An American woodworker known for a wide range of furniture that is sensuous, sculptural and imbued with character, Phillip Lloyd Powell is an iconic figure in design. His organic style transcended the conventions of popular mid-century modern furniture and is best reflected in the vintage cabinets and tables for which he is renowned.
“I am an artist working with furniture,” Powell once said. But the self-taught furniture maker wore a number of different hats throughout his lifetime. He crafted handmade furniture as a teenager at his boyhood home and went on to study engineering at what is now Drexel University. Powell served in the Army Air Corps during World War II, and, on his return, he established his first showroom in New Hope, in his home state of Pennsylvania, stocking furniture from Knoll, Herman Miller and Isamu Noguchi.
In New Hope, Powell encountered fellow furniture designers Paul Evans and George Nakashima. The latter, a master woodworker who preferred a personal approach to design over industrial methods and materials, encouraged Powell to concentrate on making his own furniture. When Powell did so, he’d experiment with Nakashima’s unused stock of wood, drawing on natural world forms for seating and shapely coffee tables.
Evans, who moved to New Hope in 1955, was invited to share Powell’s studio space. Powell’s furniture design practice really took off and a collaboration with Evans put into motion the 1960s American Studio Craft Movement, which came to include furniture designers Wharton Esherick and Sam Maloof. The decade-long partnership between Evans and Powell yielded stone-topped tables, walnut chests with sculptured metal exteriors and more.
Powell was inspired by Evans’s artistry as a jewelry designer — he was a skilled welder whose Cityscape pieces are milestones of brutalism. Powell, in turn, encouraged him to turn his sculptures into furniture. Like Evans, Powell incorporated a range of materials into his work, rendering the interiors of his hand-carved cabinets alluring and distinctive with applications of silver leaf and fabrics.
The sinewy arms of Powell’s famous New Hope lounge chair are representative of his broad expertise with wood and his ability to make graceful yet functional furniture. He worked slowly, and the influence of the natural world remained a driving force in his designs. Powell produced approximately 1,000 pieces while he lived and worked in New Hope until his death in 2008.
Find vintage Phillip Lloyd Powell furniture on 1stDibs.
Phillip Lloyd Powell Wall Mounted Cabinet circa 1977
By Phillip Lloyd Powell
Located in Amarillo, TX
Phillip Lloyd Powell Cabinet with Four Doors in Mixed Woods and Mirrored Glass USA circa 1977 Walnut, mirrored glass, oak, zebrawood, mahogany, ash, ebony and maple burl. Measures...
Glass, Mirror, Ash, Ebony, Mahogany, Maple, Oak, Walnut, Zebra Wood, Burl
Wall-Mounted Cabinet by Phillip Lloyd Powell
By Phillip Lloyd Powell
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A rare and unusual wall-mounted cabinet by Phillip Lloyd Powell in walnut. Drawers on one side with piano hinge bi-fold doors on the other side, with adjustable shelves inside. Great...
Phillip Lloyd Powell Bar Cabinet
By Phillip Lloyd Powell
Located in Amarillo, TX
Phillip Lloyd Powell illuminated bar cabinet USA, 1970s hand-carved walnut, glass, brass, found objects One of one bench-made Phil Powell bar cabinet. Side panels are hand-carved walnut. Doors are stained glass with backlit lighting to illuminate the stained glass cased in the black walnut. Door handles are brass found objects. The sides and the back of the interior are clad with a sectioned walnut. Found objects support the glass display shelving...
Stone, Brass
ALF Pisa Collection Cabinet
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Gorgeous laquered cabinet with polished chrome accents. Master craftsmanship brings multiple wood grain inlays to make a great modern design. Made by ...
Walnut
Midcentury French Modernist Cabinet Vaisselier, 1950s
Located in Paris, IDF
Warm light brown oak and rich copper form a beautiful color palette in this cabinet vaisselier from the 1950s. On the front and top of the cabinet, the oak displays a striped lightwood/dark wood pattern that feels fun and very much of the era, while the recessed portions of the oak appear to shift into burnt orange for a subtle injection of natural color. Opening the door at the front of the cabinet, a series of small drawers are revealed for hidden storage and organization; the left side of the cabinet is formed by transparent glass, ideal for stowing decorative items or glassware, as well as giving the piece a sense of being filled with light. Though it was created by an unknown French craftsman, this piece is reminiscent of avant-garde designer Jean Royere’s work. Place it in your living room for a unique midcentury French modernist...
Copper
Mid-Century Modern Petite Disc Cabinet by Michael van Beuren
By Michael van Beuren
Located in Mexico City, CDMX
Circa 1970, we offer this Mid-Century Modern petite disc cabinet by Michael Van Beuren, made in mahogany plywood and brass details, includes VB original l...
Mahogany
$5,200Sale Price|20% Off
H 18 in W 60 in D 11 in
Gorgeous Wall HangingDisplay Shelf by Phillip Lloyd Powell
By Phillip Lloyd Powell
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Amazing wall mounted shelf hand crafted in black walnut by Phillip Powell. Signature dovetailed edges and choice walnut stand in contrast with the grass cloth backing. Sculptural she...
Walnut
$7,800 / set
H 25.5 in W 76.25 in D 20 in
Florence Knoll Style Credenza with Matching File Cabinet by by Giacomo Buzzitta
By Stow Davis
Located in Dallas, TX
Beautiful credenza with matching file cabinet designed by Giacomo Buzzittan for Stow Davis. The matching set is constructed of Carrara marble, black lacquer with chromed steel legs a...
Marble, Steel
French parquetry Cabinet Armoire by Jules Leleu
By Jules Leleu
Located in Atlanta, GA
A large cabinet with parquetry design by Jules Leleu Paris, Model no. 4178. Designed in 1951 and this example is dated to 1953. Functioning as an Armoire for wardrobe, the cabinet fe...
Bronze
$18,500
H 84 in W 42 in D 16 in
Modern Chelsea Glass Mosaic Bar Cabinet with Forged Metal Base by Ercole Home
By Ercole Home
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Chelsea bar cabinet by Ercole Home has a 4-door front, with white lacquer wood finish on oak. Hand cut glass mosaics in London grey and icy white decorate the surface in Luis pat...
Metal
$1,440
H 93 in W 47 in D 22 in
Maitland Smith Asian Chippendale Bamboo Wicker Wardrobe Armoire Bar Cabinet
By Maitland Smith
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description click on More Details Below. Shipping Quote Information The shipping quote stated in the listing was from 1st Dibs and they normally set all the costs and ...
Faux Bamboo, Wicker, Wood
Mid-Century Burl Cabinet
By Milo Baughman
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid-Century Modern cabinet with brilliant burl wood doors. Brown lacquer frame with polished chrome accents. Please confirm location.
Burl, Lacquer
$28,480 / item
H 72 in W 46 in D 21 in
COCO CABINET - Modern Ebony Oak Cabinet with Brass Inlays and Acrylic Handles
By Susan Hornbeak-Ortiz
Located in Laguna Niguel, CA
COCO CABINET - Modern Ebony Oak Cabinet with Brass Inlays and Acrylic Handles The Coco Cabinet is a luxurious piece of furniture that features an Art Dec...
Oak
Victorian Burr Walnut Credenza Cabinet, England, Circa 1860
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
An exhibition quality mid 19th century burr walnut Credenza, or side cabinet, of good bold proportion Having superbly figured top over two panelled Central doors, flanked by bowed...
Walnut
ORTO L Full Cabinet by Phormy
Located in Geneve, CH
ORTO L full cabinet by Phormy Dimensions: D 40 x W 185 x H 85 cm. Materials: acrylic engraved or flat laminate oak laquered oaken base Different materials and sizes available. ...
Oak
Midcentury Cabinet by Phillip Lloyd Powell
By Phillip Lloyd Powell
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
For your consideration is this lovely Phillip Lloyd Powell sliding door cabinet with perfect proportions. Featuring black walnut with his signature dove-tail joinery and leg dowel co...
Walnut
Midcentury Phillip Lloyd Powell Cabinet
By Phillip Lloyd Powell
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Incredible carved cabinet with inset mirror and applied silver leaf. Can be hung as a floating cabinet or placed on top of another case piece. Phillip Lloyd Powell designs are found ...
Metal, Silver Leaf
Rare Paul Evans and Phillip Lloyd Powell Wall-Mounted Cabinet
By Phillip Lloyd Powell, Paul Evans
Located in Chicago, IL
Early collaboration from Paul Evans Studio and Phillip Lloyd Powell. Piano hinged door with fish scale screen, adjustable glass shelves and mirrored back panel. Wall-mounted by Frenc...
Iron, Gold Leaf
Sold
H 16.5 in W 53 in D 15 in
Phillip Lloyd Powell/Paul Evans Carved Walnut Wall Hung Cabinet, Early 1960s
By Paul Evans, Phillip Lloyd Powell
Located in Amarillo, TX
Chip carved walnut bar cabinet by Phillip Lloyd Powell, USA, circa 1962. New Hope, PA Studio. Measure: 16.5 x 53 x 15 inches. 41.9 x 134.6 x 38 cm. Paul Evans hardware, wa...
Bronze, Steel
Bar Cabinet by Phillip Lloyd Powell
By Phillip Lloyd Powell
Located in Amarillo, TX
Phillip Lloyd Powell bar in walnut, signed [Phil Powell], USA, circa 1967. Hand worked with four doors opening to illuminated interior, glass shelves and found objects. Heig...
Felt, Glass, Walnut
Phillip Lloyd Powell Wall-Mounted Cabinet
By Phillip Lloyd Powell
Located in Amarillo, TX
Phillip Lloyd Powell custom wall-mounted cabinet, USA, circa 1963. Gold leaf-covered painted wood, walnut. 60.5 w x 14.25 d x 18 h inches
Gold Leaf
Paul Evans and Phillip Lloyd Powell, Studio Bar Cabinet and Server, USA
By Phillip Lloyd Powell, Paul Evans
Located in New York, NY
A custom commissioned bar cabinet and serving-shelf unit designed and handmade collaboratively by Phil Powell and Paul Evans, circa 1964. This is a fantastic and rare piece that repr...
Gold, Gold Leaf, Steel
Wall Hanging Cabinet by Phillip Lloyd Powell
By Phillip Lloyd Powell
Located in Pawtucket, RI
Nicely detailed wall-hanging cabinet from Phillip Lloyd Powell circa 1966. Cabinet in walnut with hand carved undulating Bi- folding doors and exposed ebony pins. Interior with beau...
Gold Leaf