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Paul Evans

American, 1931-1987

A designer and sculptor, Paul Evans was a wild card of late 20th century modernism. A leading light of the American Studio Furniture movement, Evans’s sideboards, credenzas, coffee tables and other work manifests a singular aesthetic sense, as well as a seemingly contradictory appreciation for both folk art forms and for new materials and technologies.

Evans’s primary material was metal, not wood, which was favored by his fellow studio designers, and Bucks County, Pennsylvania, neighbors George Nakashima and Phillip Lloyd Powell. He trained in metallurgy and studied at the Cranbrook Academy of Art, the famed crucible of modern design and art in suburban Detroit. For a time early in his career, Evans also worked at Sturbridge Village, a historical “living museum” in Massachusetts, where he gave demonstrations as a costumed silversmith.

Evans’s earliest work unites these influences. The pieces that made his reputation are known as “sculpted-front” cabinets: wood cases faced with box-like high-relief patinated steel mounts laid out in a grid pattern. Each mount contains a metal emblem, or glyph, and the effect is that of a brawny quilt.

Evans’s later work falls into three distinct style groups. His sculpted-bronze pieces, begun in the mid-1960s, show Evans at his most expressive. He employed a technique in which resin is hand-shaped, and later sprayed with a metal coating, allowing for artistic nuance in the making of chairs, tables and case pieces. Later in the decade and into the 1970s, Evans produced his Argente series for celebrated manufacturer Directional (​​a brand known to vintage mid-century modern furniture collectors everywhere): consoles and other furniture forms that feature aluminum and pigment-infused metal surfaces welded into abstract organic forms and patterns.

Last, Evans's Cityscape design series — a milestone in the history of brutalist design — meshed perfectly with the sleek, “high tech” sensibility of the later ’70s. Evans constructed boxy forms and faced them with irregular mosaic patterns that mixed rectangular plaques of chromed steel, bronze or burlwood veneer. These, like all of Paul Evans’s designs, are both useful and eye-catching. But their appeal has another, more visceral quality: these pieces have clearly been touched by an artist’s hand.

Find a collection of authentic Paul Evans furniture today on 1stDibs.

Average Sold Price
$7,319
Styles
Materials
Related Creators
Iconic Designs from Paul Evans
Explore timeless pieces that have earned their place in history.
Paul Evans Cityscape Dining Table
Paul Evans Cityscape Dining Table
Patchwork Table
Patchwork Table
Paul Evans Cityscapes Coffee Table
Paul Evans Cityscapes Coffee Table
Stalagmite Coffee Table
Stalagmite Coffee Table
Paul Evans Patchwork Copper Cabinet with Slate Top and Wall Hanging Mirror 1960s
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in Troy, MI
Matched credenza and mirror by Paul Evans Studio for Directional circa 1968 Model PE-38 two-door sideboard cabinet on recessed base Copper brass and pewter patchwork exterior with ...
Category

1960s American Brutalist Vintage Paul Evans

Materials

Slate, Brass, Copper, Pewter, Steel

Paul Evans Signed & Dated Rectangular Sculpted Bronze and Glass Cocktail Table
By Paul Evans
Located in New York, NY
This beautiful and iconic Brutalist sculpted bronze "Stalagmite" was realized by the fabled designed Paul Evans in in 1970. It features a welded sculptural and heavily textured bronz...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Evans

Materials

Bronze

Paul Evans Mid Century Deep Relief Cabinet Credenza
By Paul Evans
Located in Countryside, IL
Paul Evans Mid Century Deep Relief Cabinet Credenza This credenza measures: 96.5 wide x 20.5 deep x 31.5 inches high All pieces of furniture can be had in what we call restored vin...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Evans

Materials

Wood

Mid-Century Round Stalagmite Form Cocktail Table in Bronze Signed Paul Evans
By Paul Evans
Located in New York, NY
This remarkable mid-century modernist cocktail table, designed by the acclaimed American artist Paul Evans circa 1970, features a distinctive round stalagmite form crafted in bronze....
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Evans

Materials

Bronze

Paul Evans for Directional Model PE-102 'Stalagmite' Dining Table Signed PE72
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Made by American Design icon Paul Evans, this table was sold by Directional after production in 1972. At this point in his career, Evans had perfected his formula. The sculptured bro...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Evans

Materials

Metal, Bronze, Cut Steel

Paul Evans Wall-Hanging Console, Sculpted Bronze, Slate, Signed
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in New York, NY
Paul Evans Wall-Hanging Console, Sculpted Bronze, Slate, Signed. In original condition and purchased from the original owner. Large scale chunky wall mounted shelf, finished dark in ...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Evans

Materials

Slate, Bronze

Paul Evans Cityscape Coffee Table Signed
By Paul Evans
Located in Sayreville, NJ
Signed Paul Evans Cityscape Series Patchwork Brass and chrome coffee table. Renowned designer piece in great original condition. Only minor flaws ( see pics ) 48” x 48” x 15”
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Evans

Materials

Glass, Plywood

Paul Evans Mid-Century Modern Brutalist Metal Patchwork Indoor Planter Box
By Paul Evans
Located in Forney, TX
Paul Evans (1931-1987) American Brutalist industrial modern welded steel and copper, mixed metals patchwork and hardwood planter with rivet accents and removable metal insert. Can be used indoors or outdoors, with real plants or faux plants. Includes green styrofoam blocks for artificial plant use and natural stones for covering the top. Circa 1970 Dimensions: 26" High, 30" Wide, 11" Deep Please note, at the time of writing this, a matching coffee table is available separately. Please check our other listings or contact us to view it. Great original vintage condition. Strong, stable and structurally sound and in wonderful overall appearance; Age appropriate wear and tear, including minor scuffs, scattered scratches to wood panels and metal components. The black insert has fairly significant patinated weathered rustic oxidation consistent with age and indicative of use. The overall patina adds warmth and character to the overall aesthetic appeal and vintage authenticity. Biography: Paul Evans (American , 1927-1993) Born in Brooklyn, New York, Paul Evans is an American furniture designer and sculptor best known for his work in American Furniture design and the American craft movement. His work was influential to many furniture manufacturers in the second half of the 20th century, most notably Directional Furniture. He often used non-traditional materials and techniques like sculpted metal furniture. His work with Directional Furniture was extremely fruitful and during that time he started several series including their Argente, Sculpted Bronze, and Cityscape series. Evans started his career making copper chests and sculpted steel cabinets -- both of which are highly sought after today. Paul Evans’s work with Directional Furniture changed the relationship between creative directors and the companies they worked for. His name helped sell pieces, and he was consciously aware of that fact. As a proponent of modernism, Evans became an innovator in the furniture world. His patrons were often part of the New York elite, and he was able to enjoy sustained success, helped in large part by his ability to evolve with the times -- from craft-based in the 1950s to more flashy pieces in the 1970s and 1980s. His work was mostly recently featured at the Michener Art Museum and was the subject of a 2014 documentary. What kind of art does Paul Evans make? Paul Evans was primarily a furniture designer and sculptor. Though he started within the American Craft movement, Evans is hard to pin down stylistically. An expert metalworker and sculptor, several of Evans pieces were heavily influenced by the shipbuilding industry. As he moved through his career, his pieces became more stylistically diverse, but through it all there is a dedication to craft and function. Much of Evans work is best showcased in his work for Directional Furniture. He had several iconic lines including Patchwork Copper, Pewter and Brass, and the extremely popular CItyscape Series. In the 1980s, Evans branched off on his own with his Think Tank series. He opened his own showroom in New York City, but eventually retired in 1987. How did painter Paul Evans get started? Paul Evans was born on May 20th, 1931 in Newton, Pennsylvania. He studied sculpture and silversmithing at a number of colleges including the Philadelphia Textile Institute, the Rochester Institute of Technology, and the School for American Craftsmen. In the early 1950s, he attended the Cranbook Academy of Art in Michigan, later moving back to Pennsylvania to work with his mentor and guide, Phillip Loyd Powell. Together they began a business heavily influenced by the work of George Nakashima. Powell worked wood pieces, while Evans dedicated himself to metal. Evans burst onto the scene in the late 1960s and early 1970s as the American Craft movement exploded in popularity. From there he parlayed his popularity into a lucrative career with Directional Furniture. How much are Paul Evans pieces worth? Paul Evans furniture pieces can vary in value greatly, from a few thousand dollars on the low end to over $200,000 on the high end. In 2015 a Paul Evans wavy...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Industrial Paul Evans

Materials

Metal, Copper, Steel

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Paul Evans Sale Prices

Sold DateSold PriceCategoryMaterialCreation Year
2025$625Wall Mirrors, Mantel Mirrors and Fireplace MirrorsOak1970s
2025$35,200CabinetsResin, Slate1969
2025$3,800DressersOak1970s
2025$1,200Coffee and Cocktail TablesBrass, Glass, Chrome1970's
2025$180CandlesticksIron1970s
2025$1,900Side TablesWoodunknown
2025$1,750Decorative BoxesMetal1960s
2025$525Wall Lights and SconcesMetal1960s
2025$2,245SideboardsWalnut1970
2025$2,900Coffee and Cocktail TablesMetal, Burl1970
2025$3,150Coffee and Cocktail TablesBurl1980s
2025$4,495DressersWood1970s
2025$450CandlesticksBronze1960s
2025$3,021Coffee and Cocktail TablesMetalcirca 1970s
2025$3,500Dressers, CabinetsOakcirca 1970s
2025$14,000Dining Room TablesMetal, Steel, Wood, Burl1970s
2025$1,200BookendsMetal, Copper, Steel1970s
2025$500End Tables, Night StandsWalnut, Brass, Oakcirca 1960
2025$900PedestalsMetalCirca 1970
2025$950Dining Room Chairs, Office Chairs and Desk ChairsUltrasuede, Chrome1970s
$7,319
Average sold price of items in the past 12 months
$180-$43,650
Sold price range of items in the past 12 months

Creators Similar to Paul Evans

More Paul Evans Designs
Paul Evans Cityscape Dining Table
Paul Evans Cityscape Dining Table
Average Price
$10,588
Number Available
12
Paul Evans Cityscape Dining Table
By Paul Evans
Materials
Chrome, Metal, Wood, Glass
Styles
Mid Century Modern
The Cityscape dining table created by artist, sculptor and furniture designer Paul Evans (1931–87) is one of the most recognizable examples of brutalist design. Evans, whose favored material was metal, is best known for his 1970s contributions to the American Studio Craft movement as well as his breakthroughs in brutalism. In the early 1950s, Evans studied at Philadelphia’s Textile Institute and then at the Rochester Institute of Technology and Michigan’s Cranbrook Academy of Art, which has ...
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Patchwork Table
Patchwork Table
Average Price
$12,708
Number Available
11
Patchwork Table
By Paul Evans
Materials
Metal, Copper, Wood, Brass, Pewter, Slate, Stone
Styles
Brutalist, Mid Century Modern
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Paul Evans Cityscapes Coffee Table
Paul Evans Cityscapes Coffee Table
Average Price
$7,555
Number Available
10
Paul Evans Cityscapes Coffee Table
By Paul Evans
Materials
Metal, Chrome, Wood, Brass, Burl, Glass
Styles
Mid Century Modern
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Stalagmite Coffee Table
Stalagmite Coffee Table
Average Price
$16,721
Number Available
9
Stalagmite Coffee Table
By Paul Evans
Materials
Metal, Bronze, Glass
Styles
Mid Century Modern, Brutalist
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Paul Evans furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Paul Evans furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Paul Evans furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by Paul Evans were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Widdicomb Furniture Co., Mastercraft, and Harvey Probber. Prices for Paul Evans furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $713 and can go as high as $220,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $11,832.

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