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.
$11,000
John Eric Byers, "C4", Chair
By John Eric Byers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This solid maple chair from John Eric Byers merges modern, simplified geometries with traditional craft, painstakingly hand carved and lacquered with a distinctive textured pattern t...
Maple
$36,029 / 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
$48,897 / 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
$27,022 / 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
$12,867 / item
Drum Stool by John Eric Byers
By John Eric Byers
Located in Geneve, CH
Drum stool by John Eric Byers Dimensions: D51 x H38 cm Materials: carved + blackened + maple All works are individually handmade to order. John...
Other
$23,161 / 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
$15,441 / item
C4 Chair Handsculpted by John Eric Byers
By John Eric Byers
Located in Geneve, CH
C4 chair by John Eric Byers Dimensions: 63.5 x 58.5 x 45.7 cm Materials: Carved blackened maple All works are individually handmade to order. John Eric Byers creates geometri...
Maple
$11,000 / item
John Eric Byers, "C2", Chair
By John Eric Byers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This solid maple chair from John Eric Byers merges modern, simplified geometries with traditional craft, painstakingly hand carved and lacquered with a distinctive textured pattern t...
Maple
$23,161 / 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
$15,441 / item
C2 Chair Hand-Sculpted by John Eric Byers
By John Eric Byers
Located in Geneve, CH
C2 chair by John Eric Byers. Dimensions: 49.5 x 45.8 x 77.5 cm Materials: carved blackened maple All works are individually handmade to order. John Er...
Maple
$28,308 / 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
$15,441 / item
C3 Chair Hand-Sculpted by John Eric Byers
By John Eric Byers
Located in Geneve, CH
C3 chair by John Eric Byers Dimensions: 49.5 x 45.8 x 77.5 cm Materials: carved blackened maple All works are individually handmade to order. John Er...
Maple
$15,441 / item
C1 Chair Handsculpted by John Eric Byers
By John Eric Byers
Located in Geneve, CH
C1 chair by John Eric Byers. Dimensions: 49.5 x 45.8 x 77.5 cm Materials: Carved blackened maple All works are individually handmade to order. John E...
Maple
$11,000 / item
John Eric Byers, "C1", Chair
By John Eric Byers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This solid maple chair from John Eric Byers merges modern, simplified geometries with traditional craft, painstakingly hand carved and lacquered with a distinctive textured pattern t...
Maple
$11,000 / item
John Eric Byers, "C3", Chair
By John Eric Byers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This solid maple chair from John Eric Byers merges modern, simplified geometries with traditional craft, painstakingly hand carved and lacquered with a distinctive textured pattern t...
Maple
e15 Backenzahn Stool by Philipp Mainzer
By e15, Philipp Mainzer
Located in New York, NY
The original Backenzahn designed in 1996 by e15 founder and architect Philipp Mainzer is a modern design classic as well as an identifiable icon for e15. Crafted in Germany, the stoo...
Wood
Modern Wood Stool by Pierre Sarkis
By Pierre Sarkis
Located in Guatemala City, Central America
Modern Wood Stool by Pierre Sarkis from Celine collection. Accent stool, butterfly outdoor set. Fine and selected tropical woods and natural fibers, ...
Upholstery, Wood
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
$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
$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
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
e15 Calle Wood Bench by Philipp Mainzer
By e15, Philipp Mainzer
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
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 David Chipperfield, e15
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
Two Seat Low Bench for John Stuart
By John Stuart
Located in Dallas, TX
This low bench for John Stuart has been professional refinished and reupholstered in a Anne Kirk linen wool blend. The piece is unmarked.
Wool, Linen, Teak
Eric O'Leary Glazed Ceramic Stool
By Eric O'leary
Located in New York, NY
Glazed ceramic stool attributed to the American artist, Eric O'Leary ( 1949- ), circa 1980s, approximately 18 1/2 inches tall and 14 1/4 inches in diameter. 44 lbs. In 1972 the art...
Ceramic
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
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