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.
Pristine Paul Evans Cityscape Burl Walnut Executive Desk.
By Paul Evans
Located in South Charleston, WV
Expertly restored with painstaking detail. Signed Paul Evans cityscape desk with ideal dimensions of 72" x 32" and 28.5" tall (though feet adjust it 1" higher if need be). Patchwork...
Chrome
$20,000Sale Price|20% Off
Paul Evans Patchwork Burl and Steel Cityscape Executive Desk, 1970's
By Paul Evans
Located in Culver City, CA
Some desks hold paper clips. Others hold power. This Paul Evans Cityscape Desk? It’s the power! Designed by the legendary Paul Evans in the 1970s, this monumental, sculptural masterp...
Steel
Vintage Boho Paul Evans Cityscape Executive Desk
By Paul Evans
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Elevate your workspace with our Vintage Boho Paul Evans Cityscape Executive Desk. This iconic piece, designed by American artist Paul Evans, merges Bohemian flair with modernist soph...
Metal
Monteverdi Young Demi Lune Executive Desk
By Monteverdi-Young
Located in Alhambra, CA
Incredibly rare Monteverdi Young Demi-Lune executive desk. Gorgeous mahogany & walnut construction. Features multiple drawers and plenty of file and office supply storage. Rare p...
Mahogany
$4,775
H 30.75 in W 59 in D 32 in
French burl walnut + nickel executive office desk / writing table/ bureau plat
Located in New York City, NY
Large and exceptional original French Art Deco executive desk featuring a stunning book-matched walnut veneer top with rich grain patterning and warm, medium-honey brown tones. Clean...
Bronze, Nickel
Stainless Steel and Burl Wood Desk by Leon Rosen for Pace, 1980s
By Pace Furniture Company, Leon Rosen
Located in Hamburg, PA
A monumental Demi Lune Executive's Desk designed by Leon Rosen for Pace. This stunning desk has matchbook burl wood veneer which creates a beautiful surface. The warmth of the wood w...
Stainless Steel
$25,000
H 32.25 in W 84.13 in D 22 in
Paul Evans CityScape Sideboard for Directional Brass Tiles & Burl Wood Doors
By Paul Evans, Directional
Located in St. Louis, MO
Rare 1970s Paul Evans Cityscape sideboard with waterfall ends for Directional with brass tiles and book matched Burl wood doors. Interior laminated in black...
Brass
Midcentury Executive Boomerang Desk
Located in Esperance, NY
For sale is this very unique large executive boomerang desk. The top is made out of laminate and the bottom is solid wood.
Walnut
Paul Evans Flip Top Cityscape Bar Cabinet
By Paul Evans
Located in Chino Hills, CA
Step back in time with this authentic, vintage Paul Evans Cityscape bar cabinet from the 1970s. This striking piece combines the distinct aesthetic of Paul Evans with the practicalit...
Burl
1968 Executive Desk
By Warren Platner
Located in Hanover, MA
Executive desk formerly belonging to noted architect George M. Notter, (1933–2007) of the Boston firm Anderson Notter Finegold (now known as Finegold Alexander Architects). Current institutional memory at the firm suggests it was a special order from Herman Miller for the then new New York offices of MGM, however Herman Miller's archivist was unable to confirm. Styling, particularly the distinctive slim milled aluminum tracks through which the entire drawer carriage glides is clearly similar to Warren Platner's designs for Lehigh-Leopold which were then among the most costly of executive office furnishings. The bent flat bar chromed steel base with its distinctive pigeon toe splay is somewhat similar to a table base in Stow Davis' Electa Series, designed by Alexis Yermakov circa 1971. Walnut laminate top is very clean with no issues. One corner edge shows a small separation. The only identifying markings are within the milled aluminum channel: G.P. F.I. 2 And the date Dec. 20, 1968. See image 18. Between the rectangular laminate top and the chrome base is a heavy blackened steel plate. Underneath the bent chrome pigeon toe feet are bars of a thick phenolic material which act as floor protector. We can have keys made to fit the two locking drawers. Tim Anderson...
Aluminum, Steel, Chrome
Dillingham Mid Century Walnut Executive Desk
By Dillingham Manufacturing Company
Located in Esperance, NY
For sale is this nice vintage desk made by Dillingham
Walnut
Unavailable|$30,400
H 32 in W 63 in D 29 in
20th Century French Art Deco Pedestal Olive Ash Burl Executive Desk
By Karl Springer
Located in Cordova, SC
Elevate your workspace with this exquisite Art Deco olive burl desk, where timeless elegance meets modern functionality. Crafted from the finest olive burl wood, this desk boasts a r...
Chrome
$4,245
H 29.5 in W 76 in D 38 in
Romweber Mid-Century Modern Burl Wood and Brass Executive Desk, Circa 1970s
By Romweber Furniture Co.
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional mid-century modern Hollywood Regency executive desk By Romweber USA, Circa 1970s Gorgeous burled Carpathian elm wood, with brass trim and hardware. Measures: 76"W ...
Brass
1970s National Mt. Airy Military Campaign Style Executive Desk
By National Mt. Airy
Located in Dallas, TX
Another good looking campaign style piece for your collection! We are delighted to offer for sale this vintage executive desk hand crafted in the Military Campaign style by Mt. Airy, which is one of the higher quality campaign manufacturers. This well-made desk executed out of oakwood which has a lovely warm patina to it, the cuts of timber are lovely with great proportions from any angle. Supporting a rectangular top with a central drawer flanked on either side by a column cabinet with four drawers each having a top and bottom drawer, two of which are double as a filing drawer in the middle offering plenty of storage space. Solid finished back all standing on a plinth base to make it more stable. The brass inset military handles & brass corner brackets are all original and in brass. Signed "National Mt...
Oak
Jens Risom Mid Century Walnut Executive Desk
By Jens Risom
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Jens Risom Mid Century walnut executive desk This desk measures: 62 wide x 28 deep x 28.5 high, with a chair clearance ...
Metal
Paul Evans Rare Writing Table / Desk, Signed 1969
By Paul Evans
Located in Culver City, CA
This piece is an absolute stunner! Designed and created by famed brutalist designer Paul Evans in 1969. this cold cast resin, bronze finish pedestal writing desk features deep relief artistry which Paul Evans is known for. This piece is indeed signed, PE69. Paul Evans pieces are highly coveted and extremely collectable and over the past decade have only increased in value and demand. Paul Evans is the epitome of the brutalism movement of the 1960's and 1970's and his work is by far the most highly regarded in nature. This desk / writing table would look incredible floating in a mid century modern, or modern office, or home with like designers in nature, or with other mid century masters like Vladimir Kagan, George Nakashima or Mario Bellini. This piece, while very brutalist in nature, could effortlessly blend into a number of design concepts spanning wabi sabi, to Hollywood regency, boho chic, and even more contemporary styling. This Paul Evans piece is currently in our gallery with a Vladimir Kagan serpentine sofa and a Karl Springer credenza...
Bronze
Paul Evans "Cityscape" Executive Desk in Burl Walnut
By Paul Evans
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This stunning "Cityscape" executive desk by Paul Evans is an impressive midcentury addition to home or office decor. Vintage burl walnut finish is complimented by patchwork chrome tr...
Burl
Signed Desk Designed by Paul Evans in the Cityscape Style
By Paul Evans
Located in Stamford, CT
A signed olivewood veneer desk rising from a metal tiled cityscape base. This desk was designed by repute specifically for a customer by Paul Evans, circa 1978.
Chrome
Paul Evans Cityscape Patchwork Metal Desk
By Paul Evans, Directional
Located in Stamford, CT
Paul Evans for Directional Furniture Cityscape desk. Polished chrome-plated steel and brass patchwork design. Two front drawers. Signed Paul Evans on lower right desk leg.
Brass, Steel, Chrome
Paul Evans Pedestal Table
By Paul Evans
Located in Chicago, IL
Cityscape by Paul Evans for Directional, brass and chrome pedestal bases with multiple uses. Any sized glass can be cut for use as a dining table, desk or console.
Brass, Chrome
Custom "Cityscape" Executive Desk by Paul Evans
By Paul Evans, Directional
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Rare monumental "Cityscape" executive desk designed by Paul Evans for Directional. Custom order with an outer anodized copper base, and interior titanium plated steel.
Copper, Steel
Paul Evans Cityscape Desk
By Paul Evans
Located in Pawtucket, RI
Functional desk designed by Paul Evans for the " Cityscape series" in mixed patchwork of chromed steel and brass veneers. Desk with 2 drawers on cantilevered base. A few typical mino...
Sold
H 29 in W 47 in D 47 in
A Rare Unique Custom Commissioned Executive Desk and Chair by Paul Evans, 1979
By Paul Evans
Located in New York, NY
Acquired from the original client who commissioned this desk with all original drawings from the Evans’ Studio dated 5/15/1979. A symmetrical pentagon with canted sides in bold Hondu...
Paul Evans Cityscape Executive Desk
By Paul Evans
Located in Miami, FL
Walnut burl and metal Cityscape directorial desk by Paul EVANS. Excellent and perfect design ,deep and large set of drawers. Signature under the m...
Metal
Large executive desk and credenza by Paul Evans
By Paul Evans
Located in Dallas, TX
A powerful desk and credenza set designed by Paul Evans for Directional. The set is Burled Walnut with chocolate brown leather.
desk: 85.5...