Widdicomb, Mid-Century Double Chest of Drawers
About the Item
- Creator:Widdicomb Furniture Co. (Manufacturer)
- Attributed to:T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 45 in (114.3 cm)Width: 68 in (172.72 cm)Depth: 20 in (50.8 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1940s
- Condition:Refinished. Wear consistent with age and use. Mint Restored.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU831812152561
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: New York, NY
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 1 day of delivery.
- Mid-Century Paul Frankl Chest Of DrawersBy Paul FranklLocated in New York, NYMid Century Modern Chest of drawers in cerused natual oak with a combed oak border. Original brass pulls. Paul Frankl for Brown Saltman.Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsBrass
- John Widdicomb Midnight Blue DresserBy John WiddicombLocated in New York, NYMid Century solid Cherry wood dresser custom stained updatred in a dark Sapphire Midnight Blue. The brass hardware has been professionally up...Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsBrass
- Custom Tommi Parzinger Mahogany ChestsBy Tommi ParzingerLocated in New York, NYCustom ordered pair chest of drawers in solid mahogany with iconic brass pulls all designed by Tommi Parzinger/Parzinger originals. Each chest ha...Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsBrass
- Tommi Parzinger Cerused Mahogany Chests, PairBy Tommi ParzingerLocated in New York, NYPair of midcentury classic chest of drawers featuring cerused mahogany cases and matte eggshell lacquer drawer front with satin brass button pulls and...Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsBrass
- Kittinger Chest with Greek Key PullsBy Kittinger Furniture CompanyLocated in New York, NYHollywood Regency chest of drawers in a sophisticated Ivory lacquer with contrasting stylized Greek key pulls in a chocolate brown lacquer, Kittinger c40's. Mint Restored.Category
20th Century American Hollywood Regency Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsWood
- Gibbings for Widdicomb Carved Walnut Plume Coffee TableBy John Widdicomb, T.H. Robsjohn-GibbingsLocated in New York, NYArt Deco influenced walnut coffee table with carved plume supports by T.H. Robsjohn Gibbings for Widdicomb. Table has been restored in a custom dark brown stain.Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Coffee and Cocktail Tables
MaterialsWalnut
- A Pair of T. H. Robsjohn Gibbings for Widdicomb Black Lacquer and Brass ChestsBy T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Widdicomb Furniture Co.Located in Dallas, TXA pair of beautifully restored cabinet by Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb. This is a classic and quite substantial. We have expertly black lacquered. Pulls are solid brass and have b...Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsBrass
- Mid-Century Modern T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings by Widdicomb Walnut Chest of DrawersBy Widdicomb Furniture Co., T.H. Robsjohn-GibbingsLocated in Toledo, OHElegant mid-century modern walnut dresser by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb features a curved front, captivating spear-shaped silver finish tipped pulls, and 4 drawers. 34" wid...Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsWalnut
- T. H. Robsjohn Gibbings for Widdicomb Black Lacquer Chest with Solid Brass PullsBy T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Widdicomb Furniture Co.Located in Dallas, TXA beautifully restored cabinet by Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb. This is a classic and quite substantial. We have expertly black lacquered. Pulls ar...Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsBrass
- T. H. Robsjohn Gibbings for Widdicomb Black Lacquer Chest with Solid Brass PullsBy T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Widdicomb Furniture Co.Located in Dallas, TXA beautifully restored cabinet by Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb. This is a classic and quite substantial. We have expertly black lacquered. Pulls are solid brass and have been poli...Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsBrass
- Mid-Century Gentleman's Chest by WiddicombBy Widdicomb Furniture Co.Located in Brooklyn, NYHandsome dresser by Widdicomb with walnut grain, six total drawers, brass spade handles. Back has a finished wood panel. (Please confirm item location-NY or NJ-with dealer).Category
Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsWood
- Mid-Century Modern Chest in Two-Tone Walnut by Robsjohn-Gibbings for WiddicombBy T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Widdicomb Furniture Co.Located in New York, NYThis sophisticated Mid-Century Modern four-drawer high chest was realized by T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb Company, circa 1950. Robsjohn-Gibbings represents one of the premie...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsWalnut