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 Sofa. Bronzed Resin Case, Bronze Base. New Gold Upholstery
By Paul Evans
Located in Kansas City, MO
Fine and rare sofa by Paul Evans. Bronzed resin case with bronze base. Expertly reupholstered in a gold velvet fabric. This sofa is in top condition and ready to place.
Bronze, Wrought Iron
Important Paul Evans Studio Sculpted Bronze and Resin Sofa, Signed, 1971
By Paul Evans
Located in Culver City, CA
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...
Bronze
$160,000 / set
Paul Evans Biscuit Tufted Cityscape Sofas, Signed
By Paul Evans
Located in Dallas, TX
An exceptional pair of Paul Evans biscuit tufted Cityscape sofas, signed and in near mint condition. Finding one is hard, but a pair in this pristine st...
Chrome
American 1940's Tufted Curved Sofa
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Beautiful super stylish curved sofa. Made in the US probably in the 1940's maybe early 1950's. Designer and maker unknown. Tufted and with loose cushion. Has a bit of Hollywood pana...
Wool, Wood
Milo Baughman Chesterfield Style Tufted Sofa
By Milo Baughman
Located in Dallas, TX
Milo Baughman Chesterfield style tufted sofa with wood plinth base. In good vintage condition, circa 1980s Dimension: 84" long 32" deep 26"...
Fabric
Tufted Leather Chesterfield Sofa
Located in Westwood, NJ
Crafted from premium top-grain leather, this sofa boasts a rich caramel hue that invites warmth into any living space. The intricate button-tufted detailing on the backrest provides ...
Leather
Two-Seat Sofa, Denmark, 1950, New Upholstery Bouclé Fabric
Located in Paris, FR
Beautiful two-seat curved sofa manufactured in the 1950s. Lovely shape and curves. Very comfortable seat with two feather cushions covered of blue Kvadrat velvet. Perfect condition,...
Fabric, Wool, Bouclé, Upholstery, Velvet, Beech
$7,300
H 26.78 in W 84.26 in D 34.65 in
Børge Mogensen Sofa for Fredericia Stolefabrik. New Upholstery. 1958.
By Børge Mogensen, Fredericia Stolefabrik
Located in Paris, FR
Elegant and refined three-seat sofa model 205 designed by Borge Mogensen in 1958 and manufactured in Denmark by Fredericia Stolefabrik. This important sofa shows an impressive desig...
Fabric, Upholstery, Velvet, Oak
Edward Ferrell Tufted Back Sofa Damask Sofa
By Edward Farrell
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A beautifully tufted quality built bow back sofa by Edward Ferrell. The Sofa with elegant lines, tufted back and refined pale Champagne Damask style fabric. With Edward Ferrell label...
Fabric, Wood
Spiros Zakas Style Sculpted Lucite Sofa
By Spiros Zakas
Located in Middlesex, NJ
Spiros Zakas Style Sculpted Lucite Sofa
Upholstery, Lucite
$17,600Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 29 in W 153 in D 113 in
Mid-Century Modern Seven-Piece Signed Paul Evans Sectional Sofa
By Paul Evans
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Amazing super rare seven-piece sectional sofa by Paul Evans. Unusual large random tubular tufted sections give this huge sofa a fabulous modern overall look. Upholstered in the first...
Upholstery
$76,000Sale Price|20% Off
H 29 in W 84.25 in D 38 in
Important Adjustable 'Roll Back Day Bed' Sofa by Kagan-Dreyfuss, 1950s, Signed
By Kagan-Dreyfuss, Inc., Vladimir Kagan
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a very important piece of design history, and to understand why - it is all in the details, so to anyone interested in modern art and interior design, please keep reading. Vladimir Kagan’s 'Roll Back Day Bed' (model #6718) was originally conceived as a one-off design for a client in the 1950s. Valdimir Kagan selected Rosewood and Lucite, materials he had just started experimenting with at that time, blended it into a futuristic frame with a brass-capped cylindrical adjustable back cushion that can transform the sofa into a daybed and even into a double sided gallery seating system. All on top of Lucite legs giving the appearance the sofa is floating above ground. By all accounts - Vladimir Kagan advertisements, catalogues, the design community and even the team at Vladimir Kagan Designs had it documented that the design (model 6718 Roll Back Day Bed) was first put into production in 1967, however this one - this exact sofa in the photos and listed for sale, IS THE ONE that he created in the 1950s for a special one-off client. And it was later, in 1967 that he decided to bring the design into production, all based on this concept model which we have listed for sale. This is all documented with the Vladimir Kagan archives under registry 25073. They were thrilled to have found this surviving example and have added it into their archives, knowledge-base and timelines. They wrote: "We conducted a detailed review of the Kagan Archive, and we were puzzled to find that Vladimir consistently dated the release of the Roll Back Day Bed to 1967. Also based on Vladimir’s accounts, Hugo Dreyfuss retired in 1960, ending their partnership. This would mean that your example pre-dates the “earliest production date” we have on record for the Roll Back Day Bed or Roll Back Sofa...
Brass
$12,000
H 25 in W 85 in D 32.5 in
1960s Maurice Bailey for Monteverdi Young Biscuit Tufted Crushed Velvet Sofa
By Maurice Bailey
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful 1970s Biscuit Tufted Sofa by Maurice Bailey for Monteverdi and Young in a burnt gold crushed velvet upholstery. In good vintage condition with a nice patina throughout. V...
Velvet, Walnut
French Castle Sofa Wooden Structure and Sculpted Panels
Located in Paris, FR
Sofa French castle wooden structure and sculpted panels, in a manual sculpture, produced in resin and finished with restoration techniques similar to st...
Fabric, Resin, Wood
$5,063
H 36.23 in W 68.12 in D 25.99 in
French Sofa Directoire circa 1800 Grey Painted , New Upholstery
Located in Epfach, DE
French sofa or canape directoire with elegantly moulded frame. It is grey and green painted and the original surface is wonderfully carved. The sofa is new upholstered with an comfor...
Fabric, Wood
Paul Evans Cityscape Sofa/Settee
By Paul Evans
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Paul Evans Cityscape sofa from the 200 series. Manufactured by Directional Furniture circa 1970 Older, clean reupholstery in Ultrasuede.
Chrome
Sold
H 28 in W 66 in L 28 in
Mid-Century Modern Paul Evans Cityscape Chrome Wrapped Tufted Sofa Loveseat
By Paul Evans
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
For your consideration is a luxe, tufted sofa or loveseat, with a chrome wrapped "Cityscape" base, by Paul Evans, circa the 1960s. In very good vintage condition. Can be used as is b...
Chrome
Cityscape Sofa by Paul Evans
By Paul Evans
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Cityscape sofa by Paul Evans. Hermes orange leather, custom upholstery. Measure: 19" SH.
Custom Cloud Pillow Sofa by Paul Evans, USA, 1979
By Paul Evans
Located in New York, NY
This extra-wide, racetrack shaped-sofa is a rare pre-curser to the final creations made in the 1980s at the end of Evan’s prolific career. Made with architectural and futuristic furniture elements, the voluminous sofa features crescent shaped armrests and two oversized throw...
Paul Evans Brass Cityscape Sofa
By Paul Evans
Located in Chicago, IL
Glamorous brass Cityscape settee by Paul Evans. Paul Evans studio, circa 1978. Model PE 248 love sofa.
Brass
Paul Evans, Tufted Floating Sofa, USA, 1975
By Paul Evans
Located in New York, NY
An exquisite 8ft long floating sofa in the Cityscape style. This piece has been newly filled and upholstered in a tufted silver grey Romo sueded velvet. The sofa is suspended on chro...
Paul Evans Sofa
By Paul Evans
Located in Chicago, IL
Evans Studio "Sculpted Bronze" One of a kind. Incised signature and date to underside: [PE 71]. Reupholstered with shaggy fabric.
Upholstery
Paul Evans Sofa
By Paul Evans
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Paul Evans Patchwork Sofa
Copper,Bronze and Pewter over wood
Upholstered in red velvet