Paul Evans 1931–1987
Born in Trenton, New Jersey in 1931, Paul Evans exhibited talent for design at an early age. He studied woodworking in high school and briefly attended the Philadelphia Textile Institute. Evans was awarded the Aileen O. Webb Scholarship in 1950 and studied at the prestigious Rochester Institute of Technology’s School for American Craftsmen. He would continue his studies at Cranbrook in 1952 with a focus on metalwork. In 1953 he took a position as the metal craftsman at the living museum, Old Sturbridge Village. Feeling that his creativity was being stifled, Evans left the museum in 1955 to find a more stimulating environment. He opened a showroom with fellow designer Phillip Lloyd Powell and the two began a decade long collaboration. Evans’ experiments with welded and enameled sculpture in the early 1960s caught the eye of the Directional furniture company. Directional was looking for handmade furniture with distinctive character and Evans’ new American craft designs were a perfect fit. In 1971, Evans developed the brass and chrome Cityscape line for Directional marking a departure from his earlier sculptural works. In the 1980s, working with his son Keith, an electrical engineer, he continued to experiment with new materials and design increasing minimal forms with kinetic elements. Together, they formed Zoom, Inc. in 1983 and began a relationship with the Design Institute of America. In 1987, just one day after his retirement, Evans suffered his third heart attack and died.
Auction Results Paul Evans
Paul Evans
Exceptional Argente cabinet, model PE42A
estimate: $50,000–70,000
result: $293,000
Paul Evans
Important Sculpture Front cabinet
estimate: $150,000–200,000
result: $233,000
Paul Evans
wall-mounted cabinet
estimate: $50,000–70,000
result: $128,500
Paul Evans
Important Wall-mounted Sculpted Front Cabinet
estimate: $100,000–150,000
result: $121,250
Paul Evans
pair of important Welded Front cabinets
estimate: $100,000–150,000
result: $118,750
Paul Evans
Faceted cabinet
estimate: $30,000–40,000
result: $96,000
Paul Evans
wall-mounted cabinet
estimate: $60,000–80,000
result: $96,000
Paul Evans
sideboard, model PE-42
estimate: $30,000–40,000
result: $72,000
Paul Evans
cabinet, model PE-42
estimate: $60,000–80,000
result: $72,000
Paul Evans
Faceted cabinet
estimate: $30,000–40,000
result: $69,700
Paul Evans
custom bar cabinet
estimate: $50,000–70,000
result: $68,500
Paul Evans
Special-order cabinets, pair
estimate: $50,000–70,000
result: $62,500
Paul Evans
Faceted cabinet
estimate: $20,000–25,000
result: $60,000
Paul Evans
wall-mounted faceted cabinet
estimate: $20,000–30,000
result: $52,500
Paul Evans
Argente cabinet
estimate: $30,000–50,000
result: $50,000
Paul Evans
executive desk
estimate: $40,000–50,000
result: $48,000
Paul Evans
dining table, PE-21
estimate: $20,000–30,000
result: $45,600
Paul Evans
Faceted cabinet, model PE-354
estimate: $20,000–30,000
result: $44,375
Paul Evans
Argente cabinet
estimate: $30,000–40,000
result: $43,750
Paul Evans
Faceted cabinet
estimate: $20,000–30,000
result: $43,750
Paul Evans
wall-mounted faceted cabinet
estimate: $30,000–40,000
result: $42,500
Paul Evans
cabinet
estimate: $40,000–50,000
result: $42,000
Paul Evans
wall-mounted cabinet, model PE-19
estimate: $20,000–30,000
result: $38,400
Paul Evans
chairs model PE 141, pair
estimate: $7,000–9,000
result: $37,500