Master woodworker David N. Ebner is an integral contributor to the American Studio furniture movement. Along with like-minded artisans such as George Nakashima, Sam Maloof, Arthur Espenet Carpenter and Wharton Esherick, the New York native advocates for the craft of well-made furniture that is not mass-produced. As Ebner himself has stated, “[I am] creating the antiques of tomorrow.”
Ebner was born in 1945 in Buffalo and attended the School for American Craftsmen at the Rochester Institute of Technology. There, he studied under celebrated American furniture maker Wendell Castle who taught Ebner “the artistic approach” to woodworking. After graduating, Ebner sought to further his education at the London School of Furniture Making. Then, following a two-year stint in the US Armed Forces, he decided to pursue a career as a woodworker and furniture designer, opening a studio on Long Island, New York, in 1973.
As a devotee of Castle’s teachings of creating furniture as a form of functional art, Ebner eschewed the trend of making furniture out of plastics and other synthetic materials — which gained steam with the likes of venturesome Scandinavian modernist designer Verner Panton during the 1960s and 1970s — embracing instead the American Craftsman style that formed the basis of the American Studio furniture movement.
Working with a range of woods, Ebner has designed sculptural live-edge dining room tables, shapely bamboo stools and side tables characterized by swooping organic curves, and statement-making cabinets in lustrous sapele wood, each elegantly hand-carved. “... Each piece is treated as an art object with concern for my material and honesty to its inherent qualities,” Ebner has said. “For me, one’s creative ability is demonstrated in the diversity of the pieces and what one learns from change.”
Ebner has exhibited extensively throughout his career, including shows at the American Crafts Museum and Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum in New York, the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in Lincoln, Massachusetts, and the Guild Hall Museum in East Hampton. His works are in permanent collections at the Smithsonian Institute, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the Art Institute of Chicago.
Find vintage David N. Ebner chairs, tables, benches and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
David N. Ebner, American Studio Craft Artist, "Brookhaven Chair"
By David N. Ebner
Located in Bellport, NY
"The Brookhaven Chair" by American studio Craft artist, David N. Ebner, appears to dance, the legs are so graceful, yet very strong. Pigmented maplew...
Maple
$12,000 / item
David N. Ebner, Twisted Stick Ladder Back Chair
By David N. Ebner
Located in Bellport, NY
One of a kind tall twisted stick ladder back chair by renowned artist and craftsman David N. Ebner. Please see the newly published book "David Ebner: S...
Wood
David N. Ebner. Studio Craftsman, Sassafras Wood Book Chair
By David N. Ebner
Located in Bellport, NY
Master craftsman David N. Ebner's sassafras wood book chair with his exclusive graphite Finish. Please see the newly published book "David Ebner: Stu...
Wood
David N. Ebner, Studio Craft Artist, Slatted Bamboo Bench
By David N. Ebner
Located in Bellport, NY
A wonderful David N. Ebner bamboo bench. Shown in amber; the bamboo collection can be crafted in both natural or amber finish. Through the use of stripped down Classic forms, Davi...
Bamboo
American Studio Craft Artist David N. Ebner's Dining Chair
By David N. Ebner
Located in Bellport, NY
David N. Ebner's early dining chair in the style of Danish modern, walnut and curly maple dining room chair. Leather seat (your fabric of choice) crafted to order; one or more. No...
Oak
McGuire Organic Modern Cerused Rattan Ladder Back Chair
By McGuire
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Stylish rattan ladder back style chair made in the California coastal manner by McGuire San Francisco, CA. The chair features thick rattan poles lashed together with leather rawhide ...
Leather, Fabric, Rattan
Contemporary Modern 111 Chair in Wood & Fabric by Collector Studio
By Federico Peri
Located in Castelo da Maia, PT
Contemporary Modern 111 Chair in Wood & Fabric by Federico Perri for Collector Studio. 111 represents all the lines incesed in the surface of the solid ...
Oak, Walnut
$1,196 / item
H 32.29 in W 21.66 in D 19.69 in
Shell Dining Chair, Linen Schwarzwald Dedar, by Vintola Studio, Europe, Poland
Located in 05-080 Hornowek, PL
Springy, very comfortable and stabile dining seats. They are contemporary chairs inspired of 1960s style. They can be used as armchairs and dining chairs. Chair was designed by Vintola Studio, a Polish brand created by Ola Szewczul, designer of vintage interior architecture and photographer. Designed in 2023, produced from 2024 at the Vintola Studio Factory in Poland. Well crafted hand made product. The whole armchair is covered with high-quality wool. Very beautiful and comfortable item! All options of fabrics and wood colors are possible to prepare. Change of dimensions are also possible. Please ask for more informations. About the fabric used in this option: A linen fabric, whose pictorial personality is defined by the printed reproduction of a 17th century design, which transforms into a contemporary tapestry to revive one of the noblest forms of the textile tradition, thanks to a modern-day sensitivity. An ideal solution for curtains or seating of medium-intensive use. Dedar...
Bouclé, Velvet, Beech, Linen
$2,650 / set
H 41.75 in W 19 in D 17.75 in
Vintage French Dining Chairs Set 6 Oak Barley Twist Rush Seat Ladder Back
Located in Shreveport, LA
Vintage French Dining Chairs Set 6 Oak Barley Twist Rush Seat Ladder Back . Direct from France, a charming set of six vintage French chairs, with classic French Country charm and cl...
Rush, Oak
$2,950
H 29.25 in W 16 in D 17.5 in
George Nakashima Studio Straight Back Chair Mid Century American Craft
By George Nakashima
Located in Atlanta, GA
Vintage Original "Straight Back" Model Chair, made by George Nakashima Studio, American, circa 1961. The chair features a multi-plank seat. Signed with client name to underside ‘Gelf...
Hickory, Walnut
Ladder back chairs after Gio Ponti, a pair
By Gio Ponti
Located in Portland, OR
Exaggerated ladder back side chairs with woven leather seats. Frames are dark stained beech. Whimsical and functional as accent or dining chairs. Sturdy yet lightweight and practical...
Beech, Leather
Midcentury Craftsman Style Lounge Chair
By H.T. Cushman Manufacturing Company
Located in Las Vegas, NV
A perfect example of early mid century craftsmanship at it's finest. Constructed of solid maple wood with a beautifully angled back, large dowel joints and hand carved legs, no deta...
Maple
Antique Ladder Back Rush Seat Chairs set of Six
Located in Antwerp, BE
A beautiful set of 6 high back ladder chairs in solid oak and rush seats, 1950s made in South of France. All 6 chairs are in original good condition.
Oak
$2,895
H 33.25 in W 48 in D 19 in
Folding Slatted Wood Garden Bench or Seat from France - Early 20th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A fine French folding garden bench or seat featuring a comfortable frame of slatted wooden back and seat with trestle base, offering clean, elegan...
Wood
Studio D Italy Brutalist Chair in Solid Darkened Wood
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Studio D Italy, chair, pine 1970s This eye-catching brutalist chair captures the essence of raw design. Crafted by Studio D in Italy during the 1970s, it exemplifies the rugged aes...
Pine
Late 18th Century Welsh ‘Comb-Back’ Stick Back Chair
Located in London, GB
Late 18th Century Welsh ‘Comb-Back’ Stick Back Chair This is one for the purest of true folk-art furniture, In the form of a late 18th Century Welsh ‘comb-back’ stick back chair. U...
Wood
$3,933 / set
H 42.13 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
Lucite Dining Chairs by Charles Hollis Jones, 1970s American
By Belgo Chrome, Charles Hollis Jones
Located in Reading, Berkshire
A Set of Four Charles Hollis Jones lucite Dining Chairs By The Esteemed American Modernist Designer Named "The Godfather Of l...
Stainless Steel