Paul Evans Armchairs
American, 1931-1987
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.
to
1
3
3
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
1
1
1
1
1
3
1
2
1
2
2
2
2
2
1
3
3
3
3
3
166
428
239
231
228
Creator: Paul Evans
Early Paul Evans Sculpted Bronze Throne Chair, Signed and Dated, 1969
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in Culver City, CA
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...
Category
1960s American Brutalist Vintage Paul Evans Armchairs
Materials
Bronze
Eight Paul Evans Studio Chrome Dining Armchairs 1973
By Paul Evans
Located in Camden, ME
Paul Evans Studio armchairs designed for a commission for the home of personal friends.
The upholstery is original as pictured in the last vintage photo.
...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Evans Armchairs
Materials
Chrome
$15,000 Sale Price / set
53% Off
Paul Evans for Directional Modern Parsons Upholstered Armchairs, Pair
By Paul Evans, Directional
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous pair of Modern or Postmodern Parsons blue upholstered armchairs or dining captain chairs
By Paul Evans for Directional
USA, Circa 1970s
Measures: 22.25"W x 27.25"D x 40...
Category
1970s American Modern Vintage Paul Evans Armchairs
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
Related Items
Paul Evans for Directional Set of Eight Dining Chairs
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in Kansas City, MO
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...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Evans Armchairs
Materials
Upholstery, Mahogany
$12,600 Sale Price / set
30% Off
H 37 in W 20.5 in D 37 in
Paul Evans Set of Twelve Brutalist Sculpted Bronze Dining Chairs, USA 1970
By Paul Evans
Located in Miami, FL
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 ...
Category
1970s American Brutalist Vintage Paul Evans Armchairs
Materials
Metal, Bronze
$178,000 / set
H 31.5 in W 21 in D 22 in
Paul McCobb 312 Armchair for Directional
By Paul McCobb, Directional
Located in San Diego, CA
Perfect slipper chair by Paul McCobb 312 Armchair for Directional in Maharam Mode: Saltwater. We have reupholstered in fresh, new fabric and foam. Great chair with clean understated...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Evans Armchairs
Materials
Upholstery
Set of Four Paul Evans Collection 77 Cantilevered Chrome Dining Chairs, USA 1977
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in Miami, FL
Stunning set of 4 cantilevered Collection 77 dining chairs rendered in chrome plated steel cantilevered base with a high end black and white fleck weathered woven wool tweed button t...
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Evans Armchairs
Materials
Chrome, Steel
$3,540 / set
H 34.5 in W 20 in D 24 in
Set of 6 Modern Parson Dining Chairs for Directional, puffy off-white
By Directional
Located in Chicago, IL
Set of 6 Modern Parson Dining Chairs made by Directional.
Off-white in color
Fully upholstered
4 arm-less chairs and 2 with arms.
Armchairs: 22"w x 23"d x 37"h
Regular chairs: 20"w x 23"d x 37"h
Vladimir Kagan designed a number of pieces for the furniture company Directional, although we couldn't find more information if he designed these or not.
These could very well be a set of one-off chairs.
Manufacturer labels attached to the bottom "Directional Custom...
Category
1970s Minimalist Vintage Paul Evans Armchairs
Materials
Upholstery
$2,600 / set
H 37 in W 20 in D 23 in
Paul McCobb for Directional #1322 Upholstered Black Rim Lounge Chair
By Directional, Paul McCobb
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Paul McCobb for Directional Furniture 1322 lounge chair, loose seat cushion. Circa 1950s. Featuring a Black ebonized Walnut frame, tapered legs and comfortable curved and cushioned b...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Evans Armchairs
Materials
Fabric, Walnut
Eight Adrian Pearsall Brutalist Dining Chairs
By Paul Evans, Adrian Pearsall, Craft Associates
Located in Chattanooga, TN
This set of eight dining chairs by Adrian Pearsall for Craft Associates reflects the designer’s bold exploration of form in the 1970s. With tall angular backs and sculpted walnut fra...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Evans Armchairs
Materials
Faux Fur, Resin, Epoxy Resin
Paul McCobb 312 Armchair for Directional
By Directional, Paul McCobb
Located in San Diego, CA
Perfect slipper chair by Paul McCobb 312 Armchair for Directional in Maharam Mode: Saltwater. Reupholster in new fabric and foam. Great chair with clean understated lines.
These c...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Evans Armchairs
Materials
Upholstery
Mid-Century Modern Sculptural Lounge Chair by Vladimir Kagan for Directional
By Vladimir Kagan, Directional
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A stunning dramatic form lounge chair designed by Vladimir Kagan and produced by Directional in the 1980's. Its retains the original upholstery which needs to be recovered. Padding a...
Category
1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Evans Armchairs
Materials
Fabric
$3,900
H 39 in W 38 in D 33 in
Modern Upholstered Dining Armchair
Located in Westwood, NJ
Modern upholstered dining armchair with solid beech and a dark Macadamia finish. With a scoop barrel back and tightly upholstered seat cus...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Modern Paul Evans Armchairs
Materials
Wood
Rare set of Eight 1950s MCM Edward Wormley for Dunbar Dining Armchairs
By Dunbar Furniture, Edward Wormley
Located in St. Louis, MO
Rare set of 8 dining room or conference armchairs by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, model number 842, in mahogany with original red velvet seats. All original, minor touch up prior to s...
Category
1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Evans Armchairs
Materials
Upholstery, Mahogany
$8,500 / set
H 32.5 in W 23.5 in D 25 in
American Mid-Century Modern Armchair, Paul McCobb
By Paul McCobb, Directional
Located in Minneapolis, MN
Fabulous vintage armchair designed by Paul McCobb. Walnut legs and details. Re upholstery recommended. Please inquire about upholstery options....
Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Paul Evans Armchairs
Materials
Walnut
Previously Available Items
Pair of Sculpted Armchairs by Paul Evans in Bronze
By Paul Evans
Located in San Diego, CA
Discover the epitome of Mid-Century Brutalist design with this exceptional pair of sculpted armchairs crafted by the renowned Paul Evans circa 1969. These striking armchairs stand a...
Category
20th Century American Brutalist Paul Evans Armchairs
Materials
Bronze
Paul Evans Chrome and Suede Cityscape Lounge Chairs for Directional, 1970
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in Chicago, IL
A rare pair of Paul Evans Cityscape Patchwork Lounge Chairs, 1970. Upholstery is blue suede all original. Patchwork is constructed of steel plate frames with contrast of polished chr...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Evans Armchairs
Materials
Steel, Chrome
Paul Evans Set of Four Dining Chairs ‘PE-105/106’ in Sculpted Bronze and Fabric
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Paul Evans for Directional, dining chairs from the series PE-105/106, sculpted bronze, steel, fabric, United States, circa 1965
Stunning example of Paul Evans designs for Direct...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Evans Armchairs
Materials
Bronze, Steel
H 31.89 in W 22.05 in D 23.23 in
Paul Evans for Directional Club Chairs in Velvet, Pair
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous pair of Mid-Century Modern club chairs or dining armchairs
By Paul Evans for Directional
USA, 1960s
Tufted gray velvet upholstery, with walnut legs and stretchers...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Evans Armchairs
Materials
Velvet, Walnut
Set of Four Brutalist Sculpted Bronze Armchairs by Paul Evans
By Paul Evans
Located in Miami, FL
Set of four Brutalist sculpted bronze armchairs by Paul Evans
Exceptional abstract form texture and powerful shapes
Retains original fabric
Mod...
Category
Mid-20th Century North American Mid-Century Modern Paul Evans Armchairs
Materials
Resin
Rare Sculpted Bronze Armchair by Paul Evans for Directional
By Paul Evans
Located in Montreal, QC
Rare sculpted bronze armchair, by Paul Evans upholstered with pale blue velvet fabric, USA.
Category
1970s American Vintage Paul Evans Armchairs
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Midcentury Brutalist Sculpted Bronze Patinated Paul Evans PE105 Chairs
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in Hudson, NY
Pair of highly collectable Paul Evans sculpted bronze armchairs. Epoxy with applied bronze over steel frame with upholstery.
All original chairs.
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Evans Armchairs
Materials
Bronze, Steel
H 32.5 in W 27.5 in L 32.5 in
Rare Pair of Reupholstered Armchairs in Burgundy Mohair by Paul Evans
By Paul Evans
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Paul Evans, pair of armchairs, steel and upholstery, United States, 1960s
A rare pair of highly sculptural armchairs by Paul Evans. The base consists of a torch-cut, welded, poly...
Category
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Evans Armchairs
Materials
Steel
H 25.99 in W 25.6 in D 20.08 in
Paul Evans Studio, Argente Swivel Armchair, New Hope 1970s
By Paul Evans
Located in Wargrave, Berkshire
A rare Paul Evans steel armchair in Argente finish. Swivel base with wool upholstered interior.
Fine vintage condition.
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Evans Armchairs
Pair of Chrome Cityscape Armchairs by Paul Evans
By Paul Evans
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Pair of cityscape armchairs by Paul Evans in green leather and chrome base with rollers.
Category
1970s American Vintage Paul Evans Armchairs
Materials
Chrome
Pair of Armchairs in Tesselated Brass and Chrome by Paul Evans
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in New York, NY
Pair of upholstered arm chairs with frames in tessellated brass and chrome by Paul Evans for Directional Furniture, Cityscape Collection, American 19...
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Evans Armchairs
Materials
Brass, Chrome
Pair of Chrome Cityscape Armchairs by Paul Evans for Directional
By Directional, Paul Evans
Located in Peabody, MA
Pair of Cityscape armchairs (model PE-241) with chrome patchwork bases by Paul Evans for Directional, ca. 1970s.
Category
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Paul Evans Armchairs
Materials
Chrome
Paul Evans armchairs for sale on 1stDibs.
Paul Evans armchairs are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Paul Evans armchairs, although gold editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original armchairs by Paul Evans were created in the mid-century modern style in united states during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider armchairs by George Nakashima, Brown Jordan, and Henredon. Prices for Paul Evans armchairs can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $6,000 and can go as high as $48,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $18,000.