstered to reflect Kagan’s vision.

The expanded Barrel series will debut at HOLLY HUNT’s New York showroom and online at hollyhunt.com in March 2025.

The reintroductions include:

Barrel Chaise with Footstool
The Barrel Chaise with Footstool was the sole chaise that Kagan designed in the Barrel series. It features a lower, laid-back seat with an added footstool for ultimate lounging comfort. The chaise has the distinguishable round arm silhouette that is prominent throughout the series of designs. Both the Chaise and Footstool have sculptural, carved wooden bases – a feature synonymous with Kagan’s design legacy.

Barrel Pull-Up Chair
The Barrel Pull-Up Chair offers a higher seat than the original Barrel Chair, providing versatility while maintaining the distinguishable round arm silhouette. Resting on a sculpted wooden base, the chair showcases the beginning of Kagan’s experimentation with wood sculpting, a characteristic that would come to define his iconic style.

Barrel Unicorn Chair
In the late 1950’s, Kagan began to explore designs for a sculpted chair base in cast aluminum, marking a new phase in his work. In 1963, Kagan was commissioned by Monsanto Chemstrand’s division of the Park Avenue Armory Show to design a ‘Room For Total Living,’ where he previewed the Barrel Unicorn Chair. This project allowed Kagan to expand the Barrel design concept to fit other applications throughout the home, such as a dining room or office setting. While this design does feature the characteristic Barrel silhouette, the Barrel Unicorn Chair is the most scaled-down design in the series. The cast aluminum base signaled a bold transition into the 1960’s, opening up new material possibilities for Kagan.

For press inquiries, please contact:

CAMRON
Caroline Busch 
caroline.busch@camronglobal.com

Hannah Curtis
hannah.curtis@camronglobal.com

About HOLLY HUNT
HOLLY HUNT designs, produces and showcases high-quality, custom design pieces for the most exquisite residential and commercial interior spaces and properties around the globe. Founder Holly Hunt opened her first eponymous showroom in 1983 and established a reputation for emerging yet timeless design, exceptional quality, and outstanding service. HOLLY HUNT showrooms and collections now lead the industry in luxury furnishings, including indoor and outdoor furniture, lighting, rugs, wallcovering, textiles, leathers, art and accessories. Today, there are 13 HOLLY HUNT-owned to-the-trade showrooms in the US and London, along with partner showrooms in other major markets across North America and Europe.                 

www.hollyhunt.com / @hollyhuntdesign

About Vladimir Kagan Design Group
Vladimir Kagan is widely considered to be one of the most prolific American mid-century modern designers, known for his mastery of ergonomics and sculptural approach to furniture, creating “vessels to hold the human body.” His work quickly gained popularity among creative luminaries in art, film and industry and earned him international recognition. Kagan remained an active designer and craftsman until his passing in 2016 at the age of 88, leaving his brand in the hands of Chris Eitel, his long-time apprentice and protégé. Kagan’s legacy lives on today through Eitel, now Director of Design and Production of the Vladimir Kagan Design Group. Today, the brand is part of the HOLLY HUNT portfolio and available through all HOLLY HUNT and partner showrooms.