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.
$25,738 / item
V3 Cabinet by John Eric Byers
By John Eric Byers
Located in Geneve, CH
V3 cabinet by John Eric Byers Dimensions: D56 x W41 x H163 cm Materials: carved + blackened + maple + brass All works are individually handmade to order...
Brass, Other
$25,738 / item
V2 Cabinet Sculpted by John Eric Byers
By John Eric Byers
Located in Geneve, CH
V2 cabinet sculpted by John Eric Byers Dimensions: 106.7 x 91.5 x 45.7 cm Materials: carved blackened maple and brass All works are individually handma...
Brass
$20,000 / item
John Eric Byers, "V3", Cabinet
By John Eric Byers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
These cabinets merge bold, modern geometries with traditional craft. The wood is hand-sawn and lacquered with a distinctive textured pattern to give a sophisticated finish to a simpl...
Brass
$35,000 / item
John Eric Byers, "M1", Credenza
By John Eric Byers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This minimalist credenza from John Eric Byers merges bold, modern geometries with traditional craft. The four cabinets and platform are hand-carved and...
Brass
$45,041 / item
9 Cubes Cabinet by John Eric Byers
By John Eric Byers
Located in Geneve, CH
9 Cubes Cabinet by John Eric Byers Dimensions: D115 x W38 x H115 cm Materials: sawn + blackened + maple + ash All works are individually handmade to orde...
Other
$35,000 / item
John Eric Byers, "M3", Credenza
By John Eric Byers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This minimalist credenza from John Eric Byers merges bold, modern geometries with traditional craft. The three cabinets and platform are hand-carved and lacquered with a distinctive ...
Brass
$28,000 / item
John Eric Byers, "V4", Cabinet
By John Eric Byers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
These cabinets merge bold, modern geometries with traditional craft. The wood is hand-sawn and lacquered with a distinctive textured pattern to give a sophisticated finish to a simpl...
Brass
$45,041 / item
Carved and Walnut BW-D1 Dresser by John Eric Byers
By John Eric Byers
Located in Geneve, CH
Carved and Walnut BW-D1 Dresser by John Eric Byers Dimensions: W 81 x D 52 x H 123 cm. Materials: Carved, Walnut. John Eric Byers creates geometrically inspired pieces that are mini...
Walnut
$57,910 / item
Credenza Sculpted by John Eric Byers
By John Eric Byers
Located in Geneve, CH
M4 Credenza sculpted by John Eric Byers Dimensions: 81.3 x 274.3 x 45.7 cm Materials: Carved blackened maple, brass All works are...
Brass
$38,607 / item
6 Cubes Cabinet by John Eric Byers
By John Eric Byers
Located in Geneve, CH
6 cubes cabinet by John Eric Byers Dimensions: D76 x W38 x H165 cm Materials: sawn + whitened + maple + brass All works are individually handmade to ...
Brass, Other
$50,000 / item
John Eric Byers, "M4", Credenza
By John Eric Byers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This minimalist credenza from John Eric Byers merges bold, modern geometries with traditional craft. The four cabinets and platform are hand-carved and lacquered with a distinctive t...
Brass
$38,607 / item
M2 Credenza Cabinet by John Eric Byers
By John Eric Byers
Located in Geneve, CH
M2 credenza cabinet by John Eric Byers Dimensions: D 71 x W 132 x H 46 cm Materials: carved + blackened + maple + brass All works are individually han...
Brass, Other
$20,000 / item
John Eric Byers, "V2", Cabinet
By John Eric Byers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
These cabinets merge bold, modern geometries with traditional craft. The wood is hand-sawn and lacquered with a distinctive textured pattern to give a sophisticated finish to a simpl...
Brass
$51,476 / item
Two Tier Credenza Cabinet by John Eric Byers
By John Eric Byers
Located in Geneve, CH
Two Tier Credenza Cabinet by John Eric Byers Dimensions: D41 x W167 x H87 cm Materials: carved + blackened + maple + brass All works are individuall...
Brass, Other
$45,041 / item
Credenza Sculpted by John Eric Byers
By John Eric Byers
Located in Geneve, CH
M1 Credenza sculpted by John Eric Byers Dimensions: 66 x 195.6 x 45.7 cm Materials: Carved blackened maple, brass All works are ...
Brass
$30,000 / item
John Eric Byers, "M2", Credenza
By John Eric Byers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This elevated credenza from John Eric Byers merges bold, modern geometries with traditional craft. The cabinets and platform are hand-carved and lacquered with a distinctive textured...
Brass
$51,476 / item
12 Cubes Cabinet by John Eric Byers
By John Eric Byers
Located in Geneve, CH
12 Cubes cabinet by John Eric Byers Dimensions: D 150 x W 38 x H 122 cm Materials: sawn + blackened + maple + brass All works are individually handmade t...
Brass, Other
$57,910 / item
16 Cubes Cabinet by John Eric Byers
By John Eric Byers
Located in Geneve, CH
16 Cubes cabinet by John Eric Byers Dimensions: D150 x W38 x H165 cm Materials: sawn + blackened + maple + ash All works are individually handmade to...
Other
$45,041 / item
8 Cubes Cabinet by John Eric Byers
By John Eric Byers
Located in Geneve, CH
8 cubes cabinet by John Eric Byers Dimensions: D76 x W38 x H158 cm Materials: sawn + maple + ash All works are individually handmade to order. Joh...
Other
$40,000 / item
John Eric Byers, "12 Cubes", Cabinet
By John Eric Byers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This monolithic cabinet from John Eric Byers merges bold, modern geometries with traditional craft. The wood is hand-sawn and lacquered with a disti...
Ash, Maple
$45,000 / item
John Eric Byers, "16 Cubes", Cabinet
By John Eric Byers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This monolithic cabinet from John Eric Byers merges bold, modern geometries with traditional craft. The wood is hand-sawn and lacquered with a disti...
Ash, Maple
$35,000 / item
John Eric Byers, "9 Rectangles", Cabinet
By John Eric Byers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This monolithic cabinet from John Eric Byers merges bold, modern geometries with traditional craft. The wood is hand-sawn and lacquered with a disti...
Ash, Maple
$35,000 / item
John Eric Byers, "9 Cubes", Cabinet
By John Eric Byers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This monolithic cabinet 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 ...
Ash, Maple
$35,000 / item
John Eric Byers, "8 Cubes", Cabinet
By John Eric Byers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This monolithic cabinet from John Eric Byers merges bold, modern geometries with traditional craft. The wood is hand-sawn and lacquered with a disti...
Ash, Maple
$45,041 / item
9 Rectangles Cabinet by John Eric Byers
By John Eric Byers
Located in Geneve, CH
9 Rectangles cabinet by John Eric Byers Dimensions: D115 x W38 x H165 cm Materials: sawn + blackened + maple + ash All works are individually handmade to order. John Eric Bye...
Other
Robert John Credenza
By Robert John
Located in Chicago, IL
Robert John Credenza, five drawers 2 pencil drawers with locks, one file drawer with notch pulls, sliding doors with removable adjustable shelf. ...
Steel
$5,360Sale Price|20% Off
H 31.25 in W 77.75 in D 20 in
1980s Black Lacquer Credenza From John Widdicomb
By John Widdicomb
Located in North Canton, OH
Striking Smokey Black Lacquer shaved corner Credenza with spectacular Brass Hardware and recessed Brass plinth base by John Widdicomb. Even the inside of the drawers are gorgeous on ...
Lacquer
Shale Low Credenza (84") by Simon Johns
By Simon Johns
Located in East-Bolton, Quebec
Both monumental and subtle, the Shale Credenza brings the intricacies of nature’s geology indoors. The wood doors are scored vertically across the grain...
Brass
Shale Low Credenza (96") by Simon Johns
Located in East-Bolton, Quebec
Both monumental and subtle, the Shale Credenza brings the intricacies of nature’s geology indoors. The wood doors are scored vertically across the grain...
Brass
Large Rare Fish Cabinet by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
This exquisite large cabinet is by James Mont. The cabinet is a beautiful cerused oak and has a slight trapezoidal shape. In the centre of the cabinet there is a wonderful fish medallion which when pushed the rotating door...
Wood
Shale Low Credenza (72") by Simon Johns
By Simon Johns
Located in East-Bolton, Quebec
Both monumental and subtle, the Shale Credenza brings the intricacies of nature’s geology indoors. The wood doors are scored vertically across the grain...
Mirror, Ash
Shale High Credenza (108") by Simon Johns
By Simon Johns
Located in East-Bolton, Quebec
Both monumental and subtle, the Shale Credenza brings the intricacies of nature’s geology indoors. The wood doors are scored vertically across the grain...
Mirror, Ash
Extraordinary Pair of John-Richard Silvered Leather Credenzas
By John Richard
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An incredible Pair of Large and very Decorative Silvered Leather Chests from John-Richard. Pair of impressive John Richard silver gilt credenzas with g...
Wood
John Kapel for Glenn of California Credenza
By John Kapel, Glenn of California
Located in Denton, TX
Four door credenza with sculpted walnut handles that open to shelves and drawers. Beautiful black accents on the doors and base make the walnut pop. Designed by John Kapel for Glenn of California...
Plastic, Walnut
$4,800
H 31.5 in W 74.74 in D 18.5 in
Classic Scandinavian Modern Teak Credenza Attributed to Eric Wørts Denmark
By Erik Worts
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Erik Worts Classic Scandinavian Modern credenza in fine chosen Teak c 1950’s. Long clean mid century lines in fine teak with double tambour doors with inset handles. The right door o...
Teak
Long Office Cabinet by Robert John
By Robert John
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid-century modern office storage sideboard by Robert John. Cabinet space, drawer storage, set on metal legs. Please confirm location.
Aluminum
$19,500
H 32 in W 56 in D 19 in
Exceptional Mahogany Cabinet by Bert England for Widdicomb, circa 1965
By John Widdicomb
Located in Atlanta, GA
This magnificent cabinet is shipped as professionally photographed and described in the listing narrative: Meticulously professionally restored and completely installation ready A s...
Brass