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.
$25,959 / 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
$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
$25,959 / 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
$45,429 / 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
$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
$38,939 / 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
$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
$38,939 / 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
$51,919 / 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
$51,919 / 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
$58,409 / 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
$45,429 / 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
$45,429 / 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
John Dickinson Style Trompe L’oeil Cabinet
Located in Staffordshire, GB
Circa 1950 Trompe l’oeil cabinet decorative & beautifully hand painted in the style of John Dickinson. sku 1271 Measures: W63 x D37 x H75 cm.
Wood
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
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
$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
Midcentury Oak Cabinet
Located in Westwood, NJ
Mid-Century Modern style cabinet with reclaimed oak veneers and restored chestnut burl, an aged Oak finish with brass handles. The interior two sections ...
Wood
$10,060Sale Price|20% Off
H 70.87 in W 40.95 in D 14.18 in
Cabinet by Willy Van der Meeren & Eric Lemesre for Tubax, 1950's
By Willy Van Der Meeren
Located in Antwerp, BE
Willy Van der Meeren; Eric Lemesre; Tubax; Cabinet; Belgian Design; Mid-Century Modern; Patina; Wood; Metal; Belgium; 1950's; An early example of Industrial Design from the Belgium modernist stream, designed by Willy Van Der Meeren & Eric Lemesre for Tubax. On the left, wooden shelves are covered by a red metal door, on the right a large grey metal door opens up to a big open space. The coloured metal sliding doors...
Metal
Pair of Cabinets by Charles Dudouyt
By Charles Dudouyt
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Pair of cabinets by Charles Dudouyt. Located in NY.
Oak
Rosewood Cabinet by D.I.M
By D.I.M. Decoration Intérieure Moderne
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Rosewood cabinet by DIM (Joubert & Petit) (decoration interieure moderne).
Rosewood
John Widdicomb Bonnet Top Cabinet
By John Widdicomb
Located in North Canton, OH
Very Rare John Widdicomb Bonnet top cabinet with glass shelving. Beautiful hand painted details, intricate brass grating and hand carvings. Original...
Paint
$16,800
H 4.34 in W 45.28 in D 11.82 in
Wall Cabinet by Celina Decorações, Brazilian Midcentury Design, 1960s
By Celina Decoracoes
Located in New York, NY
Produced in the 1960s by Celina Decorações, this wall cabinet is made of plywood with rosewood veneers, with beautiful grains and color variation. It has two drawers connected by a s...
Rosewood
$6,135Sale Price|20% Off
H 59.85 in W 86.62 in D 17.33 in
Mid-Century Living Room Cabinet by Permanente Mobili Cantù
By La Permanente Mobili Cantù
Located in Milano, IT
Beautiful, high-quality living room furniture produced by Permanente Mobili of Cantù. The 1950s cabinet features excellent fine woodwork. Elegant grissinato inserts and extraordinary...
Brass
A Fine French Art Deco Silverware Cabinet by Christian Krass
By Christian Krass
Located in Long Island City, NY
A Fine French 1930's amaranth silverware cabinet / buffet by Christian Krass with an insert marble top and chrome details. Base is blackened pear wo...
Mahogany