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.
$18,500 / set
Pair of Carved Side Tables by John Eric Byers
By John Eric Byers
Located in Lyndhurst, NJ
Shaped Carved Blackened Maple with 24k gold leaf. Lacquered finish.
Maple, Giltwood
$10,000 / item
John Eric Byers, "Round Reveal #1", Table
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 distinctive textured pattern t...
Maple
Model R1 Coffee Table, by John Eric Byers (Pre-Owned)
By John Eric Byers
Located in Lyndhurst, NJ
Pre-owned Model R1 Coffee Table, by John Eric Byers. In superb condition, this solid maple table is comprised of a series of stacked circles hand-carved and lacquered. Center Height...
Maple
John Eric Byers, "T1", Table
By John Eric Byers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This solid maple table from John Eric Byers merges modern, simplified geometries with traditional craft, painstakingly hand carved and lacquered with a distinctive textured pattern t...
Maple
John Eric Byers, "R1 + 1", Table
By John Eric Byers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This solid maple table from John Eric Byers merges modern, simplified geometries with traditional craft. The series of stacked circles is painstakingly hand-carved and lacquered with...
Maple
John Eric Byers, "T2", Table
By John Eric Byers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This solid maple table from John Eric Byers merges modern, simplified geometries with traditional craft, painstakingly hand carved and lacquered with a distinctive textured pattern t...
Maple
John Eric Byers, "OT2", Coffee Table
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
ORO - OT1 Side Table by John Eric Byers
By John Eric Byers
Located in Geneve, CH
ORO - OT1 side table by John Eric Byers ORO Collection Dimensions: W38 x D38 x H51cm Materials: Maple Hardwood + Gold Metallic Lacquer Hand Shaped + Hand Textured + Hollow Cor...
Maple
John Eric Byers, "R2", Table
By John Eric Byers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This solid maple table from John Eric Byers merges modern, simplified geometries with traditional craft. The dominant intersection of cylinder and cube are painstakingly hand-carved ...
Maple
John Eric Byers, "R3", Table
By John Eric Byers
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This solid maple table from John Eric Byers merges modern, simplified geometries with traditional craft, painstakingly hand carved and lacquered with a...
Maple
Table #13 by John Eric Byers
By John Eric Byers
Located in Geneve, CH
Table #13 by John Eric Byers Dimensions: D46 x H50 cm Materials: carved + blackened + maple All works are individually handmade to order. John Eric Byers creates geometrically insp...
Other
Table #14 by John Eric Byers
By John Eric Byers
Located in Geneve, CH
Table #14 by John Eric Byers Dimensions: D40 x H50 cm Materials: carved + blackened + maple All works are individually handmade to order. John Eric Byers creates geometrically insp...
Other
Maple Square Table #2 Sculpted by John Eric Byers
By John Eric Byers
Located in Geneve, CH
Maple round table #2 sculpted by John Eric Byers Dimensions: 20” x 15” x 15 in Materials: Carved lacquered maple All works are individually handmade to order. John Eric Byers creat...
Maple
Luna Coffee Table Sculpted by John Eric Byers
By John Eric Byers
Located in Geneve, CH
Luna coffee table sculpted by John Eric Byers. Dimensions: 40.6 x diameter 122 cm. Materials: carved blackened maple, travertine. All works are individually handmade to order. ...
Travertine