Phillip Lloyd Powell Coffee Table in Walnut

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 places a long tabletop that follows the characteristics of the natural material. Free edges allow a free form and an uneven top that shows the marks of the wood. Also visible in the top are the round ends of the legs and a dovetail key joint. Overall, Powell used an expressive piece of wood, and in turn, he implemented its strong appearance in creating this unique coffee table. Wood joints to connect the legs and a butterfly joint on top create a stunning composition of the natural impact of the wood and the artist’s hand.

Phillip Lloyd Powell (1919-2008) is one of the essential members of the American Studio Craft Movement. Born in Germantown, Pennsylvania, in 1919, he discovered his love for furniture design at a young age. He already began crafting his own furniture and custom furniture for family and friends in his adolescent years. He studied engineering at Drexel university but was drafted to serve in the Army Air Corps during the Second World War. After his return from the army, he settled in New Hope, Pennsylvania, a place that was crowded with craftspeople such as Paul Evans. It was during this period that he met Evans and throughout the 1950s and 1960s the two men shared a studio. Therefore, they often collaborated, creating some of the most important furniture of the Midcentury Studio Furniture Movement. Together, they shared a love for materials and a passion for handcrafted pieces. Therefore, all his pieces are handmade from high quality, grained woods that often recall their natural shape and form. Another natural material that he often used was slate, the deep grey material was often used for table or credenza tops. Over the span of slightly more than half a century, Powell's production yielded just around 1000 pieces. The designer stands in stark contrast to the prolific output of contemporaries such as the renowned furniture designer George Nakashima, who is estimated to have created well over 10,000 objects. It was in fact Nakashima who urged Powell to begin designing for himself in the first place. Today, Powell’s well-known carved wooden cabinets, consoles, chairs and dining tables are one of the most sought-after pieces from that era.

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