Paul Evans Set of 6 Rare Sculpted Bronze Dining Chairs 1969 'Signed and Dated'

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, 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 eventually over 800 designs with Directional-- with the very first series being the "Sculptured Metal" Collection which was publicized in 1968. This piece specifically is a throne chair that also swivels. Upholstered in black leather, this throne chair is a wonderful example of Paul Evans Sculpted bronze technique, which involves hand sculpting using an epoxy resin and coating in an atomized cold cast bronze. This piece is signed and dated "PE 69" making it an early example of his goopy cast bronze series and line of furniture for Directional. It's extremely important to note: Directional Furniture showrooms in New York City and Chicago were private to-the-trade only showrooms, so only interior designers and their clients were able to custom order these pieces through the showroom. There was never any "inventory" of furniture. Each and every piece was a custom, hand crafted work of art, created to order. No two of any piece were ever alike. Evans eventually went on to employ a team of nearly 90 people, working two shifts-- helping to hand-craft his designs. This could easily explain why not every piece is hand signed, therefore making an early, had-signed pieces like this even more desirable for a collector. This piece has a wonderful patina, with vibrant colors and while still brutalist in nature, it's a bit more subdued and could effortlessly be blended into any contemporary environment. We currently have this piece in the gallery paired with a Vladimir Kagan serpentine cloud sofa, and a Karl Springer goatskin...

Paul Evans set of twelve brutalist sculpted bronze dining chairs, USA 1970 This extremely rare to find set is comprised of two armchairs (Model PE 105) and ten side chairs (Model PE ...

A complete set of eight inclusive of two armchairs. Almost all eight of these are signed with labels to underside. White leather shows wear but should be restorable to retain origina...

Set of eight dining chairs designed by Paul Evans and produced by Directional. Two armchairs and six side chairs, all expertly reupholstered a grey Maharam fabric. Great style and co...

Paul Evans Style Mid Century Dining Chairs - Set of 4 Each chair measures: 18 wide x 20.5 deep x 35 inches high, with a seat height/chair clearance of 18.5 inches All pieces of fur...

SET of 8 Mid-Century burl wood patchwork veneer dining chairs with brown leather upholstery, 2 armchairs and 6 side chairs (PAUL EVANS)

Paul Evans for Directional Mid Century Chrome Cantilever Dining Chairs – Set of 8 Each chair measures: 19.75 wide x 23 deep x 33.5 inches high, with a seat height/chair clearance of...

A nice set of four Cityscape dining chairs by Paul Evans for Directional, circa 1975. The set consists of four side chairs model PE-240. Chromed steel patchwork legs with original up...

A nice set of eight cityscape dining chairs by Paul Evans for Directional, circa 1974. The set consists of two armchairs model PE-241 and six side chairs model PE-240. Chromed steel ...

Paul Evans for Directional, dining chairs, model PE-106, epoxy bronzed resin over steel, fabric, United States, circa 1970 These dining chairs are designed by Paul Evans for Directi...