'Creation of Man' Double Pedestal Coffee Table by Philip & Kelvin LaVerne, 1960s

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LaVerne “Creation of Man” Coffee Table

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'Creation of Man' Double Pedestal Coffee Table by Philip & Kelvin LaVerne, 1960s

About the Item

This fine LaVerne example is a double pedestal 'Creation of Man' motif tabletop described by Philip and Kelvin LaVerne as: 'God giving breath to Adam, inspired by Michelangelo, recreated in timeless bronze'. Philip and Kelvin LaVerne's signature is acid etched on the table surface making this Fine functional art for your floor and perfect for the high value art collector or investor. An interesting note about the signature... to pay homage to Michelangelo, Philip and Kelvin LaVerne crosses out their name in the signature ever so lightly, and finishes the signature with "After Michelangelo" to denote that the artwork was inspired by Michelangelo's "Creation of Adam", described in Wikipedia as: The Creation of Adam (Italian: Creazione di Adamo) is a fresco painting by Italian artist Michelangelo, which forms part of the Sistine Chapel's ceiling, painted circa 1508-1512. It illustrates the Biblical creation narrative from the Book of Genesis in which God gives life to Adam, the first man. The fresco is part of a complex iconographic scheme and is chronologically the fourth in the series of panels depicting episodes from Genesis. The image of the near-touching hands of God and Adam has become iconic of humanity. The painting has been reproduced in countless imitations and parodies. Michelangelo's Creation of Adam is one of the most replicated religious paintings of all time. The incredible cocktail table is crafted with an acid etched classical styled art bronze top which sits on top of a pair of cast fluted columns of bronze. The tabletop was intentionally buried in dirt to provide a gorgeous patina to the acid washed bronze top. Such impeccable and quality craftsmanship by father and son team, Philip and Kelvin LaVerne. A similar 'Creation of Man' table is on display at The Parker in Palm Springs, California which was designed by famed designer Jonathan Adler. This Fine LaVerne example is in excellent condition with no major issues or flaws. The acid etched and acid washed polychromed bronze finish is present, colors are bright and vivid, no structural issues or flaws. Only very minor wear is noticeable upon close inspection. We estimate this to be a 8 out of 10 in condition. This was clearly a well cared for example and is a prime candidate for a collector or high value client. The intricate craftsmanship of this stunning coffee / cocktail / tea table would be a great addition as part of a Classic, contemporary, Brutalist, chinoiserie, Regency or Mid-Century Modern living room, den, man or woman cave, family room, office or bedroom. It would also be an Apt choice in a corporate, retail or hospitality location such as a boutique hotel lobby, cocktail bar, members club, workspace studio, executive office or in a luxe clothing emporium. Ideal for the collector client or high-fashion interior designer. Would pair excellent with Brutalist furniture such as Paul Evans, Adrian Pearsall, Tom Greene, or Donald Drumm. Would also look great with chinoiserie pieces from Tommi Parzinger, James Mont and Bernard Rohne. Also would pair excellent with Old Masters artwork. Documentation: ”Philip & Kelvin LaVerne: Sculpture III” catalog, page 25 and 52: “CREATION OF MAN - (Round & oblong) God giving breath to Adam, inspired by Michelangelo, recreated in timeless bronze. Cast fluted columns of bronze form the base.” Measurements: 17.5" H x 54.25" W x 23.25" D The height of this table can be increased by 2 to 3" if desired, contact us for details. Artists names: Philip LaVerne (1907-1987) Kelvin LaVerne (b. 1937) Common Misspellings: Phillip, Kevin, Lavern, Leverne, Lavarne, Levern, Phil, Kelven.

Creator:
Philip and Kelvin LaVerne (Designer)
Dimensions:
Height: 17.5 in (44.45 cm)Width: 54.25 in (137.8 cm)Depth: 23.25 in (59.06 cm)
Style:
Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Bronze,Etched
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
1960-1969
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1960s
Condition:
Beautiful Patina as you would expect from a Laverne. These were intentionally aged when first made and it's beauty and character has been more defined with time. Ready for immediate use. Read description above for greater detail on condition.
Seller Location:
Los Angeles, CA
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU1330216284351

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.