While many great American furniture brands have come and gone, Bernhardt continues to thrive in its space. Spanning more than 130 years and four generations of family leadership, the company maintains an enduring presence in the modern era. Along with Bernhardt Textiles, a workplace-focused division of the company called Bernhardt Design opened in 1981.
Bernhardt Furniture is a global manufacturer of furniture and home accessories and has garnered widespread acclaim for its signature high-quality craftsmanship. Today Bernhardt lounge chairs, coffee tables and dressers are reliable mainstays in living rooms, bedrooms, offices, school campuses and hospitality properties all over the world.
The company was founded in 1889 by John Bernhardt, a veteran of the sawmill trade who intended to produce durable furniture made of wood from the white oak trees that grew in his native North Carolina.
Bernhardt quickly earned a reputation for his exceptionally strong, sturdy, striking pieces and eventually gained competitors in the likes of Broyhill and Kent-Coffey, two Lenoir companies that were established in the early 1900s. Bernhardt created fruitful relationships for distributing his furniture all over the country, and as the business gained steam, the company was able to survive the trials and tribulations of World War I and the Great Depression.
While World War II yielded labor and material shortages, demand for furniture took shape in the postwar years as new homeowners looked to furnish their spaces. Expansion followed for Bernhardt, and in 1958, the company added upholstered furniture to its growing catalog. As often as you can find boxy club chairs in Bernhardt’s inventory that are inspired by iconic designs by Le Corbusier or Milo Baughman, the brand has introduced reproductions of furnishings in period styles such as Chippendale, Hollywood Regency and chinoiserie.
Bernhardt continued to expand over time and, in 1981, added the Bernhardt Design division, which focuses on furnishing offices and public spaces. Bernhardt Design sponsors a course at the ArtCenter College of Design for budding designers and has partnered with the likes of Brad Ascalon, Mark Goetz and others.
Bernhardt Furniture entered the new millennium by announcing a licensed furniture partnership with Martha Stewart in 2001. Bernhardt and Stewart have since collaborated on several additional collections. In 2008 and 2009, the company launched two more divisions: Bernhardt Interiors for customizable and high-design furniture and Bernhardt Hospitality to cater to the needs of the hospitality market.
Bernhardt has garnered many prestigious awards over its long history, including multiple Pinnacle Design Achievement Awards from the American Society of Furniture Designers. The company is also a leader in sustainable manufacturing and works with the Sustainable Forestry Initiative and the Forest Stewardship Council.
In 2019, Bernhardt introduced the Bernhardt Exteriors division for high-quality and innovative outdoor furniture. Today, the company operates eight manufacturing facilities and continues to be a leader and trendsetter in the growing worldwide oak furniture market.
On 1stDibs, find Bernhardt Design furniture on 1stDibs.
2014 Egalite Bench designed by Suzanne Trocmé for Bernhardt Design 4x Available
By Bernhardt Design
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a single (the price listed is for each bench, though multiple benches are available) Egalite bench, designed by Suzanne Trocmé for Bernhardt Design. Its frame is composed of ...
Leather, Wood
2000s Balance Bench by Jeffrey Bernett for Bernhardt Design in White Leather 63"
By Bernhardt Design, Jeffrey Bernett
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Balance bench, originally designed by Jeffrey Bernett for Bernhardt Design. This particular example was produced in the 2000s. The bench features a streamlined stainless st...
Steel
Modernist Jeffrey Bernett for Bernhardt Design Balance Three-Seat Bench
By Jeffrey Bernett, Bernhardt Design
Located in Secaucus, NJ
This elegant Balance bench designed by Jeffrey Bernett for Bernhardt Design, features a clean, tight look and is soft and very comfortable. Balance is a fully upholstered bench that ...
Steel, Chrome
Exceptional Carved And Painted Three Seat Bench
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Colorful, stylish and very well made three seat Painted Bench. On six turned legs with stretcher supports providing support to the upper frame with well carved seat back with arched...
Rush, Wood
$3,850Sale Price / set|30% Off
H 28.5 in W 34 in D 30 in
Jeffrey Bernett for Bernhardt Remy Leather Upholstered Swivel Lounge Chair, Pair
By Bernhardt, Jeffrey Bernett
Located in Germantown, MD
A pair of Jeffrey Bernett Design for Bernhardt furniture Remy light blue Leather Upholstered with Polished Aluminum Swivel X base. Measures 34" in width, 30" in depth and stands 28....
Chrome
$495Sale Price|67% Off
H 34 in W 55 in D 24 in
Heywood-Wakefield Three-Seat Folding Bench, United States, Midcentury
Located in New York, NY
Midcentury American Heywood-Wakefield three-seat folding bench. Bronze number discs are original.
Wood
"Metropolitan" Armchair by Jeffrey Bernett for B&B Italia
By B&B Italia, Jeffrey Bernett
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Armchair designed by Jeffrey Bernet and manufactured in Italy by B&B italy. The chair was produced in 2002 and we just had it reupholstered in a beautiful cream leather. The seat...
Aluminum
$6,500 / item
H 17.5 in W 72 in D 24 in
6-foot Bench in White Ash with Wool Upholstered Cushion by Hinterland Design
By Hinterland Design
Located in Vancouver, BC
Like logs washed up and resting along the shoreline, the soft corners of this pillow-top solid wood bench will be at peace anywhere. With side tables and an upholstered seat for two, this is a useful addition to any modern setting. Whether you see it as an assortment of driftwood blocks, pillows, or marshmallows, the Pillowy Bench provides a gentle place to land. Made out of solid Canadian white ash with a powder coated steel frame and 100% wool upholstered cushion seat, the Pillowy Bench can be customized to a variety of lengths and fabric colors. Shown in the main image is the 6-foot bench with dark green wool fabric and an upholstered seat length of 36". The subsequent images are a 7-foot bench ($6500) with a pale pink wool fabric and an upholstered seat length of 48". All benches...
Steel
Two Seat Low Bench for John Stuart
By John Stuart
Located in Dallas, TX
This low bench for John Stuart has been professional refinished and reupholstered in a Anne Kirk linen wool blend. The piece is unmarked.
Wool, Linen, Teak
$7,475 / item
H 17.5 in W 84 in D 24 in
7-foot Bench in White Ash with Wool Upholstered Cushion by Hinterland Design
By Hinterland Design
Located in Vancouver, BC
Like logs washed up and resting along the shoreline, the soft corners of this pillow-top solid wood bench will be at peace anywhere. With side tables and an upholstered seat for two, this is a useful addition to any modern setting. Whether you see it as an assortment of driftwood blocks, pillows, or marshmallows, the Pillowy Bench provides a gentle place to land. Made out of solid Canadian white ash with a powder coated steel frame and 100% wool upholstered cushion seat, the Pillowy Bench can be customized to a variety of lengths and fabric colors. Shown in the main image is the 7-foot bench with dark green wool fabric and an upholstered seat length of 48". The bench is also available as a 6-foot long ($5650) with pale pink wool version with an upholstered seat length of 36". All benches...
Steel
$4,316Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 19.69 in W 55.12 in D 14.18 in
"Caballito Blanco Lungo" Bench Designed by Nestor Perkal for Oscar Maschera
By Oscar Maschera, Nestor Perkal
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Caballito Blanco lungo bench, designed by Nestor Perkal and manufactured by Oscar Maschera, features a steel mesh with high-integrity thermoset epoxy powder coating. Seat cover is av...
Steel
$1,637Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 18.12 in W 33.86 in D 12.6 in
Fabbrica Bench Designed by Omri Revesz and Damian Tatangelo for Mingardo
By Omri Revesz, Mingardo
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The finesse of the artisan is met with the practicality and directness of the working factory, forging a series of living objects to serve as highly adaptable utility. The series of...
Brass
Bernhardt "Manhattan" Bench Customized with Solid Brass Legs.
By Bernhardt
Located in Wilton, CT
Introducing our stunning classic Bernhardt "Manhattan" Bench. The Bernhardt Furniture company has been creating acclaimed and exceptionally well crafted for more than 130 years. Because of their commitment to such high quality standards as well as to the concept that furniture should be luxurious, comfortable and extraordinary, Bernhardt pieces are highly sought after. Our "Bernhardt Bench...
Brass
Long 'Méandre' Bench by Design Frères, in COM
By Design Frères
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Long 'Méandre' Bench by Design Frères, in COM. COM: 2 yards (instructions will be provided once the order is placed).
Iron
Couture Yellow Bench by Lorenza Bozzoli Design
By Lorenza Bozzoli Design
Located in Milan, IT
This stunning bench is a superb accent in a modern or eclectic interior, where it will be a precious addition to a bedroom, entryway, or living room bringing a pop of sophisticated c...
Fabric, Beech
Bernhardt Flair "Waterfall" Bench, 1980s
By Milo Baughman, Bernhardt Design
Located in Hamburg, PA
A sleek Milo Baughman style "Waterfall" Bench by Bernhardt "Flair." The bench is sometimes attributed to Milo Baughman but this particular bench is labeled Bernhardt. The bench would...
Upholstery