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.
American Studio Craft Architectural Bench or Stool by David N Ebner 1992
By David N. Ebner, David Ebner
Located in Troy, MI
A distinctive stool by American studio artist David N. Ebner USA 1992 Curved saddle seat on an arched oak base, hand painted in dark green with carved sawtooth edges The riveted ham...
Metal
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
Brookhaven Chair by American Studio Craft Artist David N. Ebner
By David N. Ebner
Located in Bellport, NY
The Brookhaven chair, in red oak, by American studio craft artist David N. Ebner. Available in alternate woods. Note: All works signed by the artis...
Oak
The David Ebner Free Edge Spalted Maple Bench
By David N. Ebner
Located in Bellport, NY
Fine works by David N Ebner the spalted maple free edge bench. Other woods available on request.
Maple
'The Renwick Stool" by David N Ebner, USA, 1990
By David N. Ebner
Located in Bellport, NY
The Renwick stool named after The Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Arts Museum in Washington DC. This stool was originally purchased by the Sm...
Maple
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
Swivel Barrel Chair by American Studio Craft Artist, David N. Ebner
By David N. Ebner
Located in Bellport, NY
The Swivel Barrel Chair from American Studio Craft Artist David N. Ebner. Upholstered in an Italian Suede calf skin. Wenge wood frame,The swivel base is constructed of a heavy duty b...
Suede, Wood
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
$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
$4,800 / item
David N. Ebner, Studio Craft Artist, Black Stool #1
By David N. Ebner
Located in Bellport, NY
Ebner's stool #1 is made of pigmented walnut wood; simple and beautiful. Also available in other woods. Please see the newly published book "David Ebner: Studio Furniture" by Nanc...
Walnut
Sassafras Stick Foot Stool by Artist and Craftsman, David N. Ebner
By David N. Ebner
Located in Bellport, NY
Stick foot stool by renowned artist and craftsman David N. Ebner. Sassafras wood and natural rush seat. Please see the newly published book "David Ebner: Studio Furniture" by Nanc...
$4,900 / item
David N Ebner's Dining Room or Desk Chair
By David N. Ebner
Located in Bellport, NY
American Studio Craft artist David N Ebner's dining room chair in the Danish modern Style shown in walnut and curly maple. Holly Hunt fabric on seat. Cr...
Maple, Walnut
"MFA" Bench by American Studio Craft Artist David N. Ebner
By David N. Ebner
Located in Bellport, NY
An MFA (Museum of Fine Arts) burnished blue milk paint bench over maple wood, by American studio Craft artist David N. Ebner. Note: All works signed by the artist, David N. Ebner....
Wood, Paint
$4,000 / item
David N. Ebner, Artist Craftsman, Bamboo High Stool
By David N. Ebner
Located in Bellport, NY
Bamboo high stool by David N. Ebner, Classic simplicity and beauty, available in amber or natural finish. Please see the newly published book "David Ebner: Studio Furniture" by Na...
Bamboo
Stool #1 by American Studio Craft Artist David N. Ebner
By David N. Ebner
Located in Bellport, NY
Stool #1 by American studio Craft artist David N. Ebner. Beautifully crafted in a pigmented bronze finish. David will be selecting a few pieces from his co...
Bronze
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
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
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
1950s Dutch Mid-Century Brutalist Spalted Maple Slab Bench
By George Nakashima
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Solid spalted maple bench, Dutch, 1950s, in the Brutalist organic tradition influenced by the work of George Nakashima. Three-piece construction: a thick, wide top slab rests across ...
Maple
Three-Pieces of Triangular Nesting Stools by David Kiernan
Located in North Miami, FL
Three-pieces of triangular nesting stools by David Kiernan made of aluminum legs with stained wood tops and ball feet.
Metal, Aluminum
Horsehair Stool by J.M. Szymanski, Blackened Iron, Contemporary USA
By J.M. Szymanski
Located in Bronx, NY
HORSE HAIR STOOL J.M. Szymanski d. 2018 Contemporary furniture at its finest. Horsehair textile and blackened iron are combined to create an excitin...
Steel, Iron
Curule Iron Bench
Located in Houston, TX
Iron curule stool with boxed linen seat cushion. Also available C.O.M.
Iron
Sassafras Stick Foot Stool by Artist and Craftsman, David N. Ebner
By David N. Ebner
Located in Bellport, NY
Stick foot stool by renowned artist and craftsman David N. Ebner. Sassafras wood and natural rush seat. Please see the newly published book "David Ebner: Studio Furniture" by Nanc...
$1,700
H 73.125 in W 13 in D 14.5 in
American Studio Craft Architectural Lattice High Back Sculptural Chair
By Charles Rennie Mackintosh
Located in Troy, MI
Dramatic hand crafted lattice back chair in mixed hardwoods USA circa 1980s Architectural high back chair with vertical lattice design in contrasting cherry and maple with exposed a...
Cherry, Hardwood, Maple
$15,000
H 37 in W 90 in D 30 in
Black Walnut Live Edge Bench, G7 Summit ‘Bench in the Woods’ - In Stock
By Möbius Objects
Located in Calgary, AB
A contemporary spin on an iconic bench - handcrafted in rich American black walnut this spindle-backed bench with exaggerated hand-turned legs makes a per...
Wood, Walnut
Null, Stools, Pine, Fabric, USA, 1970s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of carved stained pine and red fabric stools or ottomans produced by Null Manufacturing, Maiden, North Carolina, USA, c. 1970s. In good vintage condition, with visible wear c...
Fabric, Pine
$2,806 / set
H 38.78 in W 17.52 in D 18.71 in
Arts & Crafts Side Chairs by Onder den Sint Maarten, Walnut, 1900s
By Onder den Sint Maarten
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Magnificent and rare pair of Arts & Crafts side chairs. Design by the famous Dutch furniture company Onder den Sint Maarten. Striking Dutch design from the 1900s. Solid walnut ba...
Fabric, Walnut
Romantic Vanity Bench in the French or Italian Style
By John Widdicomb
Located in New York, NY
Decorative and romantic vanity bench, probably American manufacture, in the Continental style. Rope tassels, carved cabriole legs with upholstered pad seat, upholstery shows wear.
Upholstery, Wood
$10,500 / set
H 35.25 in W 18.25 in D 20 in L 35.25 in
Rare 1952 George Nakashima Walnut Chairs, American Craftsman Style
By George Nakashima
Located in Hopewell, NJ
An iconic pair of early circa 1952 George Nakashima "New Chairs" masterfully constructed out of walnut. Letter of authenticity included.
Walnut
Tubular Steel Rocking Chair by David N Ebner
By David N. Ebner
Located in Bellport, NY
A tubular steel rocking chair by Internationally renowned American Studio artist David N Ebner. Gun metal on the tubing, Your fabric or leather. The cha...
Steel
David N. Ebner, American Studio Craft Artist, Spanish Cedar Bench
By David N. Ebner
Located in Bellport, NY
David N. Ebner, American studio craft artist. Indoor or outdoor Spanish cedar bench. Other choices of wood available. Please see the newly published b...
Cedar
American Studio Craft Artist David N. Ebner's Bronze MFA Bench
By David N. Ebner
Located in Bellport, NY
The Bronze "MFA" Bench by American Studio Craft Artist, David N. Ebner. MFA stands for Museum of Fine Arts, which is in Boston. Note: All works signed by the artist, David N. Ebne...
Bronze
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"...
David N. Ebner, American Studio Craft Artist, Sassafras Wood Bench/Table
By David N. Ebner
Located in Bellport, NY
A brilliant design from American Studio Craft Artist David N. Ebner, twisted natural sassafras wood, pigmented black. The piece serves as a bench and ta...
David Ebner, Vintage Sassafras Wood Twisted Stick Bench.
By David N. Ebner
Located in Bellport, NY
Artist Craftsman, David Ebner's Vintage Twisted Stick Bench (One of a Kind). The bench is made of hand woven rush around bleached, lacquered and hand buffed Sassafras wood...