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.
Ward Bennett Flatware "Double Helix" for Sasaki 32 Pieces Silverware Mid Century
By Ward Bennett
Located in Atlanta, GA
Mid Century Modernist Flatware, designed by Ward Bennett for Sasaki, circa 1980s. A five piece service for six guests, with two additional serving pieces. 32 pieces total. It is con...
Stainless Steel
Set of Gio Ponti Reed & Barton "Diamond" Sterling Silverware
By Gio Ponti
Located in New York, NY
Set of sterling silver flatware, designed by Gio Ponti for Reed and Barton, in the diamond pattern. A total of 18 place settings are a...
Sterling Silver
Jens Quistgaard Odin Flatware for Dansk, 59 Pieces
By Jens Quistgaard, Løvig Design
Located in Amarillo, TX
Jens Quistgaard Odin for Dansk Silverware, 59 pieces. Germany, circa 1958. Stainless steel. Labeled "Dansk Design Germany."
Stainless Steel
$1,970 / set
H 9.85 in W 1.58 in D 0.79 in
Cutlery Set by Helmut Alder for Amboss Model 2070, 32 Pieces, 1960s
By Helmut Alder, Amboss Austria
Located in Vienna, AT
This cutlery (model 2070) consist of 32 pieces. Designed by Helmut Alder, produced by "Amboss Neuzeughammer Steyr" Austria in the 1960s. High quality stainless steel cutlery. He...
Stainless Steel
$1,495 / set
H 4 in W 15 in D 10 in
Mid 20th Century Guardian Service Aluminum Dual Purpose Cookware 14 Pieces
Located in Topeka, KS
Incredible Mid-20th Century Guardian Service dual purpose 14-piece cookware set including 7 pots, 2 trays, and 5 interchangeable lids. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that these are vintage and not new so will have signs of use and wear. The set is in great overall condition with a nice patina. The roaster, one triangle pot, and octagonal tray seem to have had more use than the rest, but all look fabulous. Please see photos and zoom in for details. We attempt to portray any imperfections. Circa,1930s-1950’s. What have we here? THIS is a set of “Kitchen Jewels!” and “A Kitchen Symphony!” as the 1940’s Guardian Service Ware Catalog states!! A piece for every purpose and a purpose for every piece!! WOW!!! This is an INCREDIBLE set of 14 FABULOUS pieces designed by Master craftsmen including 9 cookware pieces and 5 lids (4 aluminum & 1 glass) all comprised of the finest quality aluminum bearing Guardian Service’s signature stamp of a knight between two axes etched into the glass. These pieces were originally sold by door-to-door salesmen through in-home demonstrations and today, their vintage fabulous-ness is sought after by collectors and people that want the dual purpose of both functional and attractive cookware. Some pieces have a very nice feature with interchanging lids and others serve a dual purpose. We have an oval vegetable dish that stands about 1 ½ inch tall and a large roasting pan that have both an interchanging lid AND the vegetable dish can sit inside the roasting pan like a steamer! We have 2 triangle pots (kind of heart shaped) but the catalog calls them triangle pots, with 1 interchangeable glass lid that bears the signature knight stamp. Four round cooking pots, 1 small with an aluminum lid; 1 medium round pot with lid and 2 round pots with the same diameter; although 1 is a bit taller, with an interchanging aluminum lid, AND the shorter round pot will fit inside the larger round pot like a double boiler! We also have a fabulous octagon shaped serving tray with handles which will double as a griddle, and we are pretty sure the prior owner enjoyed a pancake or two as the bottom of this piece has some black cooking marks. The large roaster also has some of these marks, but that certainly does not detract from the functionality of either piece and all the others are as clean as a whistle! This entire set is SO versatile and convenient and can be used from oven to table! Whether you are a collector or intend to use it on a daily basis, this set is definitely what the kitchen chef...
Aluminum
Tjorn Sterling Silverware by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk, Germany
Located in New York, NY
A set of sterling silverware in the Tjorn pattern designed by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk. Priced per five-piece place setting. Up to 12 (twel...
Sterling Silver
$12,500 / set
H 24 in W 24 in D 24 in
Acanthus by Mappin & Webb Silverplated Flatware Set Service Dinner 328 Pieces
By Mappin & Webb
Located in Big Bend, WI
Mappin & Webb is a true British treasure with over 241 years of tradition and historical significance in the world of silver and jewelry. Renowned for combining timeless craftsmanshi...
Silver Plate
Fabergé Silver Flatware Service for 24
By Fabergé
Located in New Orleans, LA
Fabergé silver is regarded as the highest form of Continental silver in terms of artistry and opulence. This rare 197-piece parcel-gilt silver flatware service for 24 was produced by...
Silver
$345 / set
H 110 in W 2 in D 2 in
2-Toned Butterscotch, Red, Green Bakelite Stainless Steel Flatware 34 Pieces Set
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Bakelite was the major form of “art plastic” from the 1930s through to the 1950s. It was patented by Belgian-born Leo Hendrik Baekeland in New York in 1907, and was the first truly s...
Bakelite
Collection of Persian Silverware and Tableware
Located in London, GB
A collection of Persian silverware and tableware Persian, Early 20th Century Box: height 3cm, width 16.5cm, depth 9.5cm Vases: height 41cm, diame...
Silver
Stainless Flatware Set by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk 72 Pieces
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Fulton, CA
Jens Quistgaard for Dansk stainless " Odin" steel flatware set made in Germany. circa. 1960's. Set consists of 72 pieces, service for 12 with salad fork and spoon and extra pieces. I...
Stainless Steel
$14,925 / set
H 0.04 in Dm 0.04 in
Puiforcat Art Deco Cutlery Flatware Papyrus Plated Silver 80 Pieces
By Puiforcat, Jean Puiforcat
Located in Boulogne Billancourt, FR
Art Deco cutlery flatware set "Papyrus" made in plated sterling silver by Puiforcat. Model designed in sterling silver by Jean E. Puiforcat in 1929 and called "Dinard". Set compose...
Silver Plate
Durgin Wentworth Flatware Service, 167 Pieces
By William B. Durgin
Located in New Orleans, LA
This rare 167-piece Wentworth sterling silver flatware service was crafted by the celebrated William B. Durgin Silver Company. Each piece bears an intricate, hand-chased pattern featuring florettes, acanthus leaves, scrolls, and an open cartouche surrounding a monogram. Originally retailed by Grogan Company, the leading retail jeweler in Pittsburgh at the turn of the century, this set of 12 is truly exceptional. The set comes complete in its original fitted, suede-lined case. American, circa 1902 Marked "STERLING" with script "D" mark for Durgin and retailer's mark "Grogan Company" Case: 6" high x 23 1/8" wide x 18 7/16" deep This service comprises: 12 dinner knives12 lunch knives12 butter spreaders12 dinner forks12 lunch forks12...
Sterling Silver