Paul Evans Furniture

Looking for a coffee table that’s more than just furniture-- well this is a functional work of art. This Paul Evans original is a stunning example of mid-century artistry with a flair for the unconventional. Handcrafted from a mesmerizing patchwork of patinated copper, enameled steel, and pewter sheeting, this table brings together materials and textures in ways that no two tables are alike. And then there’s the slate top—thick, heavy, and sitting flush in its groove like it was meant to be there from the beginning of time. While there are other examples of this coffee table floating around the collector's universe, let me tell you: they’re not all created equal. Many show signs of over-polishing or even sanding, stripping away that rich, sought-after patina that true collectors drool over. But this example? It’s the gold standard. The patina has aged to perfection, offering a rich variety of tones, textures, and colors that dance across the surface. Every corner reveals a new surprise. Yes, the slate top has a few rough edges, but let’s be real—that only adds to its character. And the best part? The slate fits so perfectly into its base so snug you'd be hard pressed to squeeze a sheet of paper between them. Now, let’s talk about the man behind the magic—Paul Evans. Born in 1931 and passing away in 1987, Evans was a driving force in the American Craft Movement. He pushed the boundaries of furniture design, turning traditional techniques on their head and creating pieces that were part sculpture, part functional art. His use of metal, especially in his iconic Cityscape and Sculpted Bronze series, made him a trailblazer of mid-century modernism and brutalist design. Evans started his career working with metal in a tiny shop in New Hope, Pennsylvania with his pal Phillip Lloyd Powell—just down the road from fellow American Craft legends like George Nakashima. But Evans didn’t stop with wood and craft traditions. Instead, he worked with metal in ways no one else was doing, blending industrial and handmade aesthetics. Every piece was unique, handmade, and bursting with Evans' signature rough-hewn, heavily textured style. His work, especially these patchwork metal tables...

This sofa is strikingly gorgeous! A rare, one of one-- one of a kind sofa designed and executed by Paul Evans. This sofa features an almost sleigh like craftsman base that is very George Nakashima - esque, and is completely clad in Evans sculpted resin and bronze. The sofa has been upholstered in a fine, butter-creamy colored mohair and is not only easy on the eyes, but is incredibly comfortable. This piece is triple signed, featuring Paul Evans initials and date on the bottom of the sofa's shell, another Evans signature and date on the base of the sofa, and a G singed above for (George Fry). One of the most recognizable and important names in the American studio craft movement of the 1960's and 70's, Paul Evans was a groundbreaking pioneer in brutalism. Collaborating as well as sharing a showroom with Phillip Lloyd Powell until 1964 when Evans met the owner of Directional Furniture and created a line of 6 coffee tables to go into the Directional High Point, NC booth for the spring Market. As the story has been recounted by Dorsey Reading, the tables never even made it to the showroom floor. Evans soon found out the tables never even had the opportunity to be sold; obviously disappointed, the `owner of Directional, BG agreed to put the tables out on the showroom floor in New York City to placate Paul Evans. What happened can probably best be compared today with "going viral." The coffee tables started flying off the floor, and the orders came rolling in. This fervor led to Evans creating many designs with Directional in years long partnership-- with the very first series being the "Sculptured Metal" Collection which was publicized in 1968. This piece specifically was not a Directional piece. This piece was created in Paul Evans Studio and ended up being sold directly through the studio. This Sculpted Bronze and Resin sofa is an incredibly rare example of Paul Evans Sculpted bronze technique, which involves hand sculpting using an epoxy resin and coating in an atomized cold cast bronze. Paul Evans used to be labeled kind of a "bad boy" of design-- with an an affinity for sculpted brutalism and pieces that epitomize maximalism, his pieces were collected by rock stars, artists and creatives. Evans, now widely recognized as a pioneer in the American craft movement has solidified his place in design history and is highly collectable. This sofa would look excellent in any mid century modern, brutalist or even contemporary or boho chic environment. While brutalist in nature, this piece can be styled up or down to blend into almost any environment. We currently have this sofa in our gallery paired with a Jean Royere coffee table...

One of the most recognizable and important names in the American studio craft movement of the 1960's and 70's, Paul Evans was a groundbreaking pioneer in brutalism. Collaborating as well as sharing a showroom with Phillip Lloyd Powell until 1964 when Evans met the owner of Directional Furniture and created a line of 6 coffee tables to go into the Directional High Point, NC booth for the spring Market. As the story has been recounted by Dorsey Reading, the tables never even made it to the showroom floor. Evans soon found out the tables never even had the opportunity to be sold; obviously disappointed, owner of Directional, BG agreed to put the tables out on the showroom floor in New York City to placate Paul Evans. What happened can probably best be compared today with "going viral." The coffee tables started flying off the floor, and the orders came rolling in. This fervor led to Evans creating eventually over 800 designs with Directional-- with the very first series being the "Sculptured Metal" Collection which was publicized in 1968. This piece specifically is a throne chair that also swivels. Upholstered in black leather, this throne chair is a wonderful example of Paul Evans Sculpted bronze technique, which involves hand sculpting using an epoxy resin and coating in an atomized cold cast bronze. This piece is signed and dated "PE 69" making it an early example of his goopy cast bronze series and line of furniture for Directional. It's extremely important to note: Directional Furniture showrooms in New York City and Chicago were private to-the-trade only showrooms, so only interior designers and their clients were able to custom order these pieces through the showroom. There was never any "inventory" of furniture. Each and every piece was a custom, hand crafted work of art, created to order. No two of any piece were ever alike. Evans eventually went on to employ a team of nearly 90 people, working two shifts-- helping to hand-craft his designs. This could easily explain why not every piece is hand signed, therefore making an early, had-signed pieces like this even more desirable for a collector. This piece has a wonderful patina, with vibrant colors and while still brutalist in nature, it's a bit more subdued and could effortlessly be blended into any contemporary environment. We currently have this piece in the gallery paired with a Vladimir Kagan serpentine cloud sofa, and a Karl Springer goatskin...

This credenza is absolutely stunning! Paul Evans Cityscape line is a furniture collection that was designed by American sculptor and furniture designer Paul Evans in the 1970s. The Cityscape line is characterized by its geometric forms, mixed materials, and bold, textured finishes. Paul Evans was renowned for his innovative use of metals and his mastery of the sculpting and welding techniques required to create these types of unique designs. He combined different materials like burl and chrome-- in this piece to create stunning pieces of furniture that were functional works of art. Paul Evans Cityscape line pieces are highly sought after by collectors and design enthusiasts alike, and are considered iconic examples of Mid-Century Modern furniture design. Paul Evans (1931-1987) was an American artist, sculptor, and furniture designer who is best known for his unique and highly sought-after modern and Brutalist furniture designs from the mid-20th century. Born in Pennsylvania, Evans began his career as a metalworker, first studying at the School for American Craftsmen in Rochester, New York and later at Cranbrook Academy of Art in Michigan. He then went on to work for several different furniture manufacturers before eventually founding his own studio in the mid-1950s. Throughout his career, Evans was known for his innovative use of metals and his mastery of sculpting and welding techniques. He created furniture that was both functional and artistic, with a strong emphasis on texture and surface treatments. His signature designs often featured geometric forms, mixed materials, and bold finishes, and were highly influential in the development of Mid-Century Modern design. Evans' work has been exhibited in museums and galleries around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. His furniture is highly sought after by collectors and design enthusiasts, and remains an important part of the Mid-Century Modern design movement. This credenza would look incredible in any Mid-Century Modern, modern or contemporary environment. We currently have this credenza paired with a Milo Baughman burl dining table. When this piece is in the room, it steals the show. We had this piece featured in our booth at Round Top with a Rafael Raffel...

Some desks hold paper clips. Others hold power. This Paul Evans Cityscape Desk? It’s the power! Designed by the legendary Paul Evans in the 1970s, this monumental, sculptural masterp...

Calling all serious collectors and lovers of glam—this is not just a credenza; it’s a showstopper, a one-of-a-kind, super rare prototype straight from the genius mind of Paul Evans. Let’s get one thing clear: this piece isn’t just furniture; it’s a statement, a mood, a literal golden wave of fabulousness. Originally owned by the legendary Todd Merrill (yes, that Todd Merrill—master of modern design and author of Modern Americana), this baby was snapped up by a private collector before making its way to us. And let me tell you, it’s dripping in glam from top to bottom. This Cylindrical Console (measuring a jaw-dropping 96” long, 32” tall, and 26” deep) was a prototype floor model from Evans' final design studio in NYC—his post-Pennsylvania chapter, when he was at the height of his boundary-pushing creativity. This is 1980s excess at its absolute finest. Picture it: brass-plated steel shimmering like a pool of liquid gold, with a wavy, undulating front—three connected cylinders flowing together in a perfectly elegant squiggle. It’s not just a visual feast; it’s a party for your living room. Each cylinder pulls open (hello, semi-circles!) to reveal luxuriously upholstered tan suede shelves inside. That’s right—three shelves per cylinder, giving you all the storage you could dream of, but with a touch of decadence. Oh, and did we mention the wheels? Yes, each cylinder moves like a dream. There are also 3 laminated, moveable shelves on the inside so you can store as much as you'd like. The top? Clad in crisp white plexiglass for that extra hit of 80s glam. This credenza was the final visual iteration of Evans’ experimental genius. It’s more than a piece of furniture; it’s history, art, and design all rolled into one. And because it’s a prototype, you won’t find another like it anywhere. This is the Paul Evans piece for the collector who already has everything—except this. A little on Evans -- Paul Evans—an iconic American designer who’s often associated with the Studio Craft movement—wasn’t just creating furniture; he was crafting art. Known for his sculptural, metallic designs, Evans blurred the line between function and form with his unique metalworking techniques, often blending bronze, copper, and steel into futuristic, brutalist shapes. He was constantly innovating, and this Cylindrical Console is a perfect example of his creative genius. Evans worked alongside Philip Lloyd Powell and was just down the street from the legendary George Nakashima in New Hope, Pennsylvania. Both Evans and Powell created some of the most groundbreaking and collectible furniture of the 20th century. While Powell leaned into the organic, hand-carved wood aesthetic, Evans went full throttle with high-gloss metals, merging craftsmanship with avant-garde artistry. By the time this prototype was made in the 1980s, Evans had moved to New York City, leaving his Pennsylvania roots behind and embracing a new, highly reflective, glamorous aesthetic. His partnership with Directional Furniture solidified his place as a master of bold, modern design. His pieces, like this one, have become legendary in the world of design collecting—fetching top-tier prices for their rarity and unmistakable style. About Todd Merrill Todd Merrill, a tastemaker in his own right, has spent decades curating some of the finest examples of 20th-century American furniture and Studio Craft. He’s known for representing top-tier designers and artists, both contemporary and classic, in his New York gallery, Todd Merrill Studio. His influence extends into the world of rare and custom furniture, often showcasing unique, one-of-a-kind pieces much like this stunning Paul Evans prototype. Todd Merrill is a legend in our (antique dealers) industry. The man was writing Modern Americana while I was sitting in Comm Theory class in college. With this piece you’re not just buying a credenza—you’re investing in an unforgettable slice of design history. Glam, bold, and just oozing with charisma, this Paul Evans prototype is not just sexy—it’s the conversation piece that will have your guests swooning. This piece is currently in our gallery alongside a Gabriella Crespi coffee table...