Bernhardt
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. It 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. It 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 seating, tables, case pieces and more.
| Average Sold Price |
| $2,968 |
| Styles |
| Materials |
| Related Creators |
21st Century and Contemporary American Moorish Bernhardt
Metal
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Bernhardt
Chenille
20th Century Art Deco Bernhardt
Nickel
Early 2000s American Post-Modern Bernhardt
Steel, Chrome
1980s American Post-Modern Vintage Bernhardt
Velvet
21st Century and Contemporary American Modern Bernhardt
Nickel
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Bernhardt
Parchment Paper
20th Century American Queen Anne Bernhardt
Brass
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- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2024Where Bernhardt furniture is made varies. Around 90% of the American company's furniture comes from its own factories located in North Carolina. Select casegoods originate from workshops in Vietnam, the Philippines, Mexico, India and China. Shop a range of Bernhardt furniture from some of the world's top sellers on 1stDibs.
- Is Bernhardt a luxury brand?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 13, 2024Yes, Bernhardt is a luxury brand. With more than 130 years and four generations of family leadership, Bernhardt maintains an enduring quality in its furniture. 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 and striking pieces. Today, Bernhardt is a global manufacturer of furniture and home accessories and has garnered widespread acclaim for its signature high-quality craftsmanship. On 1stDibs, shop a wide range of Bernhardt furniture.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 1, 2024Whether Bernhardt furniture is solid wood or not varies from piece to piece. The furniture maker does use solid hardwoods to produce the frames of some of its upholstered goods and instead employs plywood and engineered wood for frame construction. Many of Bernhardt's other furnishings feature wood veneers rather than solid wood. On 1stDibs, find a variety of Bernhardt furniture.
- 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2023Bernhardt uses engineered, multi-ply hardwood plywood as well as various solid hardwoods like teak. The brand is known for employing unique decorative materials like bone inlay, German silver, gypsum and white onyx. On 1stDibs, find Bernhardt furniture from some of the world's top sellers.