Philip LaVerne 'Chan' Coffee Table (Bronze and Pewter, 1960s): Mid-Century Orientalism

Philip and Kelvin LaVerne operated their studio furniture workshop in New York from the 1950s through the 1970s, creating objects that stand entirely apart from mainstream mid-century modernism. Where most mid-century design celebrated austere simplicity and industrial materials, the LaVernes embraced richness, historical allusion, and the patient craft of hand-worked metal surfaces.

The "Chan" coffee table series is among the LaVernes' most recognized and collected designs: a low table with a cast and worked bronze and pewter surface incorporating Chinese decorative imagery (dragons, phoenixes, cloud forms, calligraphic elements) that reflects the orientalist design tradition filtered through 1960s American studio craft.

Philip and Kelvin LaVerne

Philip LaVerne (the father) was a sculptor and designer; his son Kelvin joined the business, and both are credited on the work produced together. The LaVerne studio produced limited quantities of objects entirely by hand, and each piece is to some degree unique given the handwork involved.

Their objects include coffee tables, dining tables, cabinet pieces, and sculptures, all sharing the characteristic bronze-and-pewter mixed-media approach and the rich decorative surfaces. The LaVernes drew from multiple cultural traditions: Chinese imagery (as in the Chan series), ancient Greek and Roman imagery, abstract expressionist abstraction, and other sources.

The "Chan" series specifically incorporates Chinese decorative vocabulary: the title references a Chinese aesthetic or place name, and the surface imagery draws from Chinese bronze casting traditions, imperial decorative motifs, and landscape imagery.

The Chan Coffee Table: Physical Description

A typical Chan coffee table features:

Surface: Cast and hand-worked bronze and pewter top, combining the two metals in a worked surface that shows the relief of the decorative imagery. Dragons, clouds, phoenixes, and calligraphic elements appear in high and low relief across the surface.

Structure: The table top rests on a base that can be simple block forms, decorative legs, or an integrated base structure, depending on the specific version.

Patina: Original LaVerne pieces have developed a complex patina over 60 years. The bronze and pewter surfaces age differently, creating a multi-tonal effect that enhances the three-dimensional imagery.

Signature: Philip and Kelvin LaVerne pieces are typically signed, either with a stamped mark in the metal or directly worked into the surface.

Identification and Authentication

Genuine LaVerne pieces can be identified by:

Signature: Both Philip and Kelvin LaVerne signed their collaborative work. The specific format of the signature (location, form, whether both names appear) varied and should be researched against documented authentic examples.

Material quality: The bronze and pewter casting and hand-working quality should be consistent with LaVerne studio production. The relief detail in the decorative imagery should be crisp and well-defined.

Surface treatment: Original patina developed over 60 years differs from artificially aged new production. Chemical aging can be detected by specialists.

Documentation: Provenance to original purchasers or established collections significantly strengthens attribution.

Condition Grades and Value

Values fluctuate based on the specific "Chan" variant (some versions are rarer), the table size, and the quality of the decorative imagery.

Condition Issues

Cleaning: The most damaging single thing done to LaVerne pieces. The complex patina built up over decades is irreplaceable; chemical cleaning that strips this patina permanently diminishes the piece. Never clean a LaVerne piece with metal polish or acids.

Surface damage: The relief surface is vulnerable to impact damage. Significant dents or gouges affect both aesthetics and value.

Structural issues: Table legs and base structures can develop looseness or damage that requires conservation.

The LaVerne Market

Philip and Kelvin LaVerne pieces have risen significantly in value over the past twenty years as mid-century American studio furniture has received broader recognition. Major auction houses (Christie's, Sotheby's, Wright) regularly include LaVerne pieces in their American decorative arts sales.

For collectors, LaVerne Chan tables offer the appeal of genuine artistry, historical studio craft, and a distinctive aesthetic that reads as both confidently mid-century and timeless in its decorative ambition.

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