Paul Evans Faceted Modern Furniture

Designed by Paul Evans Studio for Directional USA, 1970
Faceted Cabinet, Model PE-354, Design by Paul Evans
Chrome-Plated Steel and Enameled Fiberglass
This item is vintage and no longer in production.

Designed by Paul Evans Studio for Directional USA, 1970
Faceted Cabinet, Model PE-354, Design by Paul Evans
Chrome-Plated Steel and Enameled Fiberglass
This item is vintage and no longer in production.


Designed by Paul Evans Studio for Directional USA, 1970
Faceted Cabinet, Model PE-354, Design by Paul Evans
Chrome-Plated Steel and Enameled Fiberglass
This item is vintage and no longer in production.

Paul Evans (1931-1987) studied sculpture and silversmithing at several institutions, including the Cranbrook Academy of Art. In 1951, while working as an artist in residence as a silversmith at the working history museum Sturbridge Village near Springfield, Massachusetts, Evans frequented artisan Phillip Lloyd Powell’s shop in New Hope, PA and asked Powell if he could put a few of his own pieces on display. In 1956 Evans moved permanently to New Hope and his acquaintance with Powell turned into a business and creative partnership.

In the late 1950s Paul Evans began making copper chests with decorative doors, followed by sculpted steel-front cabinets that revealed Evans' unique way with welding. Evans and Powell had big break when they had a two-man show in 1961 at America House, an exhibition held at the Museum of Contemporary Crafts in New York, now named the Museum of Arts & Design. In 1964 Evans became the designer for furniture manufacturer Directional. With Directional, Paul Evans introduced his highly collectible editions such as the Argente series, Sculpted Bronze series, and the very popular Cityscape series.

Most Evans pieces were signed, and all of the custom items have a signature and a date. Paul Evans took a unique approach to furniture making, a combination of handcraft wedded to technology that anticipated the limited edition art furniture of today, such as the work of Ron Arad. More particularly, the artist’s relationship with Directional set a unique standard for creative manufacture by insisting every piece is made by hand, finished by hand, supervised by the artist at each step of production, one piece at a time.

The furniture by Paul Evans is no longer in production but can be found from specialized dealers like Todd Merrill Antiques, Wright or through various other auction channels.