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
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...
$4,800 / 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
'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
$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
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
Pair of Low Stools by Arthur Cunningham New Hampshire Craftsman
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A pair of unusual three legged stools by Arthur Cunningham, Manchester, New Hampshire. Vintage circa 1960s with great patina and character.
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
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
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
High Brown Milk Stools
Located in Geneve, CH
Brown milk stools by Bicci de' Medici Studio Dimensions: Diameter 30cm x height 40cm Materials: Natural wood. Pigment. Technique: Carved wood. Handmade. Oiled. Stained Designer...
Wood
Foot Stool in walnut
By Project 213A
Located in Macieira de Sarnes, PT
Foot Stool Designed by Project 213A in 2020 The Foot stool is part of the "Foot collection" which is all hand carved by skilled artisans in Northern Portugal. The design was inspire...
Walnut
$4,800 / item
H 18 in W 14 in D 14 in
Foot Stool • Sculptural Surreal- inspired Bronze Boucle Stool by Carmen Ellis
By Carmen Ellis Studio
Located in Venice, CA
Our Foot Stool came about as a reimagining of our Foot Vessel planter design. The feet have been transformed into bronze, adding textured upholstery to enhance its visual appeal. The...
Bronze
Carved and Fluted Empire Style Foot Stool
Located in Bronx, NY
Carved and fluted Empire style foot stool ready for finish and upholstery. Finish an upholstery quotes are available on request.
Craftsman Handmade Folk Art Milk Stool, late 1800's
Located in Oud-Turnhout, VAN
Original Craftsman Handmade Folk Art Milk Stool. Made in Belgium, late 1800's - early 1900's. Solid oak constructed stool with central handgrip. Simple in design, with 4 turned legs ...
Oak
Victorian Adjustable Piano Stool by Charles Parker, USA, 1890s
By Charles Parker
Located in San Francisco, CA
Victorian Piano Stool, attributed to Charles Parker, features a round, solid wood seat atop a turned central post and four splayed, lathe-turned legs connected by curved stretchers. ...
Glass, Wood
Jessie Stool by Proisy Studio
By Proisy Studio
Located in Paris, FR
Jessie Stool by Proisy Studio. Jessie is an elegant and refined hand-carved stool designed by Proisy Studio. The handcrafted gouge carving work makes each piece unique that adds a t...
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood, Oak
High Brown Milk Stools
Located in Geneve, CH
Brown milk stools by Bicci de' Medici Studio Dimensions: Diameter 30cm x height 40cm Materials: Natural wood. Pigment. Technique: Carved wood. Handmade. Oiled. Stained Designer...
Wood