Mario Buatta for John Widdicomb Chinoiserie Faux Tortoise Shell Sideboard
View Similar Items
Mario Buatta for John Widdicomb Chinoiserie Faux Tortoise Shell Sideboard
About the Item
- Creator:Mario Buatta (Designer),John Widdicomb (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 32.5 in (82.55 cm)Width: 58.5 in (148.59 cm)Length: 32.5 in (82.55 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1970s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Good original vintage condition. Minor wear from age and use, including surface scuffs and some fine scratches to top. Shows beautifully.
- Seller Location:South Bend, IN
- Reference Number:Seller: Liberty & 33rd Furniture Co. #65591stDibs: LU2745321473942
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.
- John Widdicomb Georgian Banded Mahogany Serpentine Sideboard, Newly RefinishedBy John Widdicomb, Ralph WiddicombLocated in South Bend, INAn exceptional Georgian or Hepplewhite style sideboard, credenza, or console By Ralph Widdicomb for John Widdicomb Co. USA, Circa 1940s Flame mahogany, with satinwood banding and ...Category
Vintage 1940s American Georgian Sideboards
MaterialsBrass
- Harold Schwartz for Romweber Ebonized Sideboard Credenza, Newly RefinishedBy Romweber Furniture Co., Harold SchwartzLocated in South Bend, INAn exceptional Mid-Century Modern ebonized mahogany sideboard credenza or bar cabinet By Harold Schwartz for Romweber USA, 1950s M...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Sideboards
MaterialsMahogany
- Paul Frankl for Johnson Furniture Black Lacquered Mahogany Sideboard CredenzaBy Johnson Furniture Company, Paul FranklLocated in South Bend, INAn exceptional Mid-Century Modern sideboard, credenza, or bar cabinet By Paul Frankl for Johnson Furniture USA, 1950s Black lacquered mahogany, with lacquered cork top and b...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Sideboards
MaterialsBrass
- Michael Taylor for Baker Midcentury Hollywood Regency Cherry Sideboard CredenzaBy Michael Taylor, Baker Furniture CompanyLocated in South Bend, INAn exceptional Mid-Century Modern Hollywood Regency chinoiserie sideboard, credenza, or bar cabinet By Michael Taylor for Baker Furniture, "New World" Collection USA, 1950s ...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Sideboards
MaterialsNickel
- Edward Wormley for Drexel Black Lacquered Sideboard Credenza, Newly RefinishedBy Drexel, Edward WormleyLocated in South Bend, INAn exceptional Mid-Century Modern sideboard, credenza, or bar cabinet By Edward Wormley for Drexel, "Precedent" Collection USA, 1940s Black lacquered elm wood, with original...Category
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Sideboards
MaterialsBrass
- George Nelson for Herman Miller Black Lacquered Sideboard Credenza, RefinishedBy George Nelson, Herman MillerLocated in South Bend, INAn exceptional Mid-Century Modern sideboard, credenza, or bar cabinet By George Nelson for Herman Miller USA, 1950s Black lacquered walnut, with original aluminum hardware. ...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsAluminum
- Mario Buatta for John Widdicomb Mid Century Chinoiserie CredenzaBy John Widdicomb, Mario BuattaLocated in Countryside, ILMario Buatta for John Widdicomb Mid Century Chinoiserie Credenza This credenza measures: 48 wide x 17 deep x 32.5 inches high All pieces of furniture can be had in what we call res...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsMetal
- Mario Buatta for John Widdicomb Mid Century Chinoiserie CredenzaBy John Widdicomb, Mario BuattaLocated in Countryside, ILMario Buatta for John Widdicomb Mid Century Chinoiserie Credenza This credenza measures: 76.5 wide x 19 deep x 32.25 inches high All pieces of furniture can be had in what we call ...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsMetal
- John Widdicomb Oriental Three Doors Credenza or DresserBy John WiddicombLocated in Rockaway, NJVery nice John Widdicomb oriental server.Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
- 'Ming' Sideboard / Credenza by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb, 1950sBy Widdicomb Furniture Co., T.H. Robsjohn-GibbingsLocated in Los Angeles, CAThis elegant fully restored 'Ming' sideboard by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb (USA) features gorgeous walnut grain with large brass handles. The center cabinet has four intern...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Sideboards
MaterialsBrass
$6,900 Sale Price26% Off - Chinoiserie Faux Tortoise Shell Cabinet Credenza by HenredonLocated in Delray Beach, FLThe Chinoiserie Faux Tortoise Shell Cabinet Credenza by Henredon is a masterpiece of design, blending Asian elegance with wild flair. Its faux tortoise...Category
20th Century American Chinoiserie Credenzas
MaterialsBrass
- Novecento Collection Sideboard by John WiddicombBy John WiddicombLocated in Dorchester, MAThis elegant sideboard by John Widdicomb, modeled after Gio Ponti’s 1931 sideboard for R. B. da Turri, is composed of beautiful walnut veneer and walnut burl with decorative brass ac...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Sideboards
MaterialsBrass