Inspired by pure geometrical forms — circles, rectangles, squares, cylinders and spheres — John Eric Byers’s furniture is deceptively simple. A closer inspection, however, shows that behind each coffee table, bench and chair there is great care and meticulous attention to detail. It is little wonder why the woodworker is considered to be among the foremost figures of the modern American Studio movement.
Born in Rochester, New York, in 1959, Byers trained in the workshop of Wendell Castle, “the father of the art furniture movement.” The renowned American sculptor greatly influenced Byers, and the New York native found inspiration in the work of other artist-designers while in Castle’s workshop such as Donald Judd and British ceramicist Hans Coper.
Following his studies under Castle, Byers established a studio and workshop in Newfield, New York. There, he uses a variety of specialized techniques in the design of his furniture, including wood milling, lamination, hand-shaping, hand-tooling and finishing, often with casein milk paint, which is believed to have been used in ancient Egypt.
Byers’s side tables, stools, sideboards, credenzas and other pieces are sculpted by hand in his preferred material — hard, blackened maple. Each design demonstrates his keen focus on detailed surface texture and structure.
Byers’s works have not gone unnoticed over the course of his decades-long career. He has won multiple awards, such as the Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Award and the New York Foundation of the Arts Award. He has been included in the Smithsonian’s Oral Archives of American Arts as well.
Byers’s pieces feature in permanent collections at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Mint Museum and the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City.
Find vintage John Eric Byers tables, seating, case pieces and storage cabinets.
$21,000 / item
John Eric Byers, "Loft Bench for Three"
By John Eric Byers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This elevated bench from John Eric Byers merges bold, modern geometries with traditional craft. The wood is hand-sawn and lacquered with a distinctive textured pattern to give a soph...
Maple
$36,242 / item
Drum Bench for 3 by John Eric Byers
By John Eric Byers
Located in Geneve, CH
Drum bench for 3 by John Eric Byers Dimensions: D41 x W122 x H41 cm Materials: carved + blackened + maple All works are individually handmade to order. John Eric Byers creates geom...
Other
$49,185 / item
Drum Bench for 4 by John Eric Byers
By John Eric Byers
Located in Geneve, CH
Drum bench for 4 by John Eric Byers Dimensions: D41 x W163 x H41 cm Materials: carved + blackened + maple All works are individually handmade to order. John Eric Byers create...
Other
$27,181 / item
Maple Loft Bench for Three by John Eric Byers
By John Eric Byers
Located in Geneve, CH
Maple loft bench for three by John Eric Byers. Dimensions: 45.7 x 172.7 x 36.8 cm. Materials: carved blackened maple. All works are individually handmade to order. John Eric ...
Maple
$23,298 / item
Maple Loft Bench for Two by John Eric Byers
By John Eric Byers
Located in Geneve, CH
Maple loft bench for two by John Eric Byers Dimensions: 45.7 x 114.3 x 36.8 cm Materials: Carved blackened maple All works are individually handmade...
Maple
$16,000 / item
John Eric Byers, "OS4V", Bench
By John Eric Byers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Oro, a new series by John Eric Byers, marks the artist’s 30th solo exhibition. An elegant balance of contrasts takes form in these visually stunning works. Blocks of wood are meticul...
Gold
John Eric Byers, "Reveal", Bench, 2022
By John Eric Byers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This solid maple piece from John Eric Byers merges modern, simplified geometries with traditional craft, painstakingly hand carved and lacquered with a...
Maple
Carved, Blackened and Maple Loft Bench Revised by John Eric Byers
By John Eric Byers
Located in Geneve, CH
Carved, Blackened and Maple Loft Bench Revised by John Eric Byers Dimensions: W 183 x D 38 x H 46 cm. Materials: Carved, Blackened and Maple. John Eric Byers creates geometrically i...
Maple
$31,064 / item
Carved and Black Oak T5 Bench by John Eric Byers
By John Eric Byers
Located in Geneve, CH
Carved and Black Oak T5 Bench by John Eric Byers Dimensions: W 142 x D 51 x H 36 cm. Materials: Carved, Blackened, White oak. John Eric Byers creates geometrically inspired pieces t...
Oak
$23,298 / item
Maple Block Bench for Two by John Eric Byers
By John Eric Byers
Located in Geneve, CH
Maple block bench for two by John Eric Byers Dimensions: 43 x 101.6 x 35.5 cm Materials: carved blackened maple All works are individually handmade to...
Maple
$28,475 / item
Maple Block Bench for Three by John Eric Byers
By John Eric Byers
Located in Geneve, CH
Maple block bench for three by John Eric Byers Dimensions: 43 x 101.6 x 35.5 cm Materials: Carved blackened maple All works are individually handmade ...
Maple
$28,475 / item
Reveal Bench Sculpted by John Eric Byers
By John Eric Byers
Located in Geneve, CH
Reveal bench sculpted by John Eric Byers Dimensions: 16” x 54” x 14 in Materials: Carved lacquered maple hardwood All works are individually handmade to order. John Eric Byer...
Maple
$18,121 / item
ORO, OS3 Bench by John Eric Byers
By John Eric Byers
Located in Geneve, CH
ORO - OS3 bench by John Eric Byers ORO collection Dimensions: W 76 x D 38 x H 38 cm Materials: maple hardwood + gold metallic lacquer Hand shaped + hand textured + hollow core...
Maple
$14,000 / item
John Eric Byers, "Os3", Bench
By John Eric Byers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Oro, a new series by John Eric Byers, marks the artist’s 30th solo exhibition. An elegant balance of contrasts takes form in these visually stunning works. Blocks of wood are meticul...
Gold
John Eric Byers, "Block Bench for Three"
By John Eric Byers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This monolithic piece from John Eric Byers merges bold, modern geometries with traditional craft. The wood is hand-carved and lacquered with a distinctive textured pattern to give a ...
Maple
$18,000 / item
John, Eric Byers, "Block Bench for Two"
By John Eric Byers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This monolithic piece from John Eric Byers merges bold, modern geometries with traditional craft. The wood is hand-carved and lacquered with a distinctive textured pattern to give a sophisticated finish to a simplified silhouette. Available as a bench for two...
Maple
$18,000 / item
John Eric Byers, "Loft Bench for Two"
By John Eric Byers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This elevated bench from John Eric Byers merges bold, modern geometries with traditional craft. The wood is hand-sawn and lacquered with a distinctive textured pattern to give a soph...
Maple
From $12,620 / item
+ 2 moreH 29.53 in W 64.97 in D 22.45 in
e15 Tafel Table Bench by Hans De Pelsmacker
By e15, Hans De Pelsmacker
Located in New York, NY
The table bench tafel draws special interest with its sculptural, functional appeal. Tafel is included in various museum collections. The combination of table and bench creates a uni...
Wood
e15 Calle Wood Bench by Philipp Mainzer
By Philipp Mainzer, e15
Located in New York, NY
The solid wood bench Calle consists of a contoured seat, two sides flushed with the seat and a support beam underneath. The top surface tapers toward the middle to allow comfortable ...
Wood
$1,820Sale Price|35% Off
H 16 in W 41 in D 16.5 in
Mid-Century Two Seat Bench attr. Arthur Umanoff for John Stuart
By John Stuart, Arthur Umanoff
Located in Trenton, NJ
This mid-century two-seat bench attributed to Arthur Umanoff for John Stuart, Inc. captures the sleek elegance and sculptural design sensibility of 1950s modernism. With its clean li...
Upholstery, Wood
e15 Taro Wood Bench by Philipp Mainzer
By e15, Philipp Mainzer
Located in New York, NY
The sides of bench Taro are pushed slightly inward to enhance stability, therefore this bench can be offered in a standard length of up to 3600 MM (141 3/4 inch). The wood is 40 MM (...
Wood
Expandable Slat Bench by John Keal
By John Keal
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Midcentury Brown Saltman expandable slat bench designed by John Keal. This bench has two ends that pull-out extending to almost 94” long creating a versatile solid oak walnut stained...
Oak
From $4,750 / item
+ 2 moreH 18.51 in W 82.68 in D 13.78 in
e15 Customizable Fawley Wood Bench by David Chipperfield
By e15, David Chipperfield
Located in New York, NY
The bench Fawley elegantly features a linear form referring to the structural principle of the table Fayland. Highlighting stability and comfort, a signature horizontal bar dominates...
Wood
$2,500 / item
H 25 in W 20 in D 60 in
Modern Solid Argentine Rosewood Outdoor Bench by Costantini, Serrano
By Costantini
Located in New York, NY
Part of the Serrano family, this solid wood bench gives a nod to the master artist and designer Donald Judd. Shown here in Argentine Rosewood but av...
Wood
Os de Mouton Louis XIV Style Walnut Stool or Bench
Located in Barcelona, ES
Spanish Louis XIV style Ottoman, Beautiful Louis XIV style bench or stool raised on four Os de Mouton hand carved walnut legs with stretcher, Spain, 1930s. This stylish banquette ha...
Fabric, Velvet, Wood, Leather, Walnut
Charlotte Perriand Long Pine Bench for Les Arcs, 1970s France
By Charlotte Perriand
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Classic pine 4 seater bench designed by Charlotte Perriand for the Les Arcs Ski Resort in France. A beautiful example of iconic Perriand design in a gorgeous dark stain and an amazin...
Pine
Il Loft Gray Upholstered Kyoto Bench
By Il Loft
Located in Astoria, NY
Il Loft Postmodern Gray Upholstered and Tufted Kyoto Bench, the underside marked "Loft". 19.5" H x 75" W x 22" D. Provenance: From a Vintage Collection of Italian Designer Furniture ...
Upholstery, Wood
$12,000
H 14.25 in W 85.5 in D 14 in
Monumental Charlotte Perriand Pine Storage Bench for Les Arcs, 1960s
By Charlotte Perriand
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare pine storage bench designed by Charlotte Perriand for the Les Arcs Ski Resort in France. Just over 7 feet long. Presently the only one of its kind for sale. Perfect patina to th...
Pine
Edward Wormley 'Long John' Bench for Dunbar
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A 1946 design by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, the bench, lovingly termed the “Long John" has a low profile with walnut segmented, tongue-and-groove construction atop four hairpin legs ...
Ash, Walnut