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Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Cabinets

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
Philip & Kelvin Laverne Two Door Chinese Cabinet
By Philip and Kelvin LaVerne
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A diminutive chinoiserie cabinet consisting of acid-etched and enameled panels of brass and pewter. Original painted interior. Clean original surface Signed
Category

1960s American Vintage Philip and Kelvin LaVerne Cabinets

Materials

Brass, Pewter

Rare Bronze and Pewter "Chan" Design Cabinet by Philip and Kelvin LaVerne
By Philip and Kelvin LaVerne
Located in New York, NY
Rare bronze and pewter "chan" design cabinet with three interior shelves by Philip and Kelvin LaVerne. Signed.
Category

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

Materials

Bronze, Pewter

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Philip And Kelvin Laverne cabinets for sale on 1stDibs.

Philip and Kelvin LaVerne cabinets 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 cabinets, although gray editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original cabinets by Philip and Kelvin LaVerne were created in the mid-century modern style in united states during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider cabinets by Parzinger Originals, George Nakashima, and M. Singer & Sons. Prices for Philip and Kelvin LaVerne cabinets can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $26,000 and can go as high as $95,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $34,500.

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