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Phillip Lloyd Powell

American, 1918-2008

An American woodworker known for a wide range of furniture that is sensuous, sculptural and imbued with character, Phillip Lloyd Powell is an iconic figure in design. His organic style transcended the conventions of popular mid-century modern furniture and is best reflected in the vintage cabinets and tables for which he is renowned.

“I am an artist working with furniture,” Powell once said. But the self-taught furniture maker wore a number of different hats throughout his lifetime. He crafted handmade furniture as a teenager at his boyhood home and went on to study engineering at what is now Drexel University. Powell served in the Army Air Corps during World War II, and, on his return, he established his first showroom in New Hope, in his home state of Pennsylvania, stocking furniture from Knoll, Herman Miller and Isamu Noguchi.

In New Hope, Powell encountered fellow furniture designers Paul Evans and George Nakashima. The latter, a master woodworker who preferred a personal approach to design over industrial methods and materials, encouraged Powell to concentrate on making his own furniture. When Powell did so, he’d experiment with Nakashima’s unused stock of wood, drawing on natural world forms for seating and shapely coffee tables.

Evans, who moved to New Hope in 1955, was invited to share Powell’s studio space. Powell’s furniture design practice really took off and a collaboration with Evans put into motion the 1960s American Studio Craft Movement, which came to include furniture designers Wharton Esherick and Sam Maloof. The decade-long partnership between Evans and Powell yielded stone-topped tables, walnut chests with sculptured metal exteriors and more.

Powell was inspired by Evans’s artistry as a jewelry designer — he was a skilled welder whose Cityscape pieces are milestones of brutalism. Powell, in turn, encouraged him to turn his sculptures into furniture. Like Evans, Powell incorporated a range of materials into his work, rendering the interiors of his hand-carved cabinets alluring and distinctive with applications of silver leaf and fabrics.

The sinewy arms of Powell’s famous New Hope lounge chair are representative of his broad expertise with wood and his ability to make graceful yet functional furniture. He worked slowly, and the influence of the natural world remained a driving force in his designs. Powell produced approximately 1,000 pieces while he lived and worked in New Hope until his death in 2008.

Find vintage Phillip Lloyd Powell furniture on 1stDibs.

Phillip Lloyd Powell Large Cabinet in Walnut and Gold Leaf
By Phillip Lloyd Powell
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Phillip Lloyd Powell, large cabinet, walnut, gold leaf, painted wood, United States, circa 1965 Crafted by the skilled hands of Phillip Lloyd Powell, this highboard stands as a test...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Phillip Lloyd Powell

Materials

Gold Leaf

Phillip Lloyd Powell Coffee Table in Walnut
By Phillip Lloyd Powell
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Phillip Lloyd Powell, coffee table, walnut, United States, 1960s Stunning coffee table with free edges by US designer Phillip Lloyd Powell. On four circular tapered legs Powell plac...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Phillip Lloyd Powell

Materials

Walnut

Phillip Lloyd Powell Coffee Table in Walnut
Phillip Lloyd Powell Coffee Table in Walnut
H 13.59 in W 72.84 in D 14.97 in
Paul Evans & Phillip Lloyd Powell Dining / Center Hall Table
By Phillip Lloyd Powell
Located in Lake Worth Beach, FL
Artist/Designer; Manufacturer: Phillip Lloyd Powell (American, 1919-2008), Paul Evans (American, 1931-1987); Paul Evans Studio (USA) Marking(s); notes: no marking(s) apparent Materia...
Category

19th Century American Mid-Century Modern Antique Phillip Lloyd Powell

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Gorgeous Wall HangingDisplay Shelf by Phillip Lloyd Powell
By Phillip Lloyd Powell
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
Amazing wall mounted shelf hand crafted in black walnut by Phillip Powell. Signature dovetailed edges and choice walnut stand in contrast with the grass cloth backing. Sculptural she...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Phillip Lloyd Powell

Materials

Walnut

Phillip Lloyd Powell American Craft Custom Double Pedestal Desk
By Phillip Lloyd Powell
Located in Chicago, IL
Phillip Lloyd Powell American Craft Custom Double Pedestal Desk, This remarkable American Craft Double Pedestal Desk by Powell Studio was custom-made in 1995. The desk boasts a total...
Category

1990s American Phillip Lloyd Powell

Materials

Slate, Metal

Phillip Lloyd Powell Rare High Back Lounge Chair Early-1960s
By Phillip Lloyd Powell
Located in New York, NY
Rare high back lounge chair with frame in sculpted walnut with black leather seat and back cushions by Phillip Lloyd Powell, American early-1960’s. The craftsmanship and attention t...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Phillip Lloyd Powell

Materials

Leather, Walnut

Phillip Lloyd Powell Rare and Iconic Chair and Ottoman Early-1960s
By Phillip Lloyd Powell
Located in New York, NY
Iconic and rare chair and ottoman in sculpted walnut with black leather seat and inset leather backrest by Phillip Lloyd Powell, American early-1960s. The craftsmanship of this chai...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Phillip Lloyd Powell

Materials

Leather, Walnut

Phillip Lloyd Powell Mirror
By Phillip Lloyd Powell
Located in Lake Worth Beach, FL
Artist/Designer: Phillip Lloyd Powell (American, 1919-2008) Additional Information: Provenance: Acquired directly from artist’s studio Ruth W. Nimton, Boca Raton, Florida. Marking...
Category

20th Century American Phillip Lloyd Powell

Materials

Mirror, Walnut

Phillip Lloyd Powell Mirror
Phillip Lloyd Powell Mirror
H 20 in W 48 in D 2.5 in
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Phillip Lloyd Powell furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Phillip Lloyd Powell furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Phillip Lloyd Powell furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by Phillip Lloyd Powell were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by John Vesey, Wendell Castle, and M. Singer & Sons. Prices for Phillip Lloyd Powell furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $713 and can go as high as $95,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $12,500.

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