For the 23 years Dorsey Reading worked with the great artist-designer Paul Evans and in the 11 years since Evans’ death, he has collected with an insider’s perspective: the visionary pieces, the one-offs, the classics.

Over 40 of the best of these works will be auctioned on April 12th in Sculpted by Paul Evans: the Dorsey Reading Collection. Among the highlights: a sculpture-front vertical cabinet with 23k gold edging, approx 80” high and 36” wide; a Pinwheel Argente sculpture (First in the “Field” series); a Wavy-front cabinet (the first ever made); a Sculpture front horizontal cabinet with four doors, approx 72” wide; a Loop screen, 60” h x 48” wide; and small objects produced from 1955-1958 with fellow craftsman and artist Phillip Lloyd Powell. Reading will also be selling three masterworks by Powell: a 6 ft. walnut cabinet with carved bi-fold doors; a one-of-a-kind fireplace wall; and a set of six custom-made dining chairs.

“This is a spectacular encapsulation of Evans work,” says John Sollo, who directs the sale. “To have modern design of this quality with incomparable provenance explode onto the market is exceedingly rare. Can you imagine the contents of the Wharton Esherick Museum or the Nakashima’s private home and studio up for sale? It’s impossible, yet this is easily the equivalent. There will never be a more important collection of Evans at auction.”

www.ragoarts.com

Posted: 03|31|08 at 6:54 pm. Filed under: US News.