Showrooms

Midcentury Philip and Kelvin LaVerne "Chan 140" Pewter and Bronze Coffee Table

Creator: Philip and Kelvin LaVerne
Offered by: High Style Deco

Description
This stunning and elegant pewter and bronze "Chan 140" cocktail table was realized in the United States by the Philip and Kelvin Laverne, circa 1960. Handcrafted in a combination of polychromed bronze and pewter, this piece, from their celebrated "Chan Series," this table displays one of the LaVerne brothers most recognizable motifs, chinoiserie scenes from the royal courts. This piece offers a particularly striking and vibrant finish exhibiting hues of marigold, turquoise and smoked copper, as well as a graphic amorphic silhouette.

This piece offers a landscape scene with a summer pavilion replete with a cast of characters including warriors, civilians, and natural elements. Two guards holding staffs flank the entrance to the pavilion- a wall that extends diagonally across the composition with a pagoda style top. In the left corner, a man enters the mise-en-scene on horseback holding a tall staff with a balled end mace. Opposite him, another male figure strides into the composition on horseback leading another equine figure. In the middle ground, two female figures in civilian garb hold a rectangular shaped box- presumably a gift to the emperor. In the bottom left corner, three soldiers Stand idly holding kamas, spears and other antediluvian weapons. In the background, behind the pavilion walls, a serene lake is depicted with floating ducks and gentle waves.

It sits on four cylindrical ringed legs, evocative of stylized bamboo branches. The legs are adjoined by demilune shaped supports with balled ends. The table exhibits their signature (and patented) finish, which they developed through extensive research, combing through books in the New York Public Library. The patenation process involved submerging pieces of brass in special soil imported from the Far East with their proprietary chemical brew, causing the piece to oxidize in a controlled manner. The brass and pewter would turn different colors at specific stages, earning this signature method of patenation the nickname the "rainbow process.

This piece represents a striking and timeless example of the LaVerne Brothers practice. Its iconoclastic aesthetic is as relevant now as it was when it was created more than fifty years ago. The Laverne tagline, from advertisements in the 1960s: “It’s not just functional and not just art, it's an investment" still holds true to this day. This piece is signed "Kelvin & Philip LaVerne" and is in excellent vintage condition.

American, circa 1960

Dimensions:
17.5" H x 23.5" D x 47.5" W.

More Information

Documentation:	Signed
Origin:	United States
Period:	1950-1979
Materials:	Bronze, Pewter.
Condition:	Excellent.
Creation Date:	1960
Styles / Movements:	Modern, Mid Century
Incollect Reference #:	386892

Dimensions

W.	47.5 in;	H.	17.5 in;	D.	23.5 in;
W.	120.65 cm;	H.	44.45 cm;	D.	59.69 cm;

Message from Seller:

High Style Deco was opened in 2004 by Howard Williams, starting out primarily featuring Art Deco furniture, lighting, art and accessories then expanding to include the best of Mid-Century items—resulting in a collection that represents the best of the 20th Century. In November 2012, High Style Deco relocated to a new six thousand square foot space that showcases their American and European inventory. NYC Location: 27 W 20TH ST, NEW YORK, NY 10011 p: 212.647.0035 e: INFO@HIGHSTYLEDECO.COM

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