Ward Bennett created everything from interiors and furniture to textiles and flatware. The unsung New York City-born modernist designer drew on the work of Le Corbusier and Auguste Rodin, studied art with the likes of Abstract Expressionist painter Hans Hofmann and counted legendary American luxury house Tiffany & Co. among his clients. For decades, Bennett created and filled spaces that were elegant, minimalist and deeply appealed to everyone who laid eyes on them.
Bennett left home and school at the young age of 13. He found work in Manhattan’s Garment District, and within a few years, Bennett traveled to Europe on behalf of a clothing manufacturer to gather ideas for modern garments. He lived abroad as a young man, and when he returned to New York, during the early 1940s, he assisted fashion entrepreneur Hattie Carnegie as a window dresser.
Bennett would also go on to share a sculpture studio with artist Louise Nevelson. He ventured into the world of jewelry design, creating necklaces, bracelets and other pieces with Richard Pousette-Dart. The Whitney Museum of American Art exhibited his sculptures, and it wouldn’t be long before the Museum of Modern Art included Bennett’s personal adornments with accessories by the likes of Alexander Calder, Harry Bertoia and Anni Albers in its 1946 “Modern Handmade Jewelry” show.
Bennett didn’t take the plunge into interior design work until he was 30 years old — his inaugural project was an apartment in Manhattan and his clients were family members. He had no formal training in architecture or decorating — and would ultimately design a mere handful of houses in his life — so for his inviting leather office chairs, marble-topped tables and sleek storage cabinets, Bennett relied only on what he learned in the fashion world. Soon, every time he redecorated his own home — an elaborate apartment comprising former maids’ quarters in New York City’s magnificent Dakota building — it earned splashy coverage in the newspapers.
Bennett’s client list eventually included David Rockefeller and Chase Manhattan Bank, Tiffany & Co., Sasaki, Italian industrialist Gianni Agnelli, and others, and during the 1970s he became in-house designer for Brickel Associates, a role that would endure for more than two decades. His work is on permanent view at the Museum of Modern Art and the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in New York.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Ward Bennett seating, decorative objects and more.
1990 Ward Bennett for Brickel Associates Cherry Finished Ash Side/Dining Chair
By Ward Bennett, Brickel Associates
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Ward Bennett Dining Chair, originally designed in the 1970s for Brickel Associates. This particular example dates to the 1990s. The chair is comprised of an ash frame with ...
Ash, Fabric, Foam
Armchair by Ward Bennett for Brickel Associates, 1970s
By Brickel Associates, Ward Bennett
Located in Sagaponack, NY
An elegant and comfortable armchair having a fluid and bold ash frame seamlessly encasing a seat upholstered in vintage green wool fabric. Upholstery recommended.
Ash
1970s Ward Bennett for Brickel Associates Model 1081 Walnut Desk Chair
By Ward Bennett
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Model 1081 Desk Chair, initially designed by Ward Bennett for Brickel Associates. These particular examples were produced in the 1970s in the United States. Their design fe...
Foam, Walnut, Fabric
1984 Ward Bennett for Brickel Associates Desk Chair in Fabric with Oak Frame
By Ward Bennett
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an Executive Office Chair, initially designed by Ward Bennett for Brickel Associates in 1970. These particular examples were produced in 1984 in the United States. Their desi...
Metal
Set of 7 Ward Bennett for Brickel Associates Wood and Magenta Vinyl Library
By Ward Bennett
Located in Queens, NY
SET of 7 American Mid-Century library armchairs with shaped wooden frames with vertical back slats and magenta pink vinyl upholstered seats. (WARD BENNETT FOR BRICKEL ASSOCIATES)(PRI...
Upholstery, Wood
1984 Pair of Ward Bennett for Brickel Associates Dining Chairs in Fabric
By Ward Bennett
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a pair of bentwood dining chairs, originally designed by Ward Bennett for Brickel Associates. These particular examples were produced in 1984. Their design features a sculptu...
Foam, Wood, Fabric
Ward Bennett Chrome and Light Purple Tufted Swivel Tub Lounge / Armchair
By Ward Bennett
Located in Queens, NY
American Mid-Century tub-form swiveling lounge / armchair with lightly patterned purple button tufted fabric upholstery, resting on a four leg brushed ch...
Metal, Chrome
2019 Ward Bennett for Geiger Bumper Lounge Chairs in Off-White Leather
By Ward Bennett
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Bumper lounge chair, originally designed by Ward Bennett in 1964. Each of the two chairs available was produced by Geiger International in 2019. The listed price includes o...
Steel
$2,560Sale Price / item|20% Off
1 Ward Bennett for Brickel and Associates Leather Desk Chair
By Ward Bennett, Brickel Associates
Located in Pasadena, TX
Ward Bennett for Brickel and Associates Barrel-Back leather desk chair 6 available 4-star anodized bronze base swivel conference room chair...
Steel
$3,200
Ward Bennett Desk Chair
By Ward Bennett
Located in Dallas, TX
A tilting desk chair with bronze base designed by Ward Bennett. Height adjustable. Reupholstered in a Holly Hunt fabric.
Bronze
$15,000 / set
Four Ward Bennett for Brickel Associates Armchairs
By Brickel Associates, Ward Bennett
Located in Dallas, TX
Captivating set of four pull-up chairs model 1072, designed by Ward Bennett for Brickel Associates, circa 1970's. These armchairs are a perfect example of Bennett's ability to blend ...
Upholstery, Wood
1988 Ward Bennett for Brickel Associates Dining Arm Chair in Jack Lenor Larsen
By Ward Bennett, Brickel Associates
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Bankers Armchair, initially designed by Ward Bennett for Brickel Associates in 1965. The listed price includes one chair, and we have four chairs available for purchase. ...
Steel
1980s Pair of Ward Bennett for Brickel Associates Yoke Chairs in Oak and Suede
By Ward Bennett, Brickel Associates
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a pair of ‘Yoke’ side chairs, designed by Ward Bennett in 1984 for Brickel Associates. The listed price includes the pair. Their design features a frame of bent stained Oak, and these particular examples retain their original brown suede upholstery. It is rare to find a Yoke chair...
Foam, Oak, Leather, Lacquer
Ward Bennett Rosewood and Aluminum Coffee Table by Lehigh
By Lehigh Furniture Company, Ward Bennett
Located in Highland, IN
Ward Bennett's expert use of line and proportion are evident in this beautiful coffee table with a three legged aluminum base supporting a rich rosewood top.
Aluminum
$3,200
Ward Bennett Desk Chair
By Ward Bennett
Located in Dallas, TX
A tilting desk chair with bronze base designed by Ward Bennett. Height adjustable. Reupholstered in a Holly Hunt fabric.
Bronze
1983 Pair of Ward Bennett for Brickel Associates Dining Bankers Chairs in Oak
By Brickel Associates, Ward Bennett
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a pair of Bankers Armchairs, initially designed by Ward Bennett for Brickel Associates in 1965. The listed price includes the pair as shown. T...
Steel
Ward Bennett Claw Side Table for Brickel Associates
By Brickel Associates, Ward Bennett
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Minimalist side table by Ward Bennett for Brickel Associates, circa 1970s, USA. The round table features a steel chrome plated frame with three tubular legs. The table earned its nam...
Steel, Chrome
Ward Bennett Brickell Club Chair
By Brickel Associates, Ward Bennett
Located in Dallas, TX
Bring a distinctive look to your seating area with this sleek club chair model no.Q2083 by Ward Bennett for Brickel Associates, 1960s. Featuring a tub form with tapered sides and plush rounded back with a central channel, the gold mohair chair...
Mohair
$5,422Sale Price / set|43% Off
Ward Bennett for Brickel Black Ash Scissor Lounge Chairs, Red Wool Bouclé, 1984
By Ward Bennett
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Ward Bennett for Brickel Assoc. Black ash scissor lounge chair pair, set of two, red wool bouclé, 1984, New York. Black lacquered ash, red wool upholstery, metal tags to each. Ward Bennett’s story is a remarkable one. His career began at age 13, when he quit school to work in the garment district in New York City. At 15, he designed his first clothing collection; at 16 he left for Europe, where he continued working on fashion design. While in Europe, he attended art schools in Florence and Paris, but he was mostly self-taught, with skills that ranged from illustrating, sculpting, and jewelry-making to furniture, interior, and home design. “I learn from people,” he once said, referencing a long line of influences, including Hattie Carnegie, Hans Hoffman, and Georgia O’Keeffe. Bennett eventually settled back in New York, where his reputation earned him some of the day’s most affluent clients: David Rockefeller and Chase Manhattan Bank, Tiffany & Co., Sasaki, Italian industrialist Gianni Agnelli, Rolling Stone founder Jann Wenner. Another—former President Lyndon Baines Johnson—asked Bennett to design a chair for his presidential library that would be “a cross between a barroom chair and a courtroom chair...
Wool, Ash
$3,200
Ward Bennett Desk Chair
By Ward Bennett
Located in Dallas, TX
A tilting desk chair with bronze base designed by Ward Bennett. Height adjustable. Reupholstered in a Holly Hunt fabric.
Bronze
Large Silver Plate Bowl by Ward Bennett
By Ward Bennett
Located in Dallas, TX
A large silver plate bowl designed by Ward Bennett.
Silver Plate
1960s Ward Bennett for Lehigh Furniture Arm Chair in Red Fabric & Aluminum
By Lehigh Furniture Company, Ward Bennett
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a 1960s Armchair, designed by Ward Bennett for Lehigh Furniture. The chair has an aluminum four point base, and it retains its original red upholstery fabric. The piece is ve...
Aluminum, Steel
1984 Pair of Ward Bennett for Brickel Associates Dining Chairs in Pink Fabric
By Ward Bennett
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a pair of bentwood dining chairs, originally designed by Ward Bennett for Brickel Associates. These particular examples were produced in 1984. Their design features a sculptu...
Foam, Oak, Fabric
1984 Pair of Ward Bennett for Brickel Associates Dining Chairs in Oak
By Ward Bennett
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a pair of bentwood dining chairs, originally designed by Ward Bennett for Brickel Associates. These particular examples were produced in 1984. Their design features a sculptu...
Foam, Oak, Fabric
1970s Ward Bennett for Brickel Associates Bronze and Mohair Bucket Desk Chair
By Brickel Associates, Ward Bennett
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a 1970s production bucket desk / office chair, designed by Ward Bennett and produced by Brickel Associates. The chair was acquired from an estate in Philadelphia a...
Bronze
Navy Blue Mohair Executive Swivel Chair by Ward Bennett
By Ward Bennett
Located in Danville, CA
Stunning reclining Executive swivel chair by Ward Bennett for Brickel. The chair is in beautiful original condition. The chrome base and slimline casters are also in excellent condit...
Steel
1986 Ward Bennett for Brickel Associates Executive Office Chair in with Fabric
By Brickel Associates, Ward Bennett
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an Executive Office Chair designed by Ward Bennett for Brickel Associates in 1970. This particular example was produced in 1986 in the United States. The chair features a red...
Steel
1986 Ward Bennett for Brickel Associates Executive Office Chair in Red Fabric
By Brickel Associates, Ward Bennett
Located in Philadelphia, PA
These are Executive Office Chairs, designed by Ward Bennett for Brickel Associates in ca. 1970. The chairs are framed in Cherry-stained Oak, having coordinating wood trim on their fi...
Steel
1960s Pair of Ward Bennett for Brickel Associates Bumper Arm Chairs
By Ward Bennett, Brickel Associates
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a pair of Bumper Swivel Lounge Chairs, initially designed by Ward Bennett and produced by Brickel Associates in 1964. These chairs date to the 1960s and are all original. The...
Bronze, Steel
1960s Ward Bennett for Lehigh Leopold Brown Suede and Stainless Steel Armchair
By Ward Bennett
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Tufted Lounge Armchair, designed by Ward Bennett and produced by Lehigh Leopold in the early 1960s. This chair is all original, having a stainless-steel four-star base, and...
Stainless Steel
$8,500 / item
Ash Lounge by Ward Bennett for Brickel Associates
By Brickel Associates, Ward Bennett
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A solid ash lounge chair with adjustable recline and original channeled upholstery
Ash, Upholstery