FUR-089 Paul Evans — Signed Cityscape Étagère / Shelving Unit, Brass & Chrome, Gray Glass Shelves, Directional, c.1970s

Paul Evans (American, 1931–1987)
Cityscape Étagère / Shelving Unit | Brass & Chrome | Gray Glass Shelves | Signed
For Directional Furniture | c.1970s
H 84.5 in. × W 48 in. × D 17 in.

A monumental signed Cityscape étagère by Paul Evans — one of the most sought-after and collectible names in American furniture design history. At 84.5 inches tall and 48 inches wide, this commanding shelving unit is among the largest and most dramatic Cityscape forms Evans produced, its tessellated brass and chrome panels producing the iconic Manhattan skyline-inspired surface that made the series a defining image of American Brutalist design. The gray smoked glass shelves — a hallmark of Evans's Cityscape étagère program — are suspended within the brass and chrome structure, creating a striking interplay between the reflective metal framework and the cool glass surfaces.

Paul Evans (1931–1987) is widely regarded as the most important figure in the American Studio Craft furniture movement. Trained at the Cranbrook Academy of Art — the famed crucible of American modernism — and based in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Evans came to national prominence through his association with Directional Furniture, for whom he designed from 1964 onward. The Cityscape series, introduced in the 1970s and inspired by the Manhattan skyline, is Evans's most celebrated and commercially successful body of work: sleek, elegant surfaces made of brass and chrome arranged in the irregular mosaic patterns that have become his visual signature. Every piece was hand-finished and personally supervised by Evans, and signed examples are particularly prized.

Evans's work has entered major museum collections and commands substantial prices at auction and through leading design galleries. Comparable Cityscape étagères and shelving units regularly sell for $8,000–$25,000+ through dealers; Evans Cityscape credenzas and case pieces at similar scale have sold for $16,000–$32,000 at auction. The signature on this piece — confirmed in the auction description — adds significant provenance value.

Details:

• Designer: Paul Evans (American, 1931–1987)
• Series: Cityscape
• Manufacturer: Directional Furniture, c.1970s
• Materials: Brass and chrome tessellated panels; gray smoked glass shelves
• Dimensions: H 84.5 in. × W 48 in. × D 17 in.
• Signed: Yes — "An Original Paul Evans"

Condition: Edge wear. Scuffs and scratches. Top right back corner has some lifting to the panel where taped. One glass shelf has small edge chips. Wear consistent with age and use. Please review all photos carefully.

A signed, monumental Paul Evans Cityscape étagère — one of the icons of American Brutalist design and among the most collectible furniture of the 20th century.