Paul Evans Mid-Century Furniture Design Talented Master Artisan - paul evans Paul Evans: Mid-Century Furniture Design Talented Master Artisan Paul Evans Mid Century Furniture Design Talented Master Artisan

The remarkable Paul Evans (20 May 1931 – 7 March 1987) was a talented American furniture designer, sculptor, and artist, who is renowned for his contributions to American furniture design and the American craft Movement of the 1970s. His collaboration with the powerful American manufacturer Directional Furniture was also a central point of his career.

Paul Evans Mid-Century Furniture Design Talented Master Artisan - Dining Table Base paul evans Paul Evans: Mid-Century Furniture Design Talented Master Artisan Paul Evans Mid Century Furniture Design Talented Master Artisan Dining Table Base

Dining Table Base (1970s), made of chrome and brass by Paul Evans. Photo: ©1stdibs

Paul Evans Mid-Century Furniture Design Talented Master Artisan - Cityscape Bar Cabinet paul evans Paul Evans: Mid-Century Furniture Design Talented Master Artisan Paul Evans Mid Century Furniture Design Talented Master Artisan Cityscape Bar Cabinet

Brass and chrome-plated steel Cityscape Bar Cabinet by Paul Evans. Photo: ©howtospendit

His creations of metal sculpted furniture are truly outstanding. He studied at the Cranbrook Academy of Art and later settled in New Hope, Pennsylvania, where he shared a showroom with woodworker Phillip Lloyd Powell.

Paul Evans Mid-Century Furniture Design Talented Master Artisan - Cityscape Credenza paul evans Paul Evans: Mid-Century Furniture Design Talented Master Artisan Paul Evans Mid Century Furniture Design Talented Master Artisan Cityscape Credenza

“Cityscape Credenza” (1970s) in Burl and Chrome for Directional Furniture. Made of stainless steel and olive. Photo: ©1stdibs

Paul Evans was born Newtown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He studied at several notorious institutions including the Philadelphia Textile Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1950), the Rochester Institute of Technology, the School for American Craftsmen, the Rochester, New York (1950), and the Cranbrook Academy of Art, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan (1952).

Paul Evans Mid-Century Furniture Design Talented Master Artisan - Midcentury Dining Table Cityscape Design paul evans Paul Evans: Mid-Century Furniture Design Talented Master Artisan Paul Evans Mid Century Furniture Design Talented Master Artisan Midcentury Dining Table Cityscape Design

Midcentury Dining Table Cityscape Design for Directional Furniture. Photo: ©Incollect

Paul Evans Mid-Century Furniture Design Talented Master Artisan - Detail of complex walnut burl and brass plates paul evans Paul Evans: Mid-Century Furniture Design Talented Master Artisan Paul Evans Mid Century Furniture Design Talented Master Artisan Detail of complex walnut burl and brass plates

Detail of complex walnut burl and brass plates. Photo: ©modernarmada

In 1950s, Evans began to create copper chests and sculpt steel-front cabinets. His incredible designs were showcased in 1961 at America House, an exhibition held at the Museum of Contemporary Crafts in New York (now known as the Museum of Arts & Design). In 1964, Evans became a featured designer for the furniture manufacturer Directional Furniture.

Paul Evans Mid-Century Furniture Design Talented Master Artisan - Lacquered and Gilt Steel Cabinet paul evans Paul Evans: Mid-Century Furniture Design Talented Master Artisan Paul Evans Mid Century Furniture Design Talented Master Artisan Lacquered and Gilt Steel Cabinet

Lacquered and Gilt Steel Cabinet (1969) by Paul Evans. Photo: ©sothebys

Paul Evans Mid-Century Furniture Design Talented Master Artisan - Dining Table Model paul evans Paul Evans: Mid-Century Furniture Design Talented Master Artisan Paul Evans Mid Century Furniture Design Talented Master Artisan Dining Table Model

“Dining Table Model”. Welded and patinated steel dining table with clear glass top. Photo: ©michelcontessa

With Directional Furniture, Paul Evans introduced several collections of exclusive, unique and limited edition furniture lines, such as Argente series, Sculpted Bronze series, Sculptured and Painted Steel, Patchwork Copper, Pewter and Brass, and the popular Cityscape series.

Paul Evans Mid-Century Furniture Design Talented Master Artisan - Monumental Bronzed Coffee Table paul evans Paul Evans: Mid-Century Furniture Design Talented Master Artisan Paul Evans Mid Century Furniture Design Talented Master Artisan Monumental Bronzed Coffee Table

“Monumental Bronzed Coffee Table” (1974). Made of wood, bronze, resin and glass. Photo: ©vivamus

Evans pieces were frequently signed, and some of the custom-made items have a signature and a date. Paul Evans’ combination of handcraft and technology was visionary and anticipated the limited-edition contemporary artistic furniture. The artist’s relationship with Directional Furniture set a unique standard for creative manufacture by insisting every piece should be made by hand, finished by hand, supervised by the artist at each step of production, one piece at a time, reaching an unbeatable quality level.

Paul Evans Mid-Century Furniture Design Talented Master Artisan - CITYSCAPE Cabinet paul evans Paul Evans: Mid-Century Furniture Design Talented Master Artisan Paul Evans Mid Century Furniture Design Talented Master Artisan CITYSCAPE Cabinet

“Cityscape Cabinet”. Made of Metal. Photo: ©modernauctions

Stay with us to find out more about the leagcy of Paul Evans and the best of design and craftsmanship.

 

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