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.
Mid-Century Modern Ottoman by John Stuart
By John Stuart
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Elegant vintage modern foot stool features black lacquered legs. Unique walnut cross beams connect each leg adding sturdiness and style. The sleek black vinyl top is molded for comfo...
Faux Leather, Walnut, Lacquer, Upholstery, Wood, Hardwood
Pair of John of Finn Juhl Stools For John Stuart in White Alpaca
By John Stuart
Located in New York, NY
A pair of Finn Juhl stools for John Stuart, the concave seats resting on ruddy colored wood newly upholstered in white alpaca with manufacturer's label on the underside.
Danish Modern Teak Stool / Ottoman
Located in Denton, TX
Solid thick teak wood with dovetailed corners can be also used for a side table.
Teak
Pair of Large 'Strapontin' Stools by Design Frères in COM
By Design Frères
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of large 'Strapontin' stools by Design Frères, in COM. This is the COM version: 1 yard required for the pair Instructions to send will be reconfirmed after the order is confirmed.
Wrought Iron
$5,900 / set
H 14 in W 22 in D 22 in
Jacques Charpentier Mid-Century Modern Tufted Leather Ottoman Stool Pair
By Jacques Charpentier
Located in Miami, FL
Pair of Jacques Charpentière Mid-Century Modern 1970 French stool, ottoman side tables in original tufted brown leather upholstery and polished chrome base. Very good original condi...
Chrome
$1,741
H 16.15 in W 15.75 in D 16.74 in
Mid Century Modern Organic Rattan Black Metal Stool or Ottoman 1950s Austria
By Werkstätte Carl Auböck
Located in Vienna, AT
Mid Century Modern vintage organic stool or ottoman or footstool from rattan and black lacquered metal frame 1950s Austria. While the slightly curved seat shows wonderful organic ra...
Metal
Pair of Silk Parsons Ottomans or Stools
By Milo Baughman
Located in Redding, CT
Pair of Silk Parson Ottomans or stools. Gingham silk upholstery covers the pair. very good condition. In the Billy Baldwin style with button top. This ...
Fabric, Silk, Upholstery, Wood
$6,800 / set
H 18.5 in W 24.5 in D 20 in
Pair of Dorothy Draper España X Stools / Benches in Leopard Velvet, circa 1955
By Heritage Furniture, Dorothy Draper
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Timelessly sexy and upper crust pair of Dorothy Draper Hollywood Regency benches or ottomans newly professionally upholstered in elegant leopard velvet. Stately X shape and lines. New leopard velvet tufted upholstery outlined in black piping for a more upscale finished look. Brass feet and emblems have a rich patina. Lacquered black wooden legs highlighted in gold draws the eye to that sophisticated X silhouette. These iconic Dorothy Draper benches...
Lacquer, Velvet
$1,035
H 15.36 in Dm 20.08 in
Mid-Century Italian Round Ottoman Pouf in Woven Rattan and Wood, Italy 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful French Riviera style pouf stool completely made in hand-woven rattan with walnut wood feet. This delightful organic object can also be used as stylish side table, it was de...
Bamboo, Rattan, Wood, Wicker
$3,500 / set
H 16 in W 19 in D 19 in
Pair Marge Carson for John Stuart Brass and Nubuck Leather Upholstered Ottomans
By Marge Carson, John Stuart
Located in Germantown, MD
A Pair of Marge Carson for John Stuart Brass and Nubuck Leather Upholstered Ottomans. Kaky color nubuck leather. Measures 19" in width, 19" in depth and 16" in height.
Brass
Pair of Arnold Madsen Sheepskin Clam Stools
By Arnold Madsen
Located in London, England
Arnold Madsen - Pair of Clam Stools The Clam Stool is the perfect companion piece for Arnold Madsen's iconic Clam Chair. This new design has been has been developed in close collabo...
Sheepskin, Fabric, Bouclé, Oak, Walnut
$2,850 / set
H 16.5 in W 26 in D 14 in
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Pink Ombre Leather Ottomans on Casters
Located in Dallas, TX
Vintage Mid-Century Modern set of rolling ottomans. Featuring their original soft pink ombre leather upholstery outfitted on casters. The footstools are in very good condition and ha...
Upholstery
$3,765 / set
H 16.15 in Dm 21.26 in
Pair of Sven Ellekaer Three-Legged Stools in Teak, Chr. Linneberg, Denmark, 1962
By Sven Ellekaer , Christian Linnebergs Møbelfabrik
Located in The Hague, NL
This striking pair of stools was designed by Sven Ellekaer and produced by Christian Linneberg Møbelfabrik in Denmark, 1962. The round seat pads are upholstered in a black and white vinyl leather, resting on a three-legged frame in teak wood. The decoratively applied vertical lines of a contrasting wenge wood veneer in the legs are unique for this model, which was normally executed entirely in teak or rosewood. We also have a lounge chair available, see the last picture of the listing. See listing reference LU1803326426552 for the chair. Literature reference: Mobilia Magazine...
Faux Leather, Teak, Wenge
Elegant Pair of French 1940s Stools
By René Drouet
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Delightful pair of petite wrought iron stools in the style of René Drouet and René Prou. The iron bases feature exaggerated cabriole legs ending in scrolled feet and are painted in t...
Paul Frankl 1940s Modern Swivel Stool for Johnson Furniture
By Paul Frankl, Johnson Furniture Co., John Stuart
Located in Miami, FL
Designed by Paul Frankl, this late 1940s low backed midcentury swivel stool was made by Johnson Furniture and marketed by John Stuart. The back with a plunging neckline shape, black lacquered crossbar and tapered legs. In excellent conditioned, upholstered in Donghia jacquard fabric from 1999 called Au Marche depicting women with baskets on the way to the market. Perfect as a vanity or dressing stool. Retains John Stuart brass...