Vladimir Kagan

Serpentine sofa, by Vladimir Kagan, 1950 A sofa as one long wave: an exaggerated semicircle that swells at one end, with a sinuous back long enough for eight or nine people. It made Kagan's name, bringing commissions from Marilyn Monroe, Lily Pons and Gary Cooper. This is a room-defining piece rather than something to push against a wall, so it needs space to float, ideally in an open-plan room where the curve can face a view or a fire. The curve also makes it more sociable than a straight sofa, since people face each other. Holly Hunt sells the current version; vintage Kagan pieces command collector prices.