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.
Stunning Pair of Contemporary Modern Birch Arm Chairs, Bernhardt Furniture Co.
By Bernhardt Design
Located in Buffalo, NY
Stunning pair of contemporary modern birch armchairs, Bernhardt Furniture Co., Classic style and design, Superior quality and construction, super sturdy. Extremely comfortable, perfe...
Fabric, Birch
2010s Ross Lovegrove Orbit Chair by Bernhardt Design in Red Plastic Chrome Legs
By Ross Lovegrove, Bernhardt Design
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a set of (the price listed is for one chair, but multiple chairs are available) Orbit chairs in red plastic with chrome legs designed by Ross Lovegrove and produce...
Chrome
2008 Celon Arm Chairs by Lievore Altherr Molina for Bernhardt Design in Steel
By Lievore Altherr Molina, Bernhardt Design
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a ‘Celon’ Arm Chair, model 1526, designed by Lievore Altherr Molina for Bernhardt Design in 2007. The listed price includes one chair, and we have several chairs available fo...
Steel
Set of Four English Birch Tavern Chairs
Located in Southampton, NY
Set of four English birch tavern chairs. Lovely worn rounded seat back chairs with beautifully turned spindles and legs, and a fantastic patina only time...
Birch
$5,500 / set
H 33 in W 22 in D 20.5 in
8 Post Modern Spindle Dining Arm Chair with Jayson Clymer Paintings Upholstery
By Jean Prouvé
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Set of 8 Post-Modern era spindle chairs in the Jean Prouve style. Aesthetically pleasing. Light weight wood with golden Shellac finish. Each seat cover is an original Giocometti style figural painting by Pennsylvania artist...
Upholstery, Wood
$450 / set
H 30.5 in W 24.5 in D 24.5 in
Vintage Boling Chair Co Mid Century Modern Walnut Lounge Arm Chairs (A) - Pair
By Boling Chair Company
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Please message us with your zip code to request a more reasonable domestic U.S. shipping quote. Vintage Boling Chair Co. Mid Century Modern Walnut Woo...
Fabric, Walnut
$1,760Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 30 in W 21.5 in D 24 in
Set of Six Harvey Probber Style Dining Chairs 4 Side 2 Arm
By Harvey Probber
Located in New York, NY
Squared bright chrome frames, original, but worn green fabric upholstery. Set consistes of four side chairs, and two arm, or captains, chairs. Dimensions in listing are for Arm chair...
Chrome
$450 / set
H 30.5 in W 24.5 in D 24.5 in
Vintage Boling Chair Co Mid Century Modern Walnut Lounge Arm Chairs (B) - Pair
By Boling Chair Company
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Please message us with your zip code to request a more reasonable domestic U.S. shipping quote. Vintage Boling Chair Co. Mid Century Modern Walnut Woo...
Fabric, Walnut
$1,178 / item
H 29.53 in W 21.66 in D 21.66 in
Contemporary Chair 'FF 4-Legs' Black Dakar Leather, Chrome Legs
By Friends & Founders
Located in Paris, IDF
Dining chair 'FF' 4-Legs designed by Ida L. Hildebrand for Friends & Founders Dimensions: H. 75 / W. 55 / D. 55 cm H. 29.53" / W. 21.65" / D. 21.65" Model shown on main picture...
Steel
$3,300 / item
H 31.11 in W 17.72 in D 20.87 in
ClassiCon Roquebrune Chair in Black with Chrome Legs by Eileen Gray
By Eileen Gray
Located in New York, NY
For the terrace of her second house in Castellar Eileen Gray designed a very comfortable chair with a deep seating area. It was covered with blue canvas. She created another version,...
Steel
$1,131 / item
H 29.53 in W 21.66 in D 21.66 in
Contemporary Chair 'FF 4-Legs' Bouclé, A Joy 001, Chrome Legs
By Friends & Founders
Located in Paris, IDF
Dining chair 'FF' 4-Legs designed by Ida L. Hildebrand for Friends & Founders Dimensions: H. 75 / W. 55 / D. 55 cm H. 29.53" / W. 21.65" / D. 21.65" Model shown on main picture...
Wool
$2,400
H 24.25 in W 25 in D 21.5 in
Mid-Century Modern Bentwood Arm/ Desk Chair in Silver Sharkskin Upholstery
Located in New York, NY
This chair feature a ebonized walnut bentwood arms design with tapered legs. They have been newly reupholstered in a silver sharkskin metallic silk/wool blend fabric. This is a fine ...
Walnut
$3,495 / set
H 32 in W 27 in D 24 in
Set of 4 Mid-Century Danish Modern Woodard Sculptura Mesh Arm Chairs
By Woodard Furniture Co., John Woodard
Located in Wilmington, DE
What a find. Offered is a set of 4 Mid-Century Modern outdoor armchairs designed by John Woodard, circa 1956 for the 'Sculptura' line. Features enameled and woven wrought iron. The c...
Wrought Iron
Pair of Original Vintage Lawrence Peabody Paul McCobb Arm Chairs
By Lawrence Peabody
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of original vintage Lawrence Peabody arm chairs. Style of Paul McCobb Milo Baughman
Wood
From $2,050 / item
+ 2 moreH 29.25 in W 22.25 in D 21.38 in
Spindle Chair in Solid, Carved Walnut and Steel Designed by Craig Bassam
By BassamFellows
Located in Ridgefield, CT
Since its release, the Spindle chair’s distinctive Silhouette has appeared in a vast array of celebrated commercial and residential interiors. The phenomenally successful piece was inspired by a visit to Louis Kahn’s Exeter Library. Designer Craig Bassam’s imagination was ignited when he noticed the traditional utilitarian chair juxtaposed against the powerful geometry of Kahn’s building. Seduced by its elemental simplicity, Bassam realized an updated spindle back chair would fit perfectly within the BassamFellows ‘Craftsman Modern’ aesthetic. The BassamFellows Spindle chair offers a new take on the Classic piece, a descendent of the Classic English Windsor chair. One first notices its weightless quality, which Bassam achieved by using metal for the chair’s legs and spindles, giving the illusion of two floating surfaces. This contemporary reboot makes the spindles less prominent, evoking a less rustic, 21st century setting for the chair. A counterpoint to the metal spindles is the chair’s timber elements, including an ultra-comfortable ergonomic seat carved from solid wood. Given its updated minimal silhouette, ultra-light materiality and concern for comfort, it’s the kind of chair you can envision in many contexts. The Spindle Collection includes counter and barstool...
Steel
Sold
H 34 in W 22.5 in D 24 in
Contemporary Modern Mark Goetz for Bernhardt Design Aria Armchairs - Set of 6
By Mark Goetz Herman Miller, Bernhardt Design
Located in Secaucus, NJ
The Aria armchair is elegant with soft lines and pleasing proportions, The well-constructed frame is engaging from every angle, Goetz's Aria line won him...
Steel