Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Abstract Wall Sculpture "Dialogue"
About the Item
- Creator:Philip and Kelvin LaVerne (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 29.75 in (75.57 cm)Width: 27 in (68.58 cm)Depth: 1.25 in (3.18 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:Dallas, TX
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU851836552972
Philip and Kelvin LaVerne
Look closely at any vintage furniture designed by father-son duo Philip and Kelvin LaVerne and a cacophony of stylistic influences reveals itself.
The LaVernes’ position at the intersection of art and design was the result of their combined backgrounds: Philip (1907–87) studied painting with Ashcan School artist John Sloan at the Art Students League of New York, while his son, Kelvin (b. 1937), attended the Parsons School of Design, taking classes in art history, furniture design and metalwork. The resulting merge of stylistic elements and innovative processes make for singular designs that defy categorization, striking a balance between modern and traditional, intricate and minimal, art piece and functional item. Their work was also strikingly different from the modern furniture created by Philip’s brother Erwine and his wife, Estelle, of Laverne Originals.
The LaVernes began producing one-of-a-kind furniture and sculpture in the mid-1950s out of a studio on Wooster Street in New York City before opening a showroom on Manhattan’s East 57th Street. As their 1960s advertisements declared: “It’s not just functional and not just art, it’s an investment.”
The LaVernes married a stunning array of techniques and styles to achieve their singular, deeply layered look for one-of-a-kind and limited-edition pieces. Chinoiserie motifs abound on many of their acid-etched tables, but art from ancient Greece and Egypt also served as inspiration. The influence of figurative sculptors is evident in designs like coffee tables and side tables with bronze bodies serving as frames or bases; other pieces, meanwhile, have deeply detailed surfaces and strikingly simple silhouettes.
The duo developed their own unconventional methods — sometimes to an extreme — for finishing their pieces: Techniques employed by the LaVernes included acid washing and burying furniture underground in a mixture of soil and chemicals to achieve a desired patina through oxidation. While they sometimes used pewter and silver, bronze was one of their most commonly employed materials, either etched or cast and sometimes paired with glass tops. Their partnership ended when Philip died in 1987 and Kelvin shifted his practice to sculpture.
Find an extraordinary range of vintage Philip and Kelvin LaVerne tables, decorative objects and other furniture on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Dallas, TX
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Philip & Kelvin Laverne CabinetBy Philip and Kelvin LaVerneLocated in Dallas, TXA rare diminutive cabinet / bar designed by Philip & Kelvin Laverne.Category
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- Large Chan Coffee Table by Philip and Kelvin LaverneBy Philip and Kelvin LaVerneLocated in Dallas, TXA large and impressive bronze and pewter Chan coffee table designed by Philip and Kelvin Laverne.Category
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- Large Chan Coffee Table by Philip and Kelvin LaverneBy Philip and Kelvin LaVerneLocated in Dallas, TXA large and impressive bronze and pewter Chan coffee table designed by Philip and Kelvin Laverne.Category
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- Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Rare "The Young Master" Wall Sculpture 1960s (Signed)By Philip and Kelvin LaVerneLocated in New York, NY"The Young Master: Study of the Nude", a rare figural wall sculpture in solid pewter with splashes of color by Philip & Kelvin LaVerne, American 1960’s (signed on front “Philip Kelvi...Category
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- Philip and Kelvin Laverne Patinated Bronze “Chan” Wall Hanging, 1960sBy Philip and Kelvin LaVerneLocated in Phoenix, AZImpressive patinated bronze wall hanging with Asian village scene. Quite large measuring 20" H x 70 1/4" W. Signed Philip. Kelvin LaVerne. Created in the 1960's. In excellent conditi...Category
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- Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Abstract Collage "Dialogue" 1960s (Signed)By Philip and Kelvin LaVerneLocated in New York, NYRare abstract collage "Dialogue" in engraved and patinated bronze and pewter with colorful enamel cloisonne and hand-brazed sculptured frame by Philip & Kelvin LaVerne, American 1960...Category
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