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.
Paul Evans for Directional 'Cityscape' Floor Lamp
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Paul Evans for Directional, 'Cityscape' floor lamp, model PE-4010 from the PE200 series, chrome-plated steel, brass, United States, circa 1975 This distinctive floor lamp from the ...
Brass, Steel, Chrome
Paul Evans Cityscape Table Lamp PE-4006
By Paul Evans
Located in Hanover, MA
The most rare model of Paul Evans Cityscape lamp produced by Directional circa 1972 in polished stainless steel and brass mosaic tiles. See...
Brass, Stainless Steel
Paul Evans "Cityscape" Floor Lamp Brass and Chrome Modern Design 1970's
By Paul Evans
Located in North Miami, FL
The Paul Evans cityscape floor lamp is patchwork or random tile patterning of the mixed metals of chrome-plated and brass-plated. This Evans floor...
Brass, Chrome
Paul Evans Unique welded Steel Brutalist Chandelier
By Paul Evans
Located in Chicago, IL
Paul Evans Unique welded Steel Brutalist Chandelier with Gold Starburst Design Underside This exceptional chandelier features a solid 28" stem and a distinctive gold starburst design...
Steel
Cityscape table lamp Paul Evans for Directional
By Paul Evans
Located in Atlanta, GA
A table lamp in Cityscape series designed and made by Paul Evans for Directional circa 1970s. In a minimalistic cubic letter "T" form with chrome and brass patchwork surface, the lam...
Brass, Chrome
$7,200Sale Price|20% Off
Cityscape Floor Lamp by Paul Evans for Directional
By Paul Evans
Located in Atlanta, GA
A floor lamp in Cityscape series designed and made by Paul Evans for Directional, circa 1970s. In a minimalistic cubic form with chrome and brass patchwork surface, the lamp is one o...
Brass, Chrome
Rare! Paul Evans Skyscraper Rosewood Teak Table Lamp 1960s Mid Century Modern
By Paul Evans, Laurel Lamp Company
Located in Peoria, AZ
Paul Evans for Laurel Lamp Skyscraper Table Lamp Geometric Cut out Pattern Rosewood & Teak 33" tall 18" wide Here is a most spectacular Paul Evans lamp for Laurel, featuring ...
Metal
Paul Evans & Phillip Lloyd Powell Table Lamp, Walnut & Pewter, 1960
By Phillip Lloyd Powell, Paul Evans
Located in New York, NY
Paul Evans and Phillip Lloyd Powell table lamp, walnut and pewter. Medium scale slender table lamp in walnut with vertical pewter inlays. The lamp measur...
Pewter
Paul Evans Style Brushed Aluminum & Polished Steel "Cityscape" Table Lamp, 1970s
By Paul Evans
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Large "Cityscape" Brushed Aluminum & Polished Steel Tower Table Lamp in the manner of Paul Evans. Featuring a rectangular form with Brushed Aluminum and Polished Steel vertical p...
Aluminum, Steel, Nickel
Paul Evans Table Lamp for Directional
By Paul Evans
Located in New York, NY
Paul Evans for Directional Table Lamp, Cityscape Series. Graphic patchwork of chrome and brass. The Cityscape series by Paul Evans for Directional is a result of the company seeking...
Brass, Chrome
1970's Paul Evans Cityscape Floor Lamp Light Brass Chrome Gold Silver Colour
By Paul Evans, Directional
Located in Milano, IT
Cityscape floor lamp, model no. PE-4010, from the PE200 series, circa 1975. American furniture designer, sculptor, and artist, Paul Evans is one of the most recognizable and versati...
Brass, Steel, Chrome
Paul Evans Sculpted Bronze Resin Relief Brutalist Table Lamp 1960s Epic
By Paul Evans
Located in Peoria, AZ
Paul Evans Early handcrafted Studio Table Lamp Bronze Resin. 30" tall 18" wide Here is one of the rarest and most spectacular Paul Evans table lamps, featuring classic heavily ...
Bronze
Beautiful Paul Evans Floor Lamp
By Paul Evans
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful Paul Evans floor lamp. Measures: 51" Height without harp or shade. Base: 12" x 12". Top: 7" x 7".
Metal
Price Upon Request
Pair of Monumental Sconces
By Paul Evans
Located in New York, NY
In a breathtaking display of avant-garde design, this unique pair of Paul Evans Studio Monumental Sconces, boast an unexpected scale, each measuring an impressive 48 inches wide—a de...
Steel
Price Upon Request
Paul Evans, Sculpted Steel Floor Lamp, USA
By Paul Evans
Located in New York, NY
A fantastic example of an early, commissioned sculptural steel lamp by Paul Evans, the L-shaped lamp’s square obelisk body is formed from rectili...
Steel
Robert Sonneman "Cityscape" Brutalist Chandelier
By Robert Sonneman
Located in New York, NY
Modernist sheet steel and brass fixture, by Robert Sonneman. Large and impressive.
$1,850 / set
H 23 in W 9 in D 5.25 in
Brutalist Wall Sconces by Paul Evans, Metal & Resin, 20th Century
By Paul Evans
Located in San Francisco, CA
Pair of interesting brutalist sconces in the manner of Paul Evans, 20th Century. Created from metal and resin, the sconces are perfect in many interiors, including arts & crafts...
Metal
$2,950
H 23.5 in W 16 in D 10.125 in
George Kovacs Chrome & Lucite Table Lamp / Paul Evans / Pierre Cardin
By George Kovacs
Located in Chicago, IL
George Kovacs architectural chrome and Lucite table lamp. Style of Paul Evans and Pierre Cardin.
Chrome
Brutalist Copper Patch Work Table Lamp Attributed as Early Paul Evans
By Paul Evans
Located in Ferndale, MI
I believe this to be an early Paul Evans creation. Possibly from his days at Cranbrook. Odd shapes of copper sheet welded and soldered together with a catal...
Copper
Mid Century Brass Floor Lamp designed by Paul McCobb
By Paul McCobb
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional Mid Century brass floor lamp, having an elegant slender vertical post, supported by three triangular feet, the top ia a contrasting chrome cup which holds the glass diffu...
Brass
$13,995
H 61.5 in W 24 in D 16 in
Mid-Century Model E-11 Floor Lamp by Paul McCobb for Directional, USA, c. 1950's
By Paul McCobb, Directional
Located in Deland, FL
Introducing a one-of-a-kind, luxury piece of authentic twentieth century furniture - a rare model E-11 floor lamp designed by Paul McCobb for Directional. This architecturally stunn...
Metal, Brass
Brutalist Sculptural Table Lamp, Attributed to Paul Evans
Located in San Francisco, CA
On offer is a lamp made in a bold, abstract design expressive of the Mid-Century Modern Brutalist movement popular in the 1960s and 1970s. The lamp’s connection to this style is char...
Metal
Paul Evans Style Brutalist Gilt Iron Floor Lamp, 1950s
By Paul Evans
Located in Barcelona, ES
Brutalist Floor Lamp in Gilt Wrought Iron, 1950s Rare find Outstanding hand forged floor lamp with geometric decorative construction and brutalist design. Inspired in Paul Evans desi...
Iron, Wrought Iron, Gold Leaf
Paul Mayen White Cylinder Lucite Floor or Table Lamp for Habitat
By Paul Mayen
Located in New York, NY
Paul Mayen designed this very simple beautiful lucite lamp for Habitat in the 1970s . This white lucite tall cylinder looks great as a floor lamp or you can use it as a table lamp . ...
Metal
$1,000Sale Price|24% Off
H 48 in W 20 in D 18 in
Multi-Directional Chrome Floor Lamp with "V" Base by Casella Lighting
By Casella Lighting
Located in San Diego, CA
Elegant multi-directional chrome floor lamp with classic "V" base by Casella Lighting of San Francisco, circa 1970s. The main lamp pole moves up and down and rotates to 360 degrees; ...
Chrome
Paul Evans & Phillip Lloyd Powell Table Lamp, Walnut & Pewter, 1960
By Phillip Lloyd Powell, Paul Evans
Located in New York, NY
Paul Evans and Phillip Lloyd Powell table lamp, walnut and pewter. Medium scale slender table lamp in walnut with vertical pewter inlays. The lamp measur...
Pewter
$950
H 29 in W 6 in D 6 in
Paul Evans Style Brushed Aluminum & Polished Steel "Cityscape" Table Lamp, 1970s
By Paul Evans
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Large "Cityscape" Brushed Aluminum & Polished Steel Tower Table Lamp in the manner of Paul Evans. Featuring a rectangular form with Brushed Aluminum and Polished Steel vertical p...
Aluminum, Steel, Nickel
Cork and Stainless Steel Floor Lamp in the Style of Paul Evans
By Paul Evans
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Expertly crafted in the style of renowned designer Paul Evans, this floor lamp combines the warmth and texture of cork with the sleek, modern appeal of stainless steel. The result is...
Cork
$950
H 57.375 in W 13.5 in D 8 in
1960s Gerald Thurston for Lightolier Directional Floor Lamp mid century modern
Located in Virginia Beach, VA
A 1960s adjustable and directional spot light floor lamp designed by Gerald Thurston for Lightolier. in a chrome and black finish. This floor lamp with sleek and clean lines has a de...
Steel, Chrome
1970s Vintage Italian Brass & Chrome Floor Lamp
Located in London, GB
A beautiful and extremely well made 1970’s vintage Italian brass & chrome lamp. The quality is outstanding, the frame is beautifully designed and the metal has acquired a beauti...
Brass, Chrome
Paul Evans Cityscape Lamp for Directional Model PE-4020
By Paul Evans
Located in Lynn, MA
Model PE-4020 Lamp by Paul Evans for the Cityscape series. Features his iconic brass and chrome patchwork. All original with original wiring with a rotary switch. Great table lamp or...
Brass, Chrome
Paul Evans Rare Floor Lamp in Welded Steel and Gold Leaf 1965
By Paul Evans
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Unique tension floor lamp in torch-cut welded and enameled steel and gold leaf with original pleated fabric shade by Paul Evans Studio, American 1965. Adjustable screws at top and bo...
Steel, Gold Leaf
Paul Evans Rare Large Chandelier in Bronze with Crackled Glass Globes 1970s
By Paul Evans
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Unique large chandelier in patinated and textured bronze with 12 arms each with a globe with crackled glass by Paul Evans, American 1970's. Chandeliers by Paul Evans are rare. The sc...
Bronze
'Cityscape' Series Lamp by Paul Evans
By Paul Evans
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid-century modern table lamp by Paul Evans. Features his famous 'cityscape' patchwork design, with brass and chrome blocks. Please confirm location NY or NJ
Brass, Chrome
Midcentury tabel lamp by Paul Evans, United States 1970s
By Paul Evans
Located in Piacenza, Italy
Midcentury tabel lamp by Paul Evans, 1970s. Stunning lamp composed of golden brass and chromed metal structure base and lampshade in the tone of silver wi...
Chrome, Metal
Paul Evans Designed 'Cityscape' Floor Lamp
By Paul Evans
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid-century modern floor lamp designed by Paul Evans for his 'Cityscape' collection. Features a mosaic of plated metal. Please confirm location NY or NJ
Metal
Sold
H 31 in W 7.13 in D 7.13 in
Mid-Century Modern Paul Evans Cityscape Brass & Chrome Patchwork Lamp, 1970s
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in St. Louis, MO
Paul Evans Cityscape brass and chrome table lamp for directional, circa 1970s. Has patina to brass and chrome, two small dings. Works. exclu...
Brass, Chrome
Paul Evans Rare "Cityscape" Desk Lamp in Tessellated Chrome, 1970s
By Paul Evans
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
"Cityscape" table lamp in tessellated polished chrome, model PE-4005, designed by Paul Evans for Directional Furniture, American, 1970's. The lamps from this series are rare.
Chrome
Paul Evans Sculptural Floor Lamp in Tessellated Chrome and Brass, 1970s
By Paul Evans
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Sculptural floor lamp, model PE-4014, in tessellated brass and chrome by Paul Evans for Directional Furniture, American, 1970's. The floor lamps from...
Brass, Chrome
Paul Evans Hanukkah Menorah, "The Simon", For Raymor, 1955
By Paul Evans
Located in Downingtown, PA
Paul Evans Hanukkah Menorah, "The Simon", For Raymor, 1955. (NY85930-cpn) The menorah is made from walnut with brass candleholders. Paul Evan's menorahs were never marked. Referen...
Wood, Walnut
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Paul Evans "Cityscape" Table Lamps, 1970s
By Paul Evans
Located in Bedford Hills, NY
Nice pair of original Paul Evans "Cityscape" table lamps, patchwork chrome and faux cork. Rewiring recommended.
Chrome
Paul Evans "Cityscape" Floor Lamp
By Paul Evans
Located in Toronto, ON
A fabulous Cityscape floor lamp in chrome plated steel and brass by American Iconic designer Paul Evans for Directional furniture company, USA.
Brass, Steel
Sold
H 36 in W 14.5 in D 11 in
Paul Evans for Directional Brutalist Welded Patchwork Table Lamp, circa 1960
By Paul Evans
Located in Southampton, NJ
A stunning Paul Evans sculptural table lamp for Directional having metal shade, brass finial and oak base. Sculpture dimensions: 20x5.5x5.5" HWD.
Brass, Bronze, Cut Steel
Pair of Brass "Cityscape" Paul Evans Lamps
By Paul Evans
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Brass "Cityscape" table lamps by Paul Evans Measurements of just the lamp: 6" x 6" x 25".
Metal
Paul Evans Sculpted Bronze Resin Relief Brutalist Table Lamp, Early 1960s
By Paul Evans
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Early handcrafted Studio Table Lamp by Paul Evans in Bronze Resin. Featuring classic heavily sculpted three dimensional relief. Shade shown for display only. (12H x 15W). 21 H to to...
Bronze