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 Artist David N. Ebner, Sapele Wood Chest of Drawers
By David N. Ebner
Located in Bellport, NY
David N. Ebner, American Studio Craft artist: Sapele wood chest of drawers is a sculptural masterpiece. There are three pull-out drawers, other woods on request. Originally designed ...
Wood
David N Ebner NY "The Onion Chest" 3/5
By David N. Ebner
Located in Bellport, NY
David Ebner's iconic onion chest. Chiseled red oak with bleached and painted green details. Removable top for storage. This chest is 3/5
Wood
Seven-Drawer Chest by American Studio Craft Artist David N. Ebner
By David N. Ebner
Located in Bellport, NY
Excellence and perfection in this superb work (seven-drawer chest) by renowned American Studio Craft artist, David N. Ebner. Also available in other woods. Note: All works signed by...
Cedar
$23,500 / item
David N Ebner, Bookmatched Carpathian Burl Desk
By David N. Ebner
Located in Bellport, NY
American Studio craftsman, David Ebner's magnificent bookmatched Carpathian desk with hand-forged bronze pulls, seven pull-out drawers, three left and right and one large center draw...
Bronze
Restored American of Martinsville 6 Drawer Chest- Pair Available
By American of Martinsville
Located in Atlanta, GA
An exquisite example from a rare series by American of Martinsville, circa 1960. Stout, expertly made mahogany case construction restored in cream lacquer. Fabulous, chunky solid bra...
Brass
English Miniature Painted Chest of Drawers from the Turn of the Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
A painted English miniature nest of drawers from the late 19th-early 20th century. This exquisite English miniature brown colored nest of drawers features five drawers with two cubby...
Wood
$22,000
H 31 in W 65 in D 20.75 in
Dramatic Restored Nine-Drawer Chest by American of Martinsville, circa 1950
By American of Martinsville
Located in Atlanta, GA
A beautiful example from a rare series by American of Martinsville, circa 1950. Stout, expertly made mahogany case construction finished in cream lacquer. Fabulous wormhole detail on...
Mahogany
$6,200
H 32 in W 62.25 in D 19 in
Baker Furniture Signed Campaign Seven Drawer Dresser Chest of Drawers 1950s
Located in Southampton, NJ
Iconic mid-century modern Campaign style seven-drawer dresser, chest of drawers; 1950s production by Baker Furniture. Features rich, walnut finish, solid original patinated brass har...
Brass
$3,950
H 44.625 in W 11.75 in D 10.25 in
Louis XVI Semainier, Ebonized Mahogany, Seven Drawer Chest, France
Located in Austin, TX
French antique semainier in the Louis XVI style. This piece is made of solid wood construction, primarily mahogany that has been fully ebonized and finished with a lustrous French po...
Brass
$2,502Sale Price|35% Off
H 38 in W 46.5 in D 21.25 in
Italian Neoclassical Marquetry Decorative Crafts Three drawer Chest or Commode
By Decorative Crafts
Located in Plainview, NY
A neocliassical Italian mahogany three drawer chest or commode, characterized by its exquisite craftsmanship and elaborate marquetry. The front features intricate inlaid designs, s...
Mahogany
19th C. Large Fine Figured Wood Chest of Drawers
Located in Bridgeport, CT
The top made of book matched figured wood with cross banding and fine herringbone string inlay. With a bull nose edge. The tall chest with two short over three long drawers with book matched fronts and matching herringbone string inlays, and fine pierced brass bales and a key. The carved skirt rail raised on all bracket feet. Measures Width. 47 1/2", Depth 23", Height. 45 1/4" Condition: Please see all detail photos. The chest top with some expected scratches and some loss to the finish, slight alligatoring, chipped top front edge corners, some chips and breaks to the drawer moldings (a few preserved for...
Brass
English Mahogany Chest of Drawers
Located in Woodbury, CT
English, mahogany five-drawer chest with rosewood crossbanded top. Beaded drawers have inset olivewood stringing and oval brass hardware featuring the Prince of Wales triple plume an...
Mahogany
Antique Provincial Chest of Drawers
Located in Bradenton, FL
An antique provincial style cherry wood chest of drawers made by cabinet maker Samuel Harper (1818-1904) of Cooperstown, Otsego County, New York. Four hand dovetailed drawers open wi...
Wood, Cherry
Art Deco inlaid chest of drawers from the 1930s
Located in MONTESSON, FR
This Art Deco chest of drawers in inlaid wood dates from the 1930s. It is decorated with geometric marquetry formed from small squares of veneer, creating a play of patterns and shad...
Brass
Paul Evans Patchwork Burl and Steel Cityscape Executive Desk, 1970's
By Paul Evans
Located in Culver City, CA
Some desks hold paper clips. Others hold power. This Paul Evans Cityscape Desk? It’s the power! Designed by the legendary Paul Evans in the 1970s, this monumental, sculptural masterp...
Steel
$4,448 / item
H 37.41 in W 47.25 in D 21.66 in
French Louis Philippe style 4-drawer chest - commode in solid oak craft made
Located in Pontaubault, NORMANDIE
This chest of drawers is a handmade reproduction of the French Louis Philippe Style in the mid 19th century in France caracterized by its curved moldings, hand-curved feet and rounde...
Wood, Oak, Cherry