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.
Bronze MFA Bench by American Studio Craft Artist David N. Ebner
By David N. Ebner
Located in Bellport, NY
An awarding winning bronze studio crafted bench by American artist, David N. Ebner. MFA stands for Museum of Fine Arts and located in Boston, MA. This piece has a wonderful Asian el...
Bronze
$2,000 / item
H 17 in W 36 in D 12 in
Walnut Knife Beam Bench 3' Long Solid Wood + Blackened Steel by Alabama Sawyer
By Alabama Sawyer
Located in Birmingham, AL
Our knife beam bench in walnut utilizes salvaged walnut wood logs for a rustic bench. Narrow and backless, the simple lines express the natural texture of the end grain of each species. The 12" x 12" beam is milled and finished to sit raised by a mild steel base with a black patina. The beam bench brings rustic beauty at a variety of lengths. Cracks, knots, saw marks and variation is part of the beauty of these pieces. The wood will continue to move and the finish to patina over time. The knife walnut beam bench makes a cozy coffee table in a den or living room or low table in a mud room or entry hall for flexible use as a place to place packages and bags or to remove shoes. With the oiled finish used on the knife walnut beam bench, we do not recommend putting this bench outside...
Steel
$3,995Sale Price / item|15% Off
H 16.5 in W 50 in D 14 in
Live Edge Trestle Bench in Cherry by Brian Holcombe
By Brian Holcombe
Located in Princeton, NJ
In designing this bench I took cues from sashimono, seeking a outwardly simple aesthetic which gives way to more elaborate detail upon a closer look. In building this bench I utilized joinery unique to Japanese timber carpentry. This bench utilizes joinery found in traditional Japanese carpentry...
Cherry
$2,794 / item
H 18 in W 72 in D 15 in
Rustic Pine Beam Bench Pine and Corten Steel Base by Alabama Sawyer 6'
By Alabama Sawyer
Located in Birmingham, AL
Our beam bench utilizes salvaged local pine logs for a rustic bench for indoors or outdoors. Narrow and backless, the simple lines express the natural textu...
Steel
Dovetailed Bench in Mahogany by Brian Holcombe
By Brian Holcombe
Located in Princeton, NJ
In designing this bench I took cues from sashimono, seeking a outwardly simple aesthetic which gives way to more elaborate detail upon a closer look. In building this bench I utilize...
Mahogany
$2,000 / item
H 18 in W 48 in D 15 in
Shou Sugi Ban 4 foot Wood Bench Pine Corten Steel by Alabama Sawyer
By Alabama Sawyer
Located in Birmingham, AL
Our beam bench utilizes salvaged local pine logs for a rustic bench for indoors or outdoors. Narrow and backless, the simple lines express the natural texture of the end grain of eac...
Steel
$2,000
H 18 in W 94 in D 10 in
Early 20th Century Hickory & Bronze Staten Island Ferry Auxiliary Bench
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Long, folding, painted hickory and bronze bench from the Staten Island Ferry. Featuring a narrow sturdy, Hickory seat with oxblood red paint and locking, salt water patinated bronze ...
Bronze
$18,028
H 26.97 in W 75.99 in D 20.48 in
Architectural Concrete Bench by Martin Kleppe, Germany, circa 2011
By Martin Kleppe
Located in Berlin, DE
Handmade bench made of concrete by german artist Martin Kleppe. Martin Kleppe studied at the Art Academy Düsseldorf with Tony Cragg from 1993 to 1999 and graduated as a master student.
Concrete
Indoor or Outdoor Bench Made from Teak by Petersen Antiques
By Petersen Antiques
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Designed to withstand any climate, this teak bench can be used either indoors or outdoors. Seen here in 85" long, however it can be ordered in any size. Matching table can be seen b...
Teak
$9,700 / item
H 17.72 in W 56.3 in D 18.12 in
Sculptural Bench in Bronze Patina Brass by Patrick Coard Paris
By Patrick Coard
Located in New York, NY
The Paris based label has distinguished themselves since their launch, with their iconic use of shagreen mixed with brass and other exotic materials. All furniture is handcrafted by ...
Brass
Dovetailed Bench in Mahogany
By Brian Holcombe
Located in Princeton, NJ
In designing this bench I took cues from sashimono, seeking a outwardly simple aesthetic which gives way to more elaborate detail upon a closer look. In building this bench I utilize...
Mahogany
Monitor Fiberglass Upholstered Bench by Asa Pingree
By Asa Pingree
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The sculptural monitor bench is a strong centre piece for a lobby, a graphic ending to a master bed, or a playful seating to punctuate an entry or courty...
Upholstery, Foam, Fiberglass
Antique French Iron Park Bench
Located in Sheffield, MA
Exceptional cast iron bench with wonderful aged patina. Keywords: benches, park bench, garden bench, patio furniture.
Iron
Pair, The Bellport Chairs by Studio Craft Artist David N. Ebner
By David N. Ebner
Located in Bellport, NY
Pair, The Bellport Chairs Vintage, by Studio Craft Artist David N. Ebner. Bright white over mahogany woods, for outdoors or indoors. Please note the color shown is affected by shadow...
The Bellport Country Bench by Studio Craft Artist David N. Ebner.
By David N. Ebner
Located in Bellport, NY
The Bellport Bench by Studio Craft Artist David N. Ebner. Bright white over mahogany wood, outdoor use is fine. Please see the newly published book "David Ebner: Studio Furniture"...