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 Large Cabinet in Walnut and Gold Leaf
By Phillip Lloyd Powell
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Phillip Lloyd Powell, large cabinet, walnut, gold leaf, painted wood, United States, circa 1965 Crafted by the skilled hands of Phillip Lloyd Powell, this highboard stands as a test...
Gold Leaf
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
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...
$3,575
H 104 in W 104.5 in D 35 in
Late 19th-Early 20th C. Large Scale Walnut French Dressing Cabinet With Bench
Located in Bridgeport, CT
An incredible ensemble acting as its own complete sitting room. A large scale carved walnut cabinet in the Louis XV style with double beveled mirrored doors for the deep side compart...
Brass
Large Louis XV Armoire in Walnut
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Excellent French Louis XV period armoire built with book matched panels.
Walnut
Hollywood Regency Gold and Silver Leaf Cabinet
Located in Westport, CT
Hollywood Regency Gold leaf and silver leaf trimmed tall Cabinet ,with 4 shelves all adjustable and two large Draws ,silver leaf ball feet,top q...
Wood
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
Charles Dudouyt Mid-Century Two Doors Cabinet
By Charles Dudouyt
Located in Split, Splitsko-dalmatinska županija
Raw oak sculpted cabinet by Charles Dudouyt in a bleached finish. France c. 1950.
Oak
$18,500
H 92 in W 25 in D 26 in
Paul Evans and Phillip Lloyd Powell Gold Leaf and Walnut Studio Cabinet, 1963
By Paul Evans, Phillip Lloyd Powell
Located in Dallas, TX
This early studio craft 23 Karat gold leafed cabinet was made as a collaboration between Paul Evans and Phillip Lloyd Powell in the mid 1960s. The upper storage compartment unlatches to reveal two adjustable felt-lined shelves. The center compartment conceals a vanity complete with three mirrors embellished with torch-cut brazed discs flanked by two vertical rows of lightbulbs. Behind the mirror is a secret hidden storage compartment. Below this feature is a drop-front laminated tray and an open storage compartment. The bottom of the cabinet boasts a bank of five hand-carved solid walnut drawers and the left side has a cut-out with a hidden outlet and a slate surface which would provide a convenient smartphone charging station...
Slate, Brass, Gold Leaf
Large English Oak Haberdashery Cabinet
Located in Staffordshire, GB
circa 1930 Large English Oak Haberdashery Cabinet, divides into two pieces. sku 1254 W182 x D52 x H198cm
Oak
Edward Wormley, Cabinet, Walnut, USA, 1950s
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in High Point, NC
A sizeable walnut wardrobe or cabinet designed by Edward Wormley and produced by Dunbar, Berne, Indiana, USA, c. 1950s. Interior has glass shelving and backside has round air grids ...
Walnut
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
French Art Deco Burled Walnut Armoire Cabinet
Located in North York, ON
Introducing our stunning French Art Deco Burled Walnut Armoire Cabinet, a true masterpiece of furniture design. This exquisite piece is expertly ...
Brass
$17,170 / item
H 68 in W 56 in D 24 in
HALO ARMOIRE - Wardrobe in Bisque Lacquer and Warm Silver Leaf + Hammered Gold
By Susan Hornbeak-Ortiz
Located in Laguna Niguel, CA
HALO ARMOIRE - Wardrobe in Bisque Lacquer and Warm Silver Leaf + Hammered Gold The Halo Wardrobe Cabinet is a luxurious and customizable furniture item...
Gold Leaf