Philip & Kelvin Laverne (French 1907-1987)

Philip and Kelvin Laverne are an American collaborative-design duo made up of Philip Laverne and his son Kelvin Laverne. They are best known for melding ancient Egyptian and chinoiserie motifs with uncommon techniques. Employing acid etching and patination, they antiqued and embellished decorative household objects, as seen in their(1965). Born in 1907 in New York, NY, Philip Laverne went on to study under the Ashcan School painter John Sloan at the Art Students League of New York. Kelvin Laverne was born in 1936 in New York, NY, he majored in metal sculpting and furniture design at the Parsons School of Design. In the mid-1950s, father and son began experimenting to create their first pieces. Philip focusing on the materials and decorative elements, while Kelvin laid out the larger forms and functional designs. Though Philip Laverne died in 1987, his son continues to produce works under both their names, as a testament to the legacy of their collaborative project.