Skip to main content

Paul Evans Building and Garden Elements

American, 1931-1987

A designer and sculptor, Paul Evans was a wild card of late 20th century modernism. A leading light of the American Studio Furniture movement, Evans’s sideboards, credenzas, coffee tables and other work manifests a singular aesthetic sense, as well as a seemingly contradictory appreciation for both folk art forms and for new materials and technologies.

Evans’s primary material was metal, not wood, which was favored by his fellow studio designers, and Bucks County, Pennsylvania, neighbors George Nakashima and Phillip Lloyd Powell. He trained in metallurgy and studied at the Cranbrook Academy of Art, the famed crucible of modern design and art in suburban Detroit. For a time early in his career, Evans also worked at Sturbridge Village, a historical “living museum” in Massachusetts, where he gave demonstrations as a costumed silversmith.

Evans’s earliest work unites these influences. The pieces that made his reputation are known as “sculpted-front” cabinets: wood cases faced with box-like high-relief patinated steel mounts laid out in a grid pattern. Each mount contains a metal emblem, or glyph, and the effect is that of a brawny quilt.

Evans’s later work falls into three distinct style groups. His sculpted-bronze pieces, begun in the mid-1960s, show Evans at his most expressive. He employed a technique in which resin is hand-shaped, and later sprayed with a metal coating, allowing for artistic nuance in the making of chairs, tables and case pieces. Later in the decade and into the 1970s, Evans produced his Argente series for celebrated manufacturer Directional (​​a brand known to vintage mid-century modern furniture collectors everywhere): consoles and other furniture forms that feature aluminum and pigment-infused metal surfaces welded into abstract organic forms and patterns.

Last, Evans's Cityscape design series — a milestone in the history of brutalist design — meshed perfectly with the sleek, “high tech” sensibility of the later ’70s. Evans constructed boxy forms and faced them with irregular mosaic patterns that mixed rectangular plaques of chromed steel, bronze or burlwood veneer. These, like all of Paul Evans’s designs, are both useful and eye-catching. But their appeal has another, more visceral quality: these pieces have clearly been touched by an artist’s hand.

Find a collection of authentic Paul Evans furniture today on 1stDibs.

to
2
2
Height
to
Width
to
1
2
2
1
2
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
163
368
346
131
128
Creator: Paul Evans
Paul Evans Style Mid Century Brutalist Bronze Cabinet Handle Pull
Paul Evans Style Mid Century Brutalist Bronze Cabinet Handle Pull

Paul Evans Style Mid Century Brutalist Bronze Cabinet Handle Pull

By Paul Evans

Located in Van Nuys, CA

Paul Evans-style bronze casted door pull with a distinct late 1960s Mid-century/Brutalist pattern across the front. This Pull is made from a solid bronze from a sand casting that has...

Category

1960s American Brutalist Vintage Paul Evans Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Bronze

Paul Evans Mid-Century Modern Brutalist Metal Patchwork Indoor Planter Box
Paul Evans Mid-Century Modern Brutalist Metal Patchwork Indoor Planter Box

Paul Evans Mid-Century Modern Brutalist Metal Patchwork Indoor Planter Box

By Paul Evans

Located in Forney, TX

Paul Evans (1931-1987) American Brutalist industrial modern welded steel and copper, mixed metals patchwork and hardwood planter with rivet accents and removable metal insert. Can be used indoors or outdoors, with real plants or faux plants. Includes green styrofoam blocks for artificial plant use and natural stones for covering the top. Circa 1970 Dimensions: 26" High, 30" Wide, 11" Deep Please note, at the time of writing this, a matching coffee table is available separately. Please check our other listings or contact us to view it. Great original vintage condition. Strong, stable and structurally sound and in wonderful overall appearance; Age appropriate wear and tear, including minor scuffs, scattered scratches to wood panels and metal components. The black insert has fairly significant patinated weathered rustic oxidation consistent with age and indicative of use. The overall patina adds warmth and character to the overall aesthetic appeal and vintage authenticity. Biography: Paul Evans (American , 1927-1993) Born in Brooklyn, New York, Paul Evans is an American furniture designer and sculptor best known for his work in American Furniture design and the American craft movement. His work was influential to many furniture manufacturers in the second half of the 20th century, most notably Directional Furniture. He often used non-traditional materials and techniques like sculpted metal furniture. His work with Directional Furniture was extremely fruitful and during that time he started several series including their Argente, Sculpted Bronze, and Cityscape series. Evans started his career making copper chests and sculpted steel cabinets -- both of which are highly sought after today. Paul Evans’s work with Directional Furniture changed the relationship between creative directors and the companies they worked for. His name helped sell pieces, and he was consciously aware of that fact. As a proponent of modernism, Evans became an innovator in the furniture world. His patrons were often part of the New York elite, and he was able to enjoy sustained success, helped in large part by his ability to evolve with the times -- from craft-based in the 1950s to more flashy pieces in the 1970s and 1980s. His work was mostly recently featured at the Michener Art Museum and was the subject of a 2014 documentary. What kind of art does Paul Evans make? Paul Evans was primarily a furniture designer and sculptor. Though he started within the American Craft movement, Evans is hard to pin down stylistically. An expert metalworker and sculptor, several of Evans pieces were heavily influenced by the shipbuilding industry. As he moved through his career, his pieces became more stylistically diverse, but through it all there is a dedication to craft and function. Much of Evans work is best showcased in his work for Directional Furniture. He had several iconic lines including Patchwork Copper, Pewter and Brass, and the extremely popular CItyscape Series. In the 1980s, Evans branched off on his own with his Think Tank series. He opened his own showroom in New York City, but eventually retired in 1987. How did painter Paul Evans get started? Paul Evans was born on May 20th, 1931 in Newton, Pennsylvania. He studied sculpture and silversmithing at a number of colleges including the Philadelphia Textile Institute, the Rochester Institute of Technology, and the School for American Craftsmen. In the early 1950s, he attended the Cranbook Academy of Art in Michigan, later moving back to Pennsylvania to work with his mentor and guide, Phillip Loyd Powell. Together they began a business heavily influenced by the work of George Nakashima. Powell worked wood pieces, while Evans dedicated himself to metal. Evans burst onto the scene in the late 1960s and early 1970s as the American Craft movement exploded in popularity. From there he parlayed his popularity into a lucrative career with Directional Furniture. How much are Paul Evans pieces worth? Paul Evans furniture pieces can vary in value greatly, from a few thousand dollars on the low end to over $200,000 on the high end. In 2015 a Paul Evans wavy...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Industrial Paul Evans Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Metal, Copper, Steel

Related Items
Mid-Century Modern Planters by Willy Guhl, Switzerland, 1950
Mid-Century Modern Planters by Willy Guhl, Switzerland, 1950

Mid-Century Modern Planters by Willy Guhl, Switzerland, 1950

By Willy Guhl

Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR

This pair of planters, model "oreille d'éléphant" was made of fiber cement by Willy Guhl (1915-2004) in the 1950's. « Willy Guhl was an inventor, an experimenter, a resercher and a visionary. Despite that, he did not get lost in utopia. He reveals himself to be pragmatic almost a genius. » Robert Haussman Willy Guhl was part of these historical designers historiques who have contributed to the international reputation of the Swiss design. He was one of the big representative of Neo-Functionalism. From a carpenter father, he follows a furniture maker formation in the Kunstgewerbeschule of Zurich – School of applied arts of Zurich here he teaches from 1941 -, and becomes the director of the interior architecture department 10 years after. He leads in the late 1940's pionneer reaserches in the plastic furniture field. He develops then a knowledge about moulding technical that we allow him to reveal himself by transposing them on a new material : the Eternit, also called fibercement, which he is one of the first to use in Europe. The Eternit is a kind of cement reinforce by asbestos and with a fiber texture which allows to create audacious pieces with new shapes. It takes the aspect of larges slabs to which it is possible to give a shape as long as they are not dried. Produced in the origin for the industry, it's a cheap material with an important resistance, so perfectly adapted for the fabrication of external furniture.

Category

Mid-20th Century Swiss Mid-Century Modern Paul Evans Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Cement

Pair of Bronze Square Door Handles for Push & Pull with Organic Relief
Pair of Bronze Square Door Handles for Push & Pull with Organic Relief

Pair of Bronze Square Door Handles for Push & Pull with Organic Relief

Located in London, GB

Rectangular pair of push and pull bronze door handles with organic expressionist relief for double doors or a single door on both sides. They are works of art for your doors. These d...

Category

1970s European Brutalist Vintage Paul Evans Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Bronze

Mid-Century Modern Atomic Planter
Mid-Century Modern Atomic Planter

Mid-Century Modern Atomic Planter

$275

H 11 in Dm 5.25 in

Mid-Century Modern Atomic Planter

Located in Charleston, SC

Mid-Century Modern atomic planter that sits on ball feet. actual planter part is a cone shape.

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Evans Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Metal

Brutalist Rectangular Bronze Door Handles, European, Circa 1970
Brutalist Rectangular Bronze Door Handles, European, Circa 1970

Brutalist Rectangular Bronze Door Handles, European, Circa 1970

Located in London, GB

Set of two rectangular horizontal Brutalist bronze door handles with abstract relief and irregular textures, European 1970's. Their relief with original patina is expressive and will...

Category

1970s European Brutalist Vintage Paul Evans Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Bronze

Bronze Push or Pull Door Handle
Bronze Push or Pull Door Handle

Bronze Push or Pull Door Handle

$1,102

H 6.97 in W 6.97 in D 3.35 in

Bronze Push or Pull Door Handle

Located in London, GB

A bronze push or pull door handle with textured finish and smooth raised central band. Germany, second half 20th century (probably 1970s). A heavy piece, ...

Category

20th Century European Mid-Century Modern Paul Evans Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Bronze

Circular Push-Pull Door Handle in Bronze, Mid-20th Century, France
Circular Push-Pull Door Handle in Bronze, Mid-20th Century, France

Circular Push-Pull Door Handle in Bronze, Mid-20th Century, France

Located in London, GB

Circular push-pull door handle in bronze (or brass), mid-20th century, France. A very simple elegant handle, made up of two separate pieces - each side with a slightly concave dish ...

Category

Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Paul Evans Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Bronze

Vintage Willy Guhl Tilt Mid-Century Modern Concrete Planter
Vintage Willy Guhl Tilt Mid-Century Modern Concrete Planter

Vintage Willy Guhl Tilt Mid-Century Modern Concrete Planter

By Eternit, Willy Guhl

Located in West Hollywood, CA

This striking vintage concrete planter embodies the sculptural elegance and functional artistry made famous by Swiss designer Willy Guhl. Crafted in the mid-20th century, the piece f...

Category

Mid-20th Century Swiss Mid-Century Modern Paul Evans Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Concrete

Chevron 4 Pull Handle
Chevron 4 Pull Handle

Chevron 4 Pull Handle

$132 / item

H 0.4 in W 7.49 in D 0.79 in

Chevron 4 Pull Handle

By NICOLE VALENTI

Located in Firenze, FI

The Archeological collection of knobs and pull handles was born from the idea of finding a buried relic that has survived the passage of time. An objec...

Category

2010s Italian Other Paul Evans Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Brass

Pair of Gilt Solid Bronze Door Pull Handles
Pair of Gilt Solid Bronze Door Pull Handles

Pair of Gilt Solid Bronze Door Pull Handles

$1,436Sale Price / set|20% Off

H 17.5 in W 3 in D 4.25 in

Pair of Gilt Solid Bronze Door Pull Handles

Located in Guaynabo, PR

This is a pair of heavy solid bronze door pull handles. They are designed with small sphere adorned with flowers at the top followed by a cube embell...

Category

20th Century Unknown Neoclassical Paul Evans Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Bronze

Large Lateral Push Pull Door Handle of Cast Bronze
Large Lateral Push Pull Door Handle of Cast Bronze

Large Lateral Push Pull Door Handle of Cast Bronze

$2,068

H 7.88 in W 31.89 in D 2.76 in

Large Lateral Push Pull Door Handle of Cast Bronze

Located in London, GB

A large lateral push-pull door handle of abstract Brutalist design. European, second half 20th century. A striking piece - made to span the full width of a door - formed from cast ...

Category

20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Paul Evans Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Bronze

Brutalist Cast Aluminum Door Panel, 1960s, Style of Paul Evans
Brutalist Cast Aluminum Door Panel, 1960s, Style of Paul Evans

Brutalist Cast Aluminum Door Panel, 1960s, Style of Paul Evans

By Paul Evans

Located in Benalmadena, ES

A large cast aluminum door panel from the 1960s. Its design, in the Brutalist style, shows a clear influence from the sculptural metalwork associated with Paul Evans. The piece is st...

Category

1960s European Brutalist Vintage Paul Evans Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Aluminum

Previously Available Items
4 Cast Bronze Scroll shaped Door/ Cabinet handles by Paul Evans
4 Cast Bronze Scroll shaped Door/ Cabinet handles by Paul Evans

4 Cast Bronze Scroll shaped Door/ Cabinet handles by Paul Evans

By Paul Evans

Located in London, GB

An iconic set of 4 Bronze Door/ Cabinet handles by the renowned Paul Evans in a scroll shape with textured details and chiselled edges This is a rare opportunity to purchase 2 pairs...

Category

Mid-20th Century Brutalist Paul Evans Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Bronze

Paul Evans Planter
Paul Evans Planter

Paul Evans Planter

Sold

H 10 in W 15 in D 15 in

Paul Evans Planter

By Paul Evans

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

Paul Evans sculpted bronze planter. The atomized bronze finish has taken on areas of verdigris patina. Unusual and attractive.  

Category

1970s North American Vintage Paul Evans Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Bronze

Mid-Century Modern Paul Evans Signed Dated Brutalist Pedestal Display Stand, 70s
Mid-Century Modern Paul Evans Signed Dated Brutalist Pedestal Display Stand, 70s

Mid-Century Modern Paul Evans Signed Dated Brutalist Pedestal Display Stand, 70s

By Paul Evans

Located in Keego Harbor, MI

For your consideration is a magnificent, Brutalist display pedestal stand, signed by Paul Evans, dated 1970. In excellent vintage condition. The dimensions are 12" (1') sq x 25.5" H....

Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Evans Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Wood

Paul Evans for Directional Brutalist 'Patchwork' Planter
Paul Evans for Directional Brutalist 'Patchwork' Planter

Paul Evans for Directional Brutalist 'Patchwork' Planter

By Directional, Paul Evans

Located in Astoria, NY

Paul Evans for Directional Brutalist modern 'Patchwork' planter in patinated copper and aluminum, 1970s.

Category

1970s American Brutalist Vintage Paul Evans Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Aluminum, Copper

Paul Evans Burl Wooden Pedestal
Paul Evans Burl Wooden Pedestal

Paul Evans Burl Wooden Pedestal

Sold

H 48 in W 9 in D 9 in

Paul Evans Burl Wooden Pedestal

By Paul Evans

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Paul Evans burl wooden pedestal.

Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Evans Building and Garden Elements

Rare Paul Evans Bronzed Resin and Aluminum Planter
Rare Paul Evans Bronzed Resin and Aluminum Planter

Rare Paul Evans Bronzed Resin and Aluminum Planter

By Paul Evans

Located in West Palm Beach, FL

An unusual design incorporating bronzed resin and individually Sgraffito aluminum panels. Signed PE "71" on the base

Category

1970s American Vintage Paul Evans Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Steel

Paul Evans Cityscape Pedestal
Paul Evans Cityscape Pedestal

Paul Evans Cityscape Pedestal

Sold

H 36 in W 12 in D 12 in

Paul Evans Cityscape Pedestal

By Paul Evans

Located in Norwalk, CT

Chrome and warm silvery brushed panels. Remarkably excellent condition. Very clean with only one very minor dimple on side.

Category

1970s Vintage Paul Evans Building and Garden Elements

Paul Evans Room Divider
Paul Evans Room Divider

Paul Evans Room Divider

Sold

H 88.5 in W 51 in L 88.5 in

Paul Evans Room Divider

By Paul Evans

Located in Pawtucket, RI

Rare gilded steel and oxblood painted wood room divider by Paul Evans in the looped fish-scale technique. Circa 1960's

Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Evans Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Steel

Rare Paul Evans Door Knocker
Rare Paul Evans Door Knocker

Rare Paul Evans Door Knocker

Sold

H 12 in W 5 in D 0.5 in

Rare Paul Evans Door Knocker

By Paul Evans

Located in Chicago, IL

Paul Evans Studio Door Knocker, Cast in Bronze with natural patina. Not many of these were ever produced, a similar one was just featured in the Paul Evans Exhibit at Michener and ...

Category

1950s American Vintage Paul Evans Building and Garden Elements

Materials

Bronze

Paul Evans Sculpted Bronze Wall Mounted Shelves, USA, circa 1970
Paul Evans Sculpted Bronze Wall Mounted Shelves, USA, circa 1970

Paul Evans Sculpted Bronze Wall Mounted Shelves, USA, circa 1970

By Paul Evans

Located in New York, NY

These boldly sculpted bronze shelves are a strong example of Paul Evans' bronze wall-mounted pilasters (PE-118), which were part of his longest and best selling series by Evans for D...

Category

1970s American Vintage Paul Evans Building and Garden Elements

Brutal Planter By Paul Evans
Brutal Planter By Paul Evans

Brutal Planter By Paul Evans

Sold

H 18 in W 8 in D 8 in

Brutal Planter By Paul Evans

By Paul Evans, Directional

Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA

Brutal planter by Paul Evans.

Category

1970s American Brutalist Vintage Paul Evans Building and Garden Elements

Paul Evans building and garden elements for sale on 1stDibs.

Paul Evans building and garden elements are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Paul Evans building and garden elements, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original building and garden elements by Paul Evans were created in the industrial style in north america during the 20th century. Prices for Paul Evans building and garden elements can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $3,300 and can go as high as $15,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $4,400.