A bearing assembly having upper and lower bearing seats and a sliding load bearing member between the seats. The sliding member is fitted with an elastic self-centering element. The assembly in operation damps relative horizontal movement between the upper and lower seats, the self-centering element returning the sliding member to a centered position at rest. Typically a structure rests upon and is secured to the upper seat and the lower seat rests upon or is fixed to a foundation. The relative horizontal movement may be caused by earthquakes, wind loads or the like.