Eternal Forest Bronze Dining Table by Philip and Kelvin LaVerne, circa 1965

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Eternal Forest Bronze Dining Table by Philip and Kelvin LaVerne, circa 1965

About the Item

For collectors of Philip and Kelvin LaVerne, the pièce de résistance is the highly coveted and incredibly sought after "Eternal Forest" table. Given so few were made as dining tables, most of their production were in coffee and Cocktail Tables, to find an Eternal Forest dining table is extremely rare to say the least. This oh-so-gorgeous and oh-so-rare dining table features the "Eternal Forest" motif in patinated bronze and pewter with hand applied polychrome enamels, completed in the mid-1960s by Philip and Kelvin LaVerne, a father and son American artisan team. The 42" inch diameter top sits atop a four sided scalloped bronze base with natural patinas to match the top. Underneath the base is a partial label bearing the Philip LaVerne Galleries Ltd logo with their motto "Works of Art" and studio address. The customer's information portion of the label was removed, most likely for purposes of privacy by the original owners. On the top of the base, the table is signed Philip Kelvin LaVerne. This rare, coveted, in-demand and sought-after dining table is best described as a functional sculpture. Philip and Kelvin considered themselves artists, rather than furniture makers, and their gallery motto was "Works of Art". So for most of the collector and antique dealer world, we consider this a sculpture that can be used as a dining table, cafe or breakfast table, center table or game table. It is sturdy and structurally sound, and since the materials are of a strong and robust nature - it is absolutely suitable for every day use. But of course, if you prefer, you can place it in your room purely for viewing purposes, it is similar to any other piece of quality, Fine art that you would otherwise place on a museum wall. This incredible work of art with its organic repeating natural motif still retains its original hand applied polychromed enameling. Often this gets removed through vigorous over-cleaning and can affect its long term value. This table possesses all of its beautiful blue, green and orange polychroming and soft subtle patina throughout. An excellent and Fine example. This Eternal Forrest dining table is an incredible option for the most discriminating client or collector. Consider for a Mid-Century Modern, Modern, Post-Modern or Contemporary home. Also an interesting addition of Juxtaposition in a French neoclassical, Traditional, Spanish, Transitional or Hollywood Regency room. Due to its formidable materials, this is suitable for residential or commercial use, perfect for any magazine-cover-worthy interior design project. Reference: Philip and Kelvin LaVerne, Sculpture III, Paper Catalog, 1960s. Shown on page 14, description states, “Eternal Forest - Symbol of the continuity of life and growth, a peaceful unending forest stands before us. hand-sculpted of bronze and pewter, with delicate tones of natural patinas. The base, a four star pedestal, is cast in bronze”. Common misspellings: Phillip and Kevin Laverne, Philips and Kelven Lavern, Phillips and Calvin Leverne. Condition: Very good to excellent vintage condition, all original and unrestored/repaired. Minor dings and scratches to base. Top possesses normal use marks in a few areas. Polychrome enamel is present, beautiful overall patina throughout. Measurements: Height 29" / diameter. 42" *Note, if you need the height increased by up to 3", we can fabricate a wood spacer to place between the base and the top. This is a common alteration that can be done that will not affect its value and can be easily removed in the future. Alternatively, if you wish to use this as a coffee table, we can swap the base out for a shorter base, contact us for our current stock of Philip and Kelvin LaVerne table tops and table bases.

Creator:
Philip and Kelvin LaVerne (Designer)
Dimensions:
Height: 29 in (73.66 cm)Diameter: 42 in (106.68 cm)
Style:
Modern (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Bronze,Enamel,Pewter,Hand-Crafted,Hand-Painted,Polychromed
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
1960-1969
Date of Manufacture:
1960s
Condition:
Very good to excellent vintage condition. Ready for immediate use. Please see description for greater detail.
Seller Location:
Los Angeles, CA
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU1330215530611

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.