John Widdicomb Mid Century Modern Walnut Gentlemen's High Chest Dresser MINT!
About the Item
- Creator:John Widdicomb (Designer),Dale Ford (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 46 in (116.84 cm)Width: 38 in (96.52 cm)Depth: 20 in (50.8 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1970s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Inspected mint vintage condition.
- Seller Location:Rockaway, NJ
- Reference Number:
John Widdicomb
In the Widdicomb family, furniture ran in the blood. 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, Michigan. There, he opened a shop with his four sons, including John Widdicomb, whose name would help carry the family legacy into the 20th century.
A wealth of pine and oak forests rendered Grand Rapids a logging center during the 1800s, and it eventually gained recognition for its furniture industry. The city became a destination for furniture makers who hailed from across the United States and beyond. 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. Admirers of mid-century modern furnishings likely recognize Widdicomb for the partnerships with iconic designers such as Frank Lloyd Wright, T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings and Mario Buatta. 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.
Today, Stickley continues to produce John Widdicomb Company furniture, including French, Italian, English and Russian reproductions, as well as modern works from the first half of the 20th century.
Find vintage John Widdicomb bedroom furniture, tables, case pieces and more on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Hardwick, NJ
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 1 day of delivery.
- Mid-Century Modern Walnut High Chest Gentlemen's ChestLocated in Rockaway, NJNice Mid-Century Danish modern walnut high chest.Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
- Sculptural Walnut 6 Drawers 2 Doors Compartment Gentlemen's Chest Dresser Mint!By Adrian PearsallLocated in Rockaway, NJSculptural walnut 6 drawers 2 doors compartment Kagan decor gentlemen's chest dresser mint!Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsWalnut
- John Stuart 5 Drawers Walnut High Boy Chest Dresser Mid-Century Modern Mint!By John StuartLocated in Rockaway, NJJohn Stuart 5 drawers walnut high boy chest dresser Mid-Century Modern Mint! Book matched drawers.Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsBrass
- Mid-Century Modern Walnut 5 Drawers High Chest Dresser MINT!By DrexelLocated in Rockaway, NJMid-Century Modern Walnut 5 Drawers High Chest Dresser MINT!.Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsTeak
- Johnson John Stuart Mid Century Modern Walnut High Chest Dresser Brass Pull MINTBy John Stuart, Johnson Furniture Co.Located in Rockaway, NJVery nice mid-century modern walnut dresser high chest by Johnson for John Stuart.Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsBrass
- Mid-Century Modern Walnut & Burl Accents Dresser High Chest Mint!By Heritage-Henredon, Paul McCobbLocated in Rockaway, NJMid-Century Modern walnut & burl accents dresser high chest mint!Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsWalnut
- Mid-Century Modern Sculptural Walnut Gentlemen’s ChestLocated in Clarksboro, NJThis listing is for a Mid-Century Modern Sculptural Walnut Gentlemen’s Chest. Featuring a straight line chest on chest design, two doors at the top that open up to three hidden drawe...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsBrass
- Mid Century MODERN Walnut + White Gentlemen's Chest / DRESSER Lawrence PeabodyBy Lawrence PeabodyLocated in Weehawken, NJMid Century Modern Walnut + White Gentlemen's Chest / dresser by Lawrence Peabody for Child Craft, c. 1960's. This lovely piece offers all the clothing storage you will need in one s...Category
Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsWood
- Dale Ford For John Widdicomb Chest of Drawers Dresser Walnut Mid-Century ModernBy John Widdicomb, Dale FordLocated in Miami, FLMid-Century Modern Dresser or Chest of drawers designed by Dale Ford for John Widdicomb. Features 3 drawers for lots of storage space. Makers Brandmark inside the drawers.Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsWalnut
- Handsome Pair Asian Style John Widdicomb Bachelors Chests Mid-Century ModernBy John WiddicombLocated in Pemberton, NJHandsome pair of John Widdicomb Asain style bachelors chests. These are fine examples of the level of craftsmanship and the standards of the John Widdicomb Furniture Company. These p...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsBrass
- Pair John Widdicomb ChestsBy John WiddicombLocated in New York, NYPair John Widdicomb Walnut and Brass Chests. The chests are walnut with four pull-out drawers. The handles have brass trim. Well made and sturdy.Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsBrass
- Persian Walnut Dresser by Bert England for John WiddicombBy John Widdicomb, Bert EnglandLocated in Hanover, MALuxurious nine drawer dresser in Persian walnut designed by Bert England for the John Widdicomb's Orientation Group. End doors with chunky s...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsBrass