Erwine & Estelle Laverne Lighting

Estelle and Erwine Laverne for Laverne originals - Tulip base rosewood lamp table floor lamp. Maker’s mark on underside. Extremely rare example of a piece by E & E Laverne that includes wood of any sort (rosewood) alongside the non-traditional materials for which they are most known. I cannot underscore how exceptionally rare this piece is within the Estelle and Erwine’s oeuvre. It most probably dates from the between the years 1960-1961, as the weighted tulip base is reminiscent of their Champagne chair and the central table evocative of their cafe table that was a part of the Lily collection of the late 1950’s. Dimensions: H 43.5 inches, W 11.75 inches, D 11.75 inches. ‘The Invisibles” by Elaine M. Salkaln (from the April 18, 2004 New York Times) On the surface, this is a simple design story of a husband-and-wife team, Estelle and Erwine Laverne, who produced exceptionally beautiful, innovative midcentury-modern wallpapers, fabrics and furniture -- designs that are rare today, yet coveted by a few specialized dealers and aficionados. But the story goes deeper -- to a convergence of culture, class, art and love. Sadly, though, the love gets caught up in the grittier details, transforming what would have been a grand romance into a modern American tragedy. Were this a docudrama, it would begin with a scene from the filming of the sci-fi fantasy ''Men in Black II'': in the center of a glass-walled, ultramodern, living room swarming with cameramen, lighting and booms, a little dog jumps up and down on the seat of a tall, sensuously sculptured clear acrylic chair...