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.
Brutalist Metal Patchwork Box with Insert Paul Evans
By Paul Evans
Located in Atlanta, GA
A cube form desktop box covered with patchwork copper by American artist and designer Paul Evans (1931-1987). The lidded box has a plastic insert box and was made as an ice box or a ...
Metal
$1,200Sale Price|20% Off
Paul Evans & Phillip Lloyd Powell Box for Designers Inc. USA, 1960's
By Paul Evans, Phillip Lloyd Powell
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Paul Evans & Phillip Lloyd Powell Box for Designers Inc. USA, 1960's
Pewter
$8,250Sale Price|44% Off
Paul Evans Box Patchwork, Copper, Bronze, Pewter, Hinged, Signed
By Paul Evans
Located in New York, NY
Paul Evans Box, Copper, Bronze, Pewter, Hinged, Signed. Large scale hinged patinated mixed metal textured box with painted red wood interior and lined w...
Bronze, Copper, Pewter
Rare Paul Evans Sculpted Bronze Resin Hinged Box
By Paul Evans
Located in Chicago, IL
Rare Paul Evans Sculpted Bronze Resin Hinged Box From the collection of Dorsey Reading Material: Bronze resin, brass hinge, plastic-laminated interior Dimensions: 6.50" H × 11.50" W ...
Brass
Mixed Metal Patchwork Box by Paul Evans
By Paul Evans
Located in Oxnard, CA
Here is a brutalist, mixed metal keep-sake box by Paul Evans, circa 1970s. It is constructed of patinated copper panels and lined with cork. The design features splashes of solder a...
Copper
$10,000Sale Price|20% Off
Paul Evans Studio Patchwork Hinged Box 1965
By Paul Evans
Located in Chicago, IL
Paul Evans Studio Patchwork Hinged Box 1965 Patinated copper with applied bronze and pewter throughout, Interior with original "Blue Antique" finish Dimensions: 7 h × 16 w × 8 d in P...
Brass, Bronze, Copper, Pewter
$1,400Sale Price|20% Off
Paul Evans Cityscape Keep Safe Box
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in Chicago, IL
Paul Evans Cityscape Keep Safe Box, not many of these were produced, interior plastic laminite. Dimensions: 5" wide 5" deep 3" high
Steel
Bone, Horn Patchwork Box
Located in New York, NY
Decorative keepsake, jewelry box clad in geometric horn and bone tiles, some with hand engraving, lined in wood. A great addition to any desk or coffee table.
Bone, Horn, Wood
Jens Quistgaard Rosewood Box for Dansk, Denmark, c.1960
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Jens Quistgaard Lidded Rosewood Box for the Dansk Rare Wood Collection, Denmark, c.1960.
Wood
$3,312Sale Price|24% Off
H 1.625 in W 6 in D 4.25 in
Paul Dupré-Lafon Rectangular Cigarette Box for Hermès in Signature Leather, 1945
By Paul Dupré-Lafon
Located in Cheyenne, WY
This cigarette box was designed by Paul Dupré-Lafon for Hermès, Paris. The rectangular box features Hermès’ iconic orange color, with green leather and a hinged flip-top lid, impress...
Metal, Brass
$750Sale Price|58% Off
H 3.5 in W 7 in D 4.5 in
Huge Malachite Box 7" Gemstone Jewelry Box Hinged 4.5 lb
Located in Somis, CA
This magnificent, large 4.15 lb malachite box is a testament to exceptional craftsmanship and the inherent beauty of fine-grade gemstone malachite. The carefully selected stone displ...
Malachite
Mexican Mid-century Mixed Metals, Stone "Butterfly" Lined Box
By Los Castillo, Salvador Teran
Located in Miami, FL
Mexican Mid-century Mixed Metals, Stone "Butterfly" Lined Box Offered for sale is a wonderful Mexican Mid-century Modern mixed metals lidded box with inlaid stone. This rare desk o...
Stone, Metal
Mexican Modernist Mix Metals Tray Box by Los Castillos
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Mexican Modernist Mix Metals Tray Box by Los Castillos Designer Humberto Castillo Manufacturer Los Castillos Period Style Mexican Modern
Silver, Brass, Copper
Decorative metal box, France, 1970
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
A French decorative box from the 1970s, made of metal, both functional and ornamental. Its balanced and well-proportioned shape reflects the elegant, utilitarian design characteristic of decorative objects from this period. The metal surface has a natural patina, with slight signs of age that enhance its authenticity and vintage charm. Depending on the lighting, the metal reveals subtle reflections, adding depth and character to the object. Versatile, this box can be used as a catch-all, storage box, or purely decorative object. It integrates perfectly into a vintage, industrial, or contemporary interior, adding a graphic and timeless touch. Key features: Decorative metal box Made in France 1970s Functional and minimalist design Original patina Decorative and storage item Keywords: vintage metal box...
Metal
Italian Murano Faceted Glass & Brass Hinged Box / Jewelry Box
Located in North Miami, FL
This beautiful hinged Murano glass box in pristine clear faceted glass and brass trim and original decorative key and tassel. It is a wonderful desk or...
Crystal, Metal
$1,064Sale Price|20% Off
H 1.78 in W 6.11 in D 4.14 in
1950s Onyx Mineral Stone Jewelry Box / Hinged Box
Located in Barcelona, ES
Mid-Century Modern hinged box veneered in fine Onyx stone, Spain, 1950s. This exquisite vintage 1950s rectangular box is all constructed with onyx and features a brass hinge. This tr...
Stone, Onyx, Brass
1920s Tiffany Studios Zodiac Box
By Tiffany & Co.
Located in Brooklyn, NY
"Marked” Tiffany Studios on underside. Solid bronze box with Zodiac motifs and Greco-Roman grid motif. Classic art deco shapes and forms.
Bronze
$1,250
H 1.5 in W 4 in D 2.5 in
Paul Evans, Phillip Lloyd Powell Style Petite Rosewood Box with Brass Inlay
By Paul Evans, Phillip Lloyd Powell
Located in Bainbridge, NY
American mid century rosewood and brass inlay small oval accessory box in the style of Paul Evans and Phillip Lloyd, circa 1960. Featuring a handcrafted clam shaped 2-piece smooth da...
Brass
Fornasetti Enamel Metal Mahogany Box
By Fornasetti
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage decorative matches box with enamel metal portraying a hot air balloon and mahogany wood insert / designed by Piero Fornasetti, made in Italy in the 1960s Length: 4.5 inches /...
Metal
Paul Evans "Patchwork" Decorative Hinged Box in Etched Aluminum 1970
By Paul Evans
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Rare "Patchwork" hinged box in etched aluminum with 3 compartments lined in cork by Paul Evans for C.C. Design, American 1970. Boxes like this were made in small numbers and this is...
Aluminum
Paul Evans Riveted Copper Clad Box
By Paul Evans
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A small copper clad box by Paul Evans Original felt bottom with stamped signature Original cork lined interior very nice.
Metal
Paul Evans Brutalist Patchwork Metal Cube Box
By Paul Evans
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Patinated copper, steel and brass handmade cube box created by Paul Evans (1931-1987). Box measures 5" high by 4.5" by 4.5". In very good vintage 1960s condition showing some stainin...
Metal
Sold
H 13 in W 13.25 in D 13.25 in
Paul Evans Cityscape Catch All Container Planter Box- Brass Steel Mirror 1970s
By Paul Evans
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your pleasure: Mid Century Modern Catch it All Cityscape Container Planter Box by Paul Evans, Directional, 1970s. Patchwork design in Brass with Stainless Steel Mirror. No label...
Brass, Stainless Steel
Paul Evans Patchwork Box
By Paul Evans
Located in San Diego, CA
Paul Evans patchwork hinged box with incredible Patina. A great example of Paul Evans hand tooled patchwork series, this box was originally a humidor b...
Metal
Paul Evans Humidor Box, Argente Patchwork, Signed
By Paul Evans
Located in New York, NY
Paul Evans Humidor Box, Argente Patchwork, Signed. Hinged hand tooled mixed metal humidor box with dark pewter argente patchwork finish. We purchased this humidor along with an squar...
Brass
Paul Evans for Directional "Cityscape" Jewelry Dresser Box, 1970s
By Paul Evans
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Scarce Paul Evans for Directional Cityscape brass and chrome accessory box. With black felt interior.
Brass, Chrome
Paul Evans Lidded Box
By Paul Evans
Located in LAGUNA BEACH, CA
Patinated copper, steel and brass Signed with stamped distributor's mark to underside (C.C Design, Inc. Designed By Paul Evans) Dimensions: 13.25 x H 10 W x 10 D inches.
Brass, Copper, Steel
Brutalist Box by Paul Evans
By Paul Evans
Located in New York, NY
Brutalist patchwork mixed metal box by Paul Evans. Copper, brass and pewter surface with hinged flip open top and mustard felt interior.
Brass, Copper, Pewter
Sold
H 9 in W 10 in D 10 in
Paul Evans Ice Box Executed in Hand Worked Copper Plates with Solder Splashes
By Paul Evans
Located in Stamford, CT
A Paul Evans ice box. Executed in hand worked copper plates with solder splashed Brutalist design. Purchased from a New Hope home.
Copper
Sold
H 3 in W 5 in D 5 in
Rare Cityscape Jewelry Dresser Box by Paul Evans for Directional, circa 1975
By Paul Evans
Located in New York, NY
Rare chrome and brass cityscape jewelry dresser box by Paul Evans for Directional, circa 1975. This hard-to-find piece is in excellent condition with minor wear. Last image is shows ...
Brass, Chrome
Paul Evans Patch Work Keep-Sake Box
By Paul Evans
Located in Chicago, IL
Copper patches and splashes of solder, cork liner, sold with original Evans Card
Metal