Kiss Table by Philip & Kelvin LaVerne
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Kiss Table by Philip & Kelvin LaVerne
About the Item
- Creator:Philip and Kelvin LaVerne (Artist)
- Dimensions:Height: 20.5 in (52.07 cm)Width: 18 in (45.72 cm)Depth: 11 in (27.94 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1964
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:Seller: 84 PKL 131stDibs: LU78568230313
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.
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$12,800 Sale Price43% Off - Bronze Cocktail or Large Side Table by Philip & Kelvin LaVerne, 1960s, SignedBy Philip and Kelvin LaVerneLocated in Los Angeles, CAA gorgeous bronze acid-washed cocktail table by Philip and Kelvin LaVerne, circa 1960s New York. Philip and Kelvin LaVerne's signature acid etched on table surface. The intricate craftsmanship of this stunning acid etched bronze coffee / tea table (also works great as a large side or end table) in a square shape with bronze legs and stretchers by father and son team, Philip and Kelvin LaVerne is similar to the 'Classical' table but without the etchings and 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. Documentation: 'The Art of Philip & Kelvin LaVerne' catalog, c. 1965, page 11 and 39: "The eternally inspiring Muses, fittingly extolled in art, their details deftly softened to allow the beauty and strong tonal quality of rich bronzes to dominate." 'The Art of Philip & Kelvin LaVerne: Sculpture II' catalog, c. 1966, page 12 and 42: “Three separate bronzes inlaid by hand create one solid background of magnificent light and dark brown bronzes. The design is the eternally inspiring theme of Muses, Dance, Poetry, Music and Drama are portrayed.” 'Sculpture III' catalog, c. 1967, page 7 and 50: “The eternally inspiring "Muses" of antiquity, as sculpted by hand in timeless bronze. One views 'Calliope," goddess of poetry, "Euterpe," goddess of music...Category
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