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 Patinated Patchwork Coffee Table with Slate Top, ATTR Paul Evans
By Paul Evans
Located in Queens, NY
Brutalist American Modern 1970s patinated patchwork metal coffee table with riveted copper, brass, and pewter sheeting with slate top (attr: P...
Slate, Copper, Pewter
Paul Evans Patchwork Brutalist Center, Coffee or Cocktail Table for Directional
By Paul Evans
Located in Plainview, NY
Mid-Century Modern iconic patchwork design table by Paul Evans (American 1931-1987). The modern brutalist table base is made of welded and patinat...
Bronze, Copper, Steel
$5,625Sale Price|25% Off
Paul Evans Coffee Table
By Paul Evans
Located in Middlesex, NJ
Paul Evans coffee table signed and dated Measure: Base is 24" round.
Metal
$7,700Sale Price|30% Off
Signed Paul Evans Octagonal Cityscape Burl Wood and Chrome Dining Table
By Paul Evans
Located in Middlesex, NJ
Signed Paul Evans octagonal cityscape burl wood and chrome dining table.
Metal
$7,000Sale Price|30% Off
Signed Paul Evans Octagonal Cityscape Pedestal Dining Table
By Paul Evans
Located in Middlesex, NJ
Signed Paul Evans octagonal cityscape pedestal dining table Table is showing reflection from floor.
Metal
Cityscape Dining Table Base Only by Paul Evans Published Model
By Paul Evans
Located in Atlanta, GA
An unusual table as part of the cityscape series by Paul Evans for Directional. Constructed with chrome plated cubes and lacquered surface and it is currently shown with a 42 by 84 glass top and functions as a dining table. However, it is in a very versatile size to accommodate glass tops of a wide range of sizes and shapes so it can also functions as a striking center table, or a console table. Table base only...
Chrome
'Cityscape' by Paul Evans Dining Table with Leaf
By Paul Evans
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Polished chrome patchwork table by Paul Evans for his Cityscape line. Comes with a 15" leaf. (Please confirm item location - NY or NJ - with dealer).
Metal
Paul Evans Brutalist Mixed Metal Coffee Table for Directional
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Paul Evans Brutalist mixed metal coffee table for directional.
Brass, Copper, Pewter
$6,045
H 17 in W 58.75 in D 22.8 in
Paul Evans brutalist welded metal patchwork PE-11 zig zag coffee table
By Paul Evans
Located in Liberty, NY
Beautiful 1960's Paul Evans brutalist zig zag design coffee table with glass top, created as part of his "Sculptured Metal" collection for Directional. Fabricated with artisan welde...
Metal
Paul Evans Brutalist Skyline Dining Table
By Paul Evans
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Paul Evans brutalist "Skyline" sculpted bronze resin dining table with 48" x 96" x 3/4" thick glass top. Signed PE70 Only base is 65" x 27".
Bronze
On Hold|$6,400
H 15.5 in W 42 in D 42 in
Paul Evans Brutalist Patchwork of Metals Slate Top Coffee Table c. 1970s
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Silver golden and copper hues glow throughout this Paul Evans coffee table in a patchwork of hammered metals. Artful celebration of metals represented in brass iron steel and bronze ...
Metal
Paul Evans Brutalist Coffee Table
By Paul Evans
Located in Savannah, GA
Paul Evans (American, 1931-1987) Brutalist mixed metal patchwork coffee table with original slate top, circa 1970. 42 inches wide and deep by 16 ½ ...
Slate, Copper
Paul Evans Sculpted Bronze Skyline Coffee Table
By Paul Evans
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Paul Evans sculpted bronze brutalist skyline coffee table, signed PE71 Glass top is 3/4" thick, 28" deep and 55" wide. Base is 15" high, 28" deep...
Bronze
Paul Evans Cityscape Long Dining Table
By Paul Evans
Located in Chicago, IL
Paul Evans for directional "Cityscape", 84" Parsons style dining table. All chromed metal over wood with additional pair of leaves. Possible length of 114" with both 15" leaves.
Chrome, Metal
Paul Evans Brutalist Mixed Metal and Slate Coffee Table
By Paul Evans
Located in Queens, NY
Mid-century Brutalist-style slate-top coffee table with mixed metal patch work base. (Attributed PAUL EVANS).
Metal
Paul Evans Coffee Table Brutalist Zig Zag ca' 1960's
By Paul Evans
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A classic brutalist coffee table by Paul Evans for Directional, ca' 1960's. Great example of brutalist style-torch welded steel with patinated finish. Zig zag jazzy form.
Steel
Paul Evans Stalagmite Coffee Table, Signed PE 72
By Paul Evans, Directional
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Paul Evans Stalagmite Coffee Table, Signed PE 72. Bronzed Resin Over Steel. This piece is located at our Pasadena, California location. Dimensions: Including The Glass: 41.75" Dia...
Bronze
Paul Evans American Mid-Century Brutalist Coffee Table
By Paul Evans
Located in Forney, TX
Paul Evans (1931-1987) American Brutalist industrial modern welded steel, copper, mixed metals patchwork coffee table with rivet accents and i...
Slate, Metal, Copper, Steel
Paul Evans PE-Brutalist Bowtie Coffee Table
By Paul Evans
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Paul Evans Brutalist Welded Bowtie coffee table with painted body and glass top. Marked PE 68. Made in 1968. In original condition with visible wea...
Metal
Paul Evans Brutalist Model PE-11 Zig Zag Coffee Table
By Paul Evans
Located in Los Angeles, CA
After Paul Evans Brutalist Zig Zag coffee table Model PE-11 with Welded and Painted Body and Glass Top. Glass measures 47.875 x 20 x 0.375. Base measures 38.75 x 13.25 x 15.875. In o...
Steel
Sold
H 28.5 in W 33 in D 16.5 in
Paul Evans for Directional Brutalist Sculptured Bronzed Resin Console Table
By Paul Evans
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Unusual Paul Evans for Directional brutalist sculptured bronzed resin console with rectangular glass top, signed 'PE 69' inside near bo...
Resin
Paul Evans Cityscape Hex-Octagonal Breakfast Table
By Paul Evans, Directional
Located in Hanover, MA
Hexagonal smoked black glass top on a signed Paul Evans brass and chrome patchwork tiled octagonal pedestal drum base. From his Cityscape Collection f...
Brass, Chrome
Sold
H 29.5 in W 36.5 in D 36.5 in
Paul Evans for Directional #PE-114 Sculpted Bronze Cafe Dining Table, circa 1968
By Paul Evans, Directional
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A stunning and incredibly rare Model PE-114 Paul Evans sculpted bronze cafe dining table (also works excellent as a game table or center table) which was part of the "Sculptured Metals Collection" for Directional in the 1960s and 1970s, this particular rare design was featured in their 'Sculptured Metals' catalogue in 1968 as shown in the photos of this listing. This dramatic Paul Evans brutalist...
Bronze
Paul Evans Brutalist Patchwork Coffee Table, Circa 1970
By Paul Evans
Located in Petworth, West Sussex
A late 20th century Brutalist coffee table by Paul Evans (American, 1931-1987) for Directional Furniture, of his signature patchwork style employed in the 1970s, of square shape, patched burl...
Steel, Chrome
Paul Evans Crescent Table Bases, Pair
By Paul Evans
Located in Southampton, NJ
I adore these bases and am amazed at the craftsmanship it took to create them. Each one is in wonderful condition with normal wear as expected with these pieces. I cannot locate a si...
Steel
Paul Evans Sculpted Steel Coffee Table
By Paul Evans
Located in Middlesex, NJ
Paul Evans sculpted steel coffee table.
Paul Evans Dining Table Brass Steel Glass Crown of Thorns, USA, 1960s
By Paul Evans
Located in New York, NY
Paul Evans dining table brass steel glass signed, USA, 1960s. Paul Evans welded steel "Crown of Thorns" dining table, PE 146, in very good original condition. Base retains original p...
Steel
Sculptured Steel Dining Table Bases Paul Evans Directional
By Paul Evans
Located in Atlanta, GA
Model PE-24 dining table belongs to the sculptured steel series, which Paul Evans designed and produced for Directional dating back to late 1960s. The ...
Bronze, Steel
Paul Evans for Directional Center or Dining Table
By Paul Evans
Located in Miami, FL
Paul Evans for Directional Model PE 46 welded steel geometric center or dining table with thick round clear glass top. Signed and dated PE 68 on the lower base. Nice patina and color...
Steel
Paul Evans "Crown of Thorns" Dining Table, 1968, Signed
By Paul Evans
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
"Crown of Thorns" dining table base in welded steel with multichrome patination by Paul Evans, American, 1968 (signed "Paul Evans 68"). This amazing dining table base is oval and the...
Steel