John Stuart for Widdicomb Armoire Wardrobe Chifferobe circa 1960/1970s
About the Item
- Creator:Widdicomb Furniture Co. (Manufacturer),John Stuart (Retailer)
- Dimensions:Height: 66.5 in (168.91 cm)Width: 48 in (121.92 cm)Depth: 19 in (48.26 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s/1970s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Very good, original, clean and ready tones condition showing only minor wear, normal and consistent with age. Specifically, inconsequential wear to veneer on side panel at back edge, please see description, and images.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU978734595042
John Stuart
Grand Rapids, Michigan, was once known as “Furniture City” for its local mass-production industry that flourished from the mid-19th century into the early 20th century, led by furniture manufacturers like John Stuart. Stuart’s eponymous company, which would build showrooms in New York and Philadelphia, designed and sold elegant reproductions of various furniture styles, including 18th-century French and English furniture as well as what we now call mid-century modern home furnishings built by European craftsmen in the entrepreneur’s Grand Rapids factory.
In 1845, a British cabinetmaker named George Widdicomb arrived in New York before moving to Grand Rapids. There he set up a small cabinet shop in 1857 with a dozen craftsmen, including his son John Widdicomb. The store quickly found success due to Widdicomb’s English training and the dearth of other quality furniture makers in the region. Toward the end of the 19th century, Grand Rapids had earned an international reputation as a leader of American furniture manufacturing, and while the Widdicomb family would navigate some difficulty after the Civil War, they emerged anew as Widdicomb Brothers and Richards, and then the Widdicomb Furniture Company. Widdicomb’s son started his own company in 1897, the John Widdicomb Company, and in 1929, the Grand Rapids–born John Stuart joined the company as a director.
Stuart, who had been in the furniture industry since 1913, was named president of John Widdicomb Company in the early 1940s and by then had formed John Stuart, Inc., with partner Herbert M. Rothschild. John Stuart, Inc.’s offerings included oak buffets and other dining-room furnishings crafted in the Tudor and Elizabethan styles, with cabinet doors and drawer fronts characterized by meticulously carved natural-world motifs and other decorative flourishes. Stuart also oversaw the design of reproductions of sophisticated walnut and mahogany Queen Anne side tables and dining chairs, with the latter marked by pronounced, vase-shaped curves in the back splats and cabriole legs. In 1952, the manufacturer and distributor’s founder sold the business, including the right to trade under his name, to the John Widdicomb Company.
Find a wide variety of vintage John Stuart furniture on 1stDibs.
Widdicomb Furniture Co.
Admirers of vintage mid-century modern furnishings likely recognize the Widdicomb Furniture Company name for the fruitful partnerships it forged with iconic designers such as Frank Lloyd Wright, T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings and Mario Buatta. But there is more to the Widdicomb story than the albeit quite covetable sofas and bedroom furniture it produced during the middle of the 20th century.
A wealth of pine and oak forests rendered Grand Rapids, Michigan, a logging center during the 1800s, and it eventually gained recognition for its furniture industry. The American city became a destination for furniture makers who hailed from across the United States and beyond. Furniture maker George Widdicomb emigrated from England to the United States in 1845, eventually setting up a cabinet shop in Syracuse, New York, before moving west to Grand Rapids. There, he opened a shop with his four sons, including John Widdicomb, whose name would help carry the family legacy into the 20th century.
The Widdicomb shop in Grand Rapids prospered, as the patriarch’s formal English training allowed him to produce pieces with superior craftsmanship compared to those of his competitors. Although the Civil War halted business and took the life of one of the Widdicomb brothers, the family’s survivors would start anew as Widdicomb Brothers and Richards, soon renamed the Widdicomb Furniture Company.
John Widdicomb, however, split from the family business in 1897 to create the John Widdicomb Company, where he would go on to focus on Louis XV- and French Provincial-style furnishings. Chairs made in these styles have distinct characteristics, such as floral motifs carved in the frames and gently angled backrests. John's company also remained a family affair: The founder’s son, Harry, assumed control of the company when his father died in 1910, while John's nephew Ralph Widdicombe — who retained the English spelling of his last name and joined the John Widdicomb Company at its start — designed every single piece of the offerings at his uncle's manufacturing outfit until he retired in 1951. Ralph was an internationally distinguished furniture designer whose modern mahogany bedroom suite won first prize at the Paris Exposition in 1900.
The original iteration of Widdicomb, which was helmed by John's older brother William while John ran his own brand, had shifted from making period revival styles of furniture, such as Georgian and Chippendale, to manufacturing modern pieces in the late 1920s. Today vintage Widdicomb seating, tables and other pieces produced during the postwar years are particularly sought after by collectors of mid-20th-century furniture.
In 1959, master woodworker George Nakashima created his Origins collection for Widdicomb when the firm merged with Mueller Furniture Corporation and was known, for around 10 years, as Widdicomb-Mueller. Origins, a revered Shaker-influenced group of nightstands, upholstered lounge chairs, dining-room tables and more, saw Nakashima working with woods like Carpathian elm and laurel in his Pennsylvania studio.
Eventually, the two Widdicomb companies would combine in 1970, operating under the name John Widdicomb Co.
In 2002, the business closed after more than a century of operations, and its assets were acquired by Stickley Furniture. Interestingly, it was not the first time Widdicomb and Stickley overlapped: In the final years of the 19th century, the companies opened a shared storehouse in London, while John Widdicomb and Albert Stickley would travel Europe together for the purposes of research.
Find vintage Widdicomb coffee tables, case pieces, dining chairs and more on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Cohoes, NY
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 1 day of delivery.
- Mid Century Chifferobe Wardrobe by StanleyBy Distinctive Furniture By StanleyLocated in New York, NYExceptional mid century wardrobe by noted American furniture maker, marked Distinctive Furniture by Stanley. The chest features an unusual wardrobe section which opens from the side, flanked by a bank of five deep drawers, providing ample storage for both hanging and folding clothes...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Wardrobes and Armoires
MaterialsMetal
- Mid Century Chest Dresser Chifferobe by Dillingham att. to Baughman c 1960/1970sBy Milo Baughman, Dillingham Manufacturing CompanyLocated in New York, NYGreat two door over two drawer chifforobe dresser, made by Dillingham, design possibly Milo Baughman, or Merton Gershun, circa 1960/1970's. The chest features an upper section, with...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Wardrobes and Armoires
MaterialsWalnut
- Vintage Luggage Hartmann Wardrobe on Revolving Base Made for Saks Fifth AvenueBy Hartmann Trunk Company, Saks Fifth AvenueLocated in New York, NYRare Pathfinder Imperial wardrobe luggage case on revolving base, made by Hartmann for Saks Fifth Avenue . The interior has a bank of drawers on one side, and accordion style pul...Category
Early 20th Century American Art Deco Trunks and Luggage
MaterialsLeather, Canvas, Wood
- Rosewood Metal Glass and Formica Wall Unit Baugnman Attributed for John StuartBy John Stuart, Milo BaughmanLocated in New York, NYStunning wall unit having rosewood cabinets with white Formica surfaces, brushed metal trim, and tinted glass shelves. Impressive three bay unit, having storage cabinets, drawers and...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Shelves and Wall Cabinets
MaterialsMetal
- Mid Century Modern Extension Dining Table by J. Stuart Clingman /John WiddicombBy John WiddicombLocated in New York, NYClassic Mid Century dining table designed by J. Stuart Clingman for John Widdicomb. The table features two architectural pedestal bases, and comes with two original leaves. This example is in very good, clean, original and ready to use condition, showing only light cosmetic wear, normal and consistent with age. As is commonly found in vintage extension dining tables...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
MaterialsWalnut
- Set of Six John Stuart Chrome and White Dining ChairsBy John StuartLocated in New York, NYSix chrome and white vinyl dining chairs, two-arm, four-side. The vinyl upholstery shows signs of wear from use. Dimensions in listing are for...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
MaterialsChrome
- 1980s Modern Burl Wood Gentleman’s Armoire by John StuartBy John StuartLocated in Kennesaw, GAThis is a 1970s modern burl wood gentleman’s armoire by John Stuart. It is in very good condition, and it is marked in the drawer. It does have dovet...Category
Vintage 1970s American Modern Wardrobes and Armoires
MaterialsBrass
- Italian Design Wardrobe or Armoire, 1970sLocated in Casale Monferrato, ITThis two-door wardrobe of Italian design from the 1970s is truly special. Made of plywood characterized by a large printed decoration on the doors. A classic scene from the ancient e...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Wardrobes and Armoires
MaterialsPlywood
- Stunning Burl Wood Armoire Wardrobe by Arthur Umanoff for Dillingham, 1970sBy Milo Baughman, Arthur UmanoffLocated in Los Angeles, CAGorgeous highly figured burl grain wood armoire in a beautiful light finish by Arthur Umanoff for Dillingham. Circa 1970s. The large cabinet doors conceal two deep bottom burl drawe...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Wardrobes and Armoires
MaterialsBurl
- 1970s Rattan Curved Top Armoire Wardrobe Storage CabinetBy Michael TaylorLocated in Fort Lauderdale, FLOn offer on this occasion is one of the most stunning, rare wardrobe cabinet you could hope to find. Outstanding design is exhibited throughout. The beautiful cabinet is statement pi...Category
Vintage 1970s Philippine Bohemian Wardrobes and Armoires
MaterialsRattan, Glass, Wood
- John Stuart for Widdicomb Rosewood ChestBy John Widdicomb, John StuartLocated in Lambertville, NJFine rosewood chest of drawers by John Stuart for John Widdicomb Co. This bedroom storage cabinet features sculptural carved palm-like columns and original brass hardware. Original J...Category
Vintage 1950s Georgian Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsBrass
- Wardrobe by Ettore Sottsass for Poltronova, 1970 CircaBy Ettore SottsassLocated in Milano, LombardiaThis wardrobe is a beautiful object for real. The use of high-quality materials, coupled with meticulous craftsmanship, ensures both aesthetic appeal and functional durability. This ...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Modern Wardrobes and Armoires
MaterialsTextile, Wood