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.
Mid century Danish rosewood dining table by Sibast - Arne Vodder
By Sibast
Located in Liberty, NY
Beautiful mid century 1960's Danish rosewood dining table made by Sibast, attributed to Arne Vodder - table top has similar angular profile with the edging trim as the model 201 dini...
Rosewood
Set of Klaus Rausch 70's Brutalist leather lounge chairs + ottoman + side table
By Rausch
Located in Liberty, NY
Fantastic four piece set of Brutalist Rausch furniture that includes a pair of lounge chairs, an ottoman and a side table designed by Klaus Rausch for his St. Moritz collection of ...
Leather, Pine
Mid century 1970's Carl Straub Brutalist oak sling lounge chairs - modular sofa
By Carl Straub
Located in Liberty, NY
Great set of 1970's Carl Straub sling lounge chairs - price is for one chair, sold individually for more optionality, could make a pair or a modular sofa set with all three. Beautif...
Wool, Oak
1960's Carl Straub black oak loveseat with new wool upholstery
By Carl Straub
Located in Liberty, NY
Great mid century 1970's Carl Straub black oak two seater sofa with newly upholstered cushions in a very nice heavyweight textured beige wool with flecks of gold and grey. Modern pro...
Wool, Oak
Pair of mid century Danish rosewood and ceramic tile side tables
By Mobelfabrikken Toften
Located in Liberty, NY
Beautiful pair of mid century Danish rosewood side tables with ceramic tile tops, attributed to Toften, but unlabeled. Very nicely figured rosewood, all in very good vintage conditio...
Ceramic, Rosewood
Mid century 1970's Danish Gangso Mobler rosewood credenza - Poul H. Poulsen
By Gangsø Møbler
Located in Liberty, NY
Stunning 1970's brutalist rosewood credenza - sideboard designed by Poul H Poulsen for Gangso Mobler with a large ceramic tile inset i...
Ceramic, Rosewood
Paul Evans Patchwork Steel Coffee Table for Directional, Signed & Dated 1978
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning coffee table by Paul Evans for Directional, produced in 1978, signed and dated PE 78. The cube shaped form is fabricated from patinated pieces of painted steel which have be...
Steel
Sculpted Steel Zigzag Coffee Table Base by Paul Evans for Directional
By Paul Evans
Located in Atlanta, GA
A sculpted steel "zigzag" coffee table base by American Designer and studio craftsman Paul Evans (American, 1927-1993) circa 1960s for Directional. The table, Model PE-11, takes a geometrical ‘Zig Zag' form and is welded from the steel. Its surface is decorated with his iconic relief patterns such as stars, swirls, lines, gilt dots and grid web as well as red, yellow, green and gold polychrome colors with black strokes...
Steel
Original Paul Evans Brutalist PE-11 Cocktail Table
By Paul Evans
Located in North Miami, FL
Welded and patinated steel PE-11 Brutalist coffee table by Paul Evans Studio for Directional, 1966.
Bronze, Iron
Brutalist Cast Metal Geometric Dining Table in the Manner of Paul Evans
By Paul Evans
Located in Culver City, CA
This table is absolutely gorgeous. It's a cast metal body with what a cold cast bronze outer shell. This one of a kind, custom piece came out of an estate in the Pacific Palisades filled with the most incredible furniture by Paul Evans, Daniel Gluck and Italian designer pieces. Unfortunately we have been unable to identify the creator of this piece, but it is very much in the style of Paul Evans and his cold cast bronze line for Directional. The table base measures 56" L x 24" D x 28.25" T. The glass on the table base is also custom, 3/4" thick with docked corners for a very unique look when up close and personal. This table is remarkably sturdy, and very heavy. This unique table would also look incredible as a writing desk. This incredible table is currently in the gallery paired with like designer pieces by Paul Evans, and Silas Seandel, but would also look wonderful paired with more contemporary pieces like Milo Baughman thin line chairs...
Metal, Bronze
Paul Evans Welded Steel 1967 Brutalist Cocktail Table
By Paul Evans
Located in Buffalo, NY
Paul Evans welded steel 1967 Brutalist cocktail table. Wonderful patina, class Evans design, retains original glass. Heavy base can hold much l...
Steel
Paul Evans, Zigzag Coffee Table, model PE11, by Directional, USA 1970
By Paul Evans, Directional
Located in Wargrave, Berkshire
Paul Evans (American 1931-1987) Zigzag Coffee Table model PE11 conceived 1970 and made by Directional, USA The zigzag base in welded, polychromed and patinated steel, with rectangul...
Steel
