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Bronze 'Chan' Coffee or Large End Table by Philip & Kelvin LaVerne, 1960s Signed

About the Item

This is a rare iteration of the classic and highly sought after 'Chan' coffee table by father and son team, Philip and Kelvin LaVerne (New York), produced in the 1960s and signed with the artists names on the top (see photos). Ingeniously designed with international patination and polychromed bronze and pewter, this rare form coffee table which also functions excellent as a large end table or side able sits atop four bamboo styled bronze legs with natural patina to match the top, the top being the 'Chan' motif in ideal and excellent condition - all the gorgeous colors from the polychroming is present, clear and vivid. The 'Chan' chinoiserie scene depicts Asian figures and horses in a walled compound set amidst arbors of wisteria and willow. The clever use of contrasting surfaces and textures is most unusual and add dimension to the exotic scene. This particular example is in very, very good condition (excellent vintage condition) with no major issues or flaws. The polychrome finish is present, colors are bright and vivid, attractive patina with no structural issues or flaws. Only slight patina and wear is noticeable upon close inspection. This was clearly a well cared for example and is a prime candidate for a collector or high value client. Some of the things that I personally like about this example, versus other examples of the Chan series, is the unique size and shape. It's obvious use is as a smaller coffee, cocktail or tea table. You can place it in front of a small sofa and have plenty of room to get in and out of to sit and stand up. And it doesn't dominate the room like larger tables can. Or - and my preference, is as a large end table to the side of a sofa. The motif faces forward so it works excellent for this - and is plenty large enough to place a sizable lamp, your reading book, remote controls, and etc. There are not many LaVerne's on the market in this size and shape combined with the highly sought after (and has been historically the most popular) Chan motif so this fits a particular use that is a hard one to find. The intricate craftsmanship of this eye-catching fine art piece by Philip & Kelvin LaVerne would work great in an Art Deco, Hollywood Regency, Post-Modern or Mid-Century Modern home or penthouse apartment but could also look fantastic in a Contemporary, Space Age Mod, Scandanavian Modern, Danish Modern or Zen / Minimalist room. Also consider mixing it up in a Traditional, Transitional, or Classical room with a splash of juxtaposition. Would also be an apt choice in a commercial project such as a hotel lobby lounge or members club, creative design studio or high-rise executive office. MEASUREMENTS: H 17.25" x W 30" x D 20" CONDITION: Very good condition (excellent vintage condition) with no major issues or flaws. The polychrome finish is present, colors are bright and vivid, no structural issues or flaws. Only slight wear is noticeable upon close inspection.

Creator:

Philip and Kelvin LaVerne (Maker, Designer)

Dimensions:

Height: 17.25 in (43.82 cm)Width: 30 in (76.2 cm)Depth: 20 in (50.8 cm)

Style:

Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)

Materials and Techniques:

Bronze,Pewter,Etched,Polychromed

Place of Origin:

United States

Period:

1960-1969

Date of Manufacture:

1960s

Condition:

Very good condition (excellent vintage condition) with no major issues or flaws. The polychrome finish is present, colors are bright and vivid, no structural issues or flaws. Only slight wear is noticeable upon close inspection.

Seller Location:

Los Angeles, CA

Reference Number:

1stDibs: LU1330229284322

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Shop All Philip and Kelvin LaVerne

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.