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.
Studio Walnut Desk by Phillip Lloyd Powell
By Phillip Lloyd Powell
Located in Atlanta, GA
Stunning desk with drawers and compartment in walnut by Phillip Lloyd Powell (1919-2008). The freeform surface is made of thick walnut plank with a patched joined design with two ros...
Walnut
Price Upon Request
Phillip Lloyd Powell, Unique Carved Desk, USA
By Phillip Lloyd Powell
Located in New York, NY
This organic executive desk, a custom commission for a private collector, is one of the best examples of Powell’s affinity for natural wood and his mastery in creating unique works t...
Iron
$5,895 / set
H 27 in W 52 in D 20 in
Frank Lloyd Wright Taliesen Writing Desk and Chair for Henredon, Ca. 1950s
By Frank Lloyd Wright, Henredon
Located in Peabody, MA
A mahogany writing desk and chair designed by Frank Lloyd Wright as part of his collaboration with Heritage Henredon in the 1950s. These are from a series of pieces the firm produced...
Upholstery, Mahogany
Milo Baughman, Rare Desk, Walnut, Brass, USA, 1950s
By Glenn of California, Milo Baughman
Located in High Point, NC
A rare walnut and brass desk designed by Milo Baughman and produced by Glenn of California, USA, 1950s.
Brass
Jens Risom Mid Century Walnut Executive Desk
By Jens Risom
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Jens Risom Mid Century walnut executive desk This desk measures: 62 wide x 28 deep x 28.5 high, with a chair clearance ...
Metal
Wall-Mounted Cabinet by Phillip Lloyd Powell
By Phillip Lloyd Powell
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A rare and unusual wall-mounted cabinet by Phillip Lloyd Powell in walnut. Drawers on one side with piano hinge bi-fold doors on the other side, with adjustable shelves inside. Great...
$5,400
H 34.5 in W 55.75 in D 31.5 in
Mid-Century Modern "Biscayne" Floating Top Walnut Desk by Drexel
By Milo Baughman, Drexel
Located in North Hollywood, CA
This exceptional floating top walnut desk by Drexel represents the pinnacle of 1960s American modernist design. Part of the distinguished Biscayne collection, this piece draws clear ...
Brass
Gustavian Style Unique 5 Drawer Desk
Located in Hollywood, FL
This is a Gustavian Style Unique 5 Drawer Desk. its been restored and repainted with Milk Paints "Oyster White"
Wood
19th Century Walnut Partners Desk
Located in Savannah, GA
This is a walnut and Kashmir walnut partners desk made in England, circa 1890. The top of the desk is Walnut with 3 shaped pieces of beautiful brown lea...
Walnut
$6,000Sale Price|29% Off
H 28.5 in W 52 in D 20 in
Frank Lloyd Wright for Heritage Henredon Taliesin Mahogany Desk 1955/56
By Frank Lloyd Wright, Heritage-Henredon
Located in Camden, ME
A classic nine drawer mahogany desk designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for his Taliesin line for Heritage Henredon furniture. Beautifully detailed with a continuous incised carved greek ...
Mahogany
$18,500
H 92 in W 25 in D 26 in
Paul Evans and Phillip Lloyd Powell Gold Leaf and Walnut Studio Cabinet, 1963
By Phillip Lloyd Powell, Paul Evans
Located in Dallas, TX
This early studio craft 23 Karat gold leafed cabinet was made as a collaboration between Paul Evans and Phillip Lloyd Powell in the mid 1960s. The upper storage compartment unlatches to reveal two adjustable felt-lined shelves. The center compartment conceals a vanity complete with three mirrors embellished with torch-cut brazed discs flanked by two vertical rows of lightbulbs. Behind the mirror is a secret hidden storage compartment. Below this feature is a drop-front laminated tray and an open storage compartment. The bottom of the cabinet boasts a bank of five hand-carved solid walnut drawers and the left side has a cut-out with a hidden outlet and a slate surface which would provide a convenient smartphone charging station...
Slate, Brass, Gold Leaf
Studio Craft East Indian Satinwood Desk by Gregg Lipton
By Gregg Lipton
Located in Hanover, MA
Spectacular tour de force art deco style desk custom made by Cumberland, Maine studio furniture maker, Gregg Lipton. Inspired by Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann’s Soussa desk. Executed with...
Satinwood
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...
Walnut
Six Dots Design Unique desk
Located in London, GB
Joseph Ellwood is a British artist and designer working under the studio name: Six Dots Design. Joseph has been named one of 10 'Future Icons' in design by Wallpaper* magazine, colla...
Aluminum