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.
$5,200 / set
Ward Bennett Pair of Scissor Lounge Chairs
By Ward Bennett
Located in Miami, FL
A pair iconic scissor chairs by Ward Bennet. Satin Steel frames with wool upholstery. 2 pairs available.
Steel
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
Set of 4 Ward Bennett Multicolor Upholstered Steam Bent Ash Dining Armchairs
By Ward Bennett
Located in Queens, NY
Set of 4 American Mid-Century dining armchairs with black painted steam bent ash frames and multi-colored patterned fabric upholstered seats and backs. (WARD ...
Wood, Fabric, Upholstery, Ash
$1,516Sale Price / set|20% Off
Vintage MCM Ward Bennett for Brickell Armchairs - A Pair
By Brickel Associates, Ward Bennett
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description click on More Details below. Shipping Quote Information The shipping quote stated in the listing was from 1st Dibs and they normally set all the costs and handle all the shipping details. However, if you let us know what 1st Dibs is quoting you and give us your zip code, we can sometimes ship it for less and get it to you faster. For a shipping quote, click on "ASK THE SELLER" under the purchase button and provide your zip code. Offering One Of Our Recent Palm Beach Estate Fine Furniture Acquisitions Of A Pair of Vintage Mid Century Modern Ward Bennett for Brickell Bankers Armchairs...
Wood
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
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
$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
1980s Pair of Ward Bennett for Brickel Associates Yoke Chairs in Oak and Suede
By Brickel Associates, Ward Bennett
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
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
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
2010s Pair of Ward Bennett for Geiger Envelope Chairs in White Leather w/ Chrome
By Ward Bennett
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a pair of envelope chairs, originally designed by Ward Bennett in 1966. This particular pair was produced by Geiger in the 2010s. The listed price includes the pair of chairs...
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
1960s Ward Bennett for Lehigh Furniture Arm Chair in Red Fabric & Aluminum
By Ward Bennett, Lehigh Furniture Company
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
$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
Two-Tier Table by Ward Bennett for Brickel Associates, 1968
By Ward Bennett
Located in Sagaponack, NY
A two-tiered carved ash coffee or side table in natural oil finish with Brickel leather planar surfaces over four swivel casters. Model 1260. Marked on underside.
Leather, Ash
1984 Ward Bennett for Brickel Associates Dining Chair Jack Lenor Larsen Fabric
By Brickel Associates, Ward Bennett
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a Bankers Chair, initially designed by Ward Bennett for Brickel Associates in 1965. The listed price includes one chair, and we have four chairs available for purchase. T...
Steel
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
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
Ward Bennett Claw Side Table for Brickel Associates
By Ward Bennett, Brickel Associates
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