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Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Furniture

American

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.

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Creator: Philip and Kelvin LaVerne
Dealer: Sputnik Modern
Philip & Kelvin LaVerne "Persephone Enslaved" Coffee Table
By Philip and Kelvin LaVerne
Located in Dallas, TX
Sculpted bronze “Persephone Enslaved” coffee table by Philip & Kelvin LaVerne. Signed on base.
Category

1970s Vintage Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Large Chan Coffee Table by Philip and Kelvin Laverne
By Philip and Kelvin LaVerne
Located in Dallas, TX
A large and impressive bronze and pewter Chan coffee table designed by Philip and Kelvin Laverne.
Category

1970s Vintage Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Philip and Kelvin Laverne Violau Coffee Table
By Philip and Kelvin LaVerne
Located in Dallas, TX
A large and masterful Violau coffee table by Philip and Kelvin Laverne.
Category

1970s Vintage Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Coffee Table by Phillip and Kelvin Laverne
By Philip and Kelvin LaVerne
Located in Dallas, TX
An oval etched bronze coffee table designed by Phillip and Kelvin Laverne.
Category

1970s Vintage Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Related Items
Acid-Etched and Patinated Bronze Coffee by Philip and Kelvin LaVerne
By Philip and Kelvin LaVerne
Located in Montreal, QC
Acid-etched and patinated bronze coffee table depicting floral motifs by Philip and Kelvin LaVerne. Signed "Philip & Kelvin Laverne".
Category

1970s American Vintage Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Beautiful Philip and Kelvin LaVerne "Festival" Coffee Table
By Philip and Kelvin LaVerne
Located in Montreal, QC
Beautiful acid-etched enameled and patinated bronze "Chan" coffee table depicting an Asian village scene. Signed "Philip & Kelvin Laverne".
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Philip and Kelvin Laverne Side Table
By Philip and Kelvin LaVerne
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Vintage modern Philip and Kelvin Laverne side table featuring an etched bronze Etruscan spiral pattern designed top. Please confirm item location (NY or NJ).
Category

1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Furniture

Materials

Bronze

  • Philip and Kelvin Laverne Side Table
  • Philip and Kelvin Laverne Side Table
  • Philip and Kelvin Laverne Side Table
  • Philip and Kelvin Laverne Side Table
H 18.5 in. W 25.5 in. D 18 in.
“Chan” Coffee Table by Philip and Kelvin LaVerne
By Philip and Kelvin LaVerne
Located in North Hollywood, CA
“Chan” chinoiserie motif acid etched bronze and pewter coffee table by father and son duo Philip and Kelvin LaVerne.
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Pewter

Midcentury Philip and Kelvin Laverne Coffee Table
By Philip and Kelvin LaVerne
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Classic midcentury cocktail table in acid etched patinated bronze, this one in an understated and undecorated mottled finish. A square table with curved sides, raised on cylindrical ...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Furniture

Materials

Bronze

  • Midcentury Philip and Kelvin Laverne Coffee Table
  • Midcentury Philip and Kelvin Laverne Coffee Table
  • Midcentury Philip and Kelvin Laverne Coffee Table
  • Midcentury Philip and Kelvin Laverne Coffee Table
H 17.25 in. W 46.5 in. D 45.5 in.
'Chan' Bronze Cocktail Table by Philip & Kelvin LaVerne, 1960s, Signed
By Philip and Kelvin LaVerne
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This classic and highly sought-after collectors item is a 42" 'Chan' cocktail table by father and son team, Philip and Kelvin LaVerne, handmade in the 1960s. Ingeniously designed pol...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Pewter

Rare Coffee Table "The Bathers" by Philip & Kelvin LaVerne
By Philip and Kelvin LaVerne
Located in New York, NY
“The Bathers”, rare coffee table in patinated bronze and pewter by Philip and Kelvin LaVerne, American 1960s. Signed on top “Kelvin + Philip LaVerne” . This design is considered one ...
Category

20th Century American Hollywood Regency Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Pewter

Philip & Kelvin Laverne Chan Coffee Table
By Philip and Kelvin LaVerne
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Philip & Kelvin LaVerne Chan Coffee Table Signed 1960's Hand crafted acid etched bronze & pewter Excellent condition The father and son team ...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Pewter

Philip & Kelvin Laverne Large Chan Cocktail Table in Bronze and Pewter
By Philip and Kelvin LaVerne
Located in Dallas, TX
Laverne Chan Cocktail table model #142. Chinese Artistry at its peak under the Chan Dynasty, is recreated in this intricately carved design. We see peasants carrying a sacred gi...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Chinoiserie Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Furniture

Materials

Brass, Bronze, Pewter

Philip & Kelvin Laverne Rare Large "Fantasia Coffee Table" 1960s 'Signed'
By Philip and Kelvin LaVerne
Located in New York, NY
Rare and stunning large "Fantasia Coffee Table" in patinated bronze and pewter with repeating abstract motif by Philip & Kelvin LaVerne, American 1960's (signed “ Philip + Kelvin LaV...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Furniture

Materials

Bronze, Pewter

Philip and Kelvin Laverne Etruscan Center Table, New York, circa 1960's
By Philip and Kelvin LaVerne
Located in Miami, FL
Philip and Kelvin LaVerne etruscan center table, New York, circa 1960's, Bronze, hand sculptured, inlaid with pewter, buried in earth to attain natural and subtle patinas. Depicting ...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Furniture

Materials

Brass, Pewter

Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Coffee Table in Etched Bronze
By Philip and Kelvin LaVerne
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Philip and Kelvin LaVerne coffee table in etched bronze and pewter.
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Previously Available Items
Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Bronze and Pewter Cabinet
By Philip and Kelvin LaVerne
Located in Dallas, TX
A rare bronze and pewter cabinet with hand painted enamels by Philip & Kelvin LaVerne. A beautiful example in wonderful condition.
Category

1970s Vintage Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Spring Festival Coffee Table
By Philip and Kelvin LaVerne
Located in Dallas, TX
A Philip and Kelvin Laverne designed Spring Festival waterfall coffee table.
Category

1970s Vintage Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Philip and Kelvin Laverne "Chan" Coffee Table
By Philip and Kelvin LaVerne
Located in Dallas, TX
A classic acid etched and patinated bronze "Chan" coffee table designed by Philip and Kelvin Laverne.
Category

1970s Vintage Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Philip & Kelvin LaVerne Bronze Side Table
By Philip and Kelvin LaVerne
Located in Dallas, TX
A Philip & Kelvin LaVerne patinated bronze side table.
Category

1970s Vintage Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Philip & Kelvin LaVerne Bronze Coffee Table
By Philip and Kelvin LaVerne
Located in Dallas, TX
A Philip & Kelvin LaVerne patinated bronze coffee table.
Category

1970s Vintage Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Philip & Kelvin LaVerne Bronze Coffee Table
By Philip and Kelvin LaVerne
Located in Dallas, TX
Category

1970s Vintage Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Small Chan Side Table by Philip and Kelvin LaVerne
By Philip and Kelvin LaVerne
Located in Dallas, TX
A rare 'Chan' side table designed by Philip and Kelvin LaVerne.
Category

1960s Vintage Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Philip and Kelvin Laverne "Chan" Coffee Table
By Philip and Kelvin LaVerne
Located in Dallas, TX
A classic acid etched and patinated bronze "Chan" coffee table designed by Philip and Kelvin Laverne.
Category

1970s Vintage Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Coffee Table
By Philip and Kelvin LaVerne
Located in Dallas, TX
A large "Chan" coffee table designed by Philip and Kelvin LaVerne.
Category

1960s Vintage Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Furniture

Materials

Bronze

  • Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Coffee Table
  • Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Coffee Table
  • Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Coffee Table
  • Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Coffee Table
H 15.5 in. W 48 in. D 48 in.
Pair or Side Tables by Philip & Kelvin LaVerne
By Philip and Kelvin LaVerne
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of bronze tables with torch cut bases designed by Philip & Kelvin LaVerne.
Category

1960s Vintage Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Philip and Kelvin LaVerne “Madame Pompadour” Table
By Philip and Kelvin LaVerne
Located in Dallas, TX
A bronze “Madame Pompadour” side table designed by Philip and Kelvin LaVerne.
Category

1970s Vintage Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Pedestal Table Bases by Philip & Kelvin LaVerne
By Philip and Kelvin LaVerne
Located in Dallas, TX
A rare pair of dining height pedestal table bases by Philip & Kelvin LaVerne.
Category

1970s Vintage Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Philip And Kelvin Laverne furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Philip and Kelvin LaVerne furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Philip and Kelvin LaVerne furniture, although gold editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by Philip and Kelvin LaVerne were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Warren Platner, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Silas Seandel. Prices for Philip and Kelvin LaVerne furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at £3,365 and can go as high as £176,276, while a piece like these, on average, fetch £15,985.

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