Paul Evans

Acquired by the present owner from the American Crafts Council Gallery, circa 1971

Jeffrey Head, Paul Evans: Designer & Sculptor, Atglen, 2012, pp. 40-41
Constance Kimmerle, ed., Paul Evans: Crossing Boundaries and Crafting Modernism, Doylestown, 2014, pp. 162-163, no. 38 (for a related model)

Overall in very good condition. As referenced in the catalogue description, the cabinet has been in the same original family since 1971 and is in excellent condition. When viewed in person, this cabinet displays extraordinary, nuanced coloration and deeply sculptural details throughout the front surfaces of the doors. The palette of the sculptural elements range from red to cool greys with vivid yellows and gold. A highly artistic and dynamic example of Paul Evans sculpture front showing a superb range of decorative elements. The base is original. The slate top is original with a few occasional surface scratches and a few very minor abrasions consistent with age and gentle use. The perimeter edges with some small to minute chips and flecks, all very minor and some possibly inherent to the production process. The sideboard has been recently cleaned and two decorative elements to the front stabilized. The interior is lacquered in red and fitted with a yellow-felt covered shelf. This is a masterwork by Paul Evans and displays the highest level of quality and execution rarely seen on the auction market. This work epitomizes the scale, color and intricate decorative elements that the artist sought to achieve in his designs and shows the best features of his creative vision and craftsmanship.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The "Sculpture-Front" series is the most well-known and arguably most celebrated body of work by Paul Evans.  For this design, Evans drew from a number of internal and external artistic influences, calling on his background as a silversmith to create the small, refined forms that occupy the various compartments of the cabinet's doors, and looking to the works of his contemporaries such as Louise Nevelson, David Smith, Harry Bertoia, and his collaborator Phillip Powell for compositional and aesthetic inspiration.  Each of the approximately 75 Sculpture-Front examples that were produced by Evans' studio was made through a process of experimentation, imbuing each unique work with a dynamic, nuanced, and hand-made quality which, to Evans, was one of the most important elements of good design.

The first in the Sculpture-Front series was a screen that debuted in 1961 at America House in Manhattan, which was an important venue for craftsmen of the time to show and sell their work.  The sculpted steel technique that Evans presented was received with great enthusiasm, translating into many special commissions for the design, from smaller-scaled pieces to large format pieces, like the present cabinet.  In 1971, America House closed and their location on West 53rd Street was reopened as the American Crafts Council Gallery, which is where the present cabinet was purchased by the current owner.