Skip to main content

John Stuart Stools

American

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.

to
2
2
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
1
1
2
2
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
42
296
133
117
108
Creator: John Stuart
Mid-Century Modern Ottoman by John Stuart
Mid-Century Modern Ottoman by John Stuart

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...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern John Stuart Stools

Materials

Faux Leather, Walnut, Lacquer, Upholstery, Wood, Hardwood

Pair of John of Finn Juhl Stools For John Stuart in White Alpaca
Pair of John of Finn Juhl Stools For John Stuart in White Alpaca

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.

Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage John Stuart Stools

Related Items
Danish Modern Teak Stool / Ottoman
Danish Modern Teak Stool / Ottoman

Danish Modern Teak Stool / Ottoman

$1,000Sale Price|20% Off

H 11.63 in W 19 in D 13.38 in

Danish Modern Teak Stool / Ottoman

Located in Denton, TX

Solid thick teak wood with dovetailed corners can be also used for a side table.

Category

20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern John Stuart Stools

Materials

Teak

Pair of Large 'Strapontin' Stools by Design Frères in COM
Pair of Large 'Strapontin' Stools by Design Frères in COM

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.

Category

21st Century and Contemporary French Art Deco John Stuart Stools

Materials

Wrought Iron

Jacques Charpentier Mid-Century Modern Tufted Leather Ottoman Stool Pair
Jacques Charpentier Mid-Century Modern Tufted Leather Ottoman Stool Pair

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...

Category

1970s French Mid-Century Modern Vintage John Stuart Stools

Materials

Chrome

Mid Century Modern Organic Rattan Black Metal Stool or Ottoman 1950s Austria
Mid Century Modern Organic Rattan Black Metal Stool or Ottoman 1950s Austria

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...

Category

Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern John Stuart Stools

Materials

Metal

Pair of Silk Parsons Ottomans or Stools
Pair of Silk Parsons Ottomans or Stools

Pair of Silk Parsons Ottomans or Stools

$1,080Sale Price / set|28% Off

H 18.5 in W 23.5 in D 16.75 in

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 ...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern John Stuart Stools

Materials

Fabric, Silk, Upholstery, Wood

Pair of Dorothy Draper España X Stools / Benches in Leopard Velvet, circa 1955
Pair of Dorothy Draper España X Stools / Benches in Leopard Velvet, circa 1955

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...

Category

1950s American Hollywood Regency Vintage John Stuart Stools

Materials

Lacquer, Velvet

Mid-Century Italian Round Ottoman Pouf in Woven Rattan and Wood, Italy 1970s
Mid-Century Italian Round Ottoman Pouf in Woven Rattan and Wood, Italy 1970s

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...

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern John Stuart Stools

Materials

Bamboo, Rattan, Wood, Wicker

Pair Marge Carson for John Stuart Brass and Nubuck Leather Upholstered Ottomans
Pair Marge Carson for John Stuart Brass and Nubuck Leather Upholstered Ottomans

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.

Category

Late 20th Century American Modern John Stuart Stools

Materials

Brass

Pair of Arnold Madsen Sheepskin Clam Stools
Pair of Arnold Madsen Sheepskin Clam Stools

Pair of Arnold Madsen Sheepskin Clam Stools

$5,041 / set

H 15.75 in W 24.02 in D 15.75 in

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...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Swedish John Stuart Stools

Materials

Sheepskin, Fabric, Bouclé, Oak, Walnut

Pair of Mid-Century Modern Pink Ombre Leather Ottomans on Casters
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Pink Ombre Leather Ottomans on Casters

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...

Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage John Stuart Stools

Materials

Upholstery

Pair of Sven Ellekaer Three-Legged Stools in Teak, Chr. Linneberg, Denmark, 1962
Pair of Sven Ellekaer Three-Legged Stools in Teak, Chr. Linneberg, Denmark, 1962

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...

Category

1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage John Stuart Stools

Materials

Faux Leather, Teak, Wenge

Elegant Pair of French 1940s Stools
Elegant Pair of French 1940s Stools

Elegant Pair of French 1940s Stools

$3,294 / set

H 18.12 in W 20.87 in D 20.87 in

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...

Category

Mid-20th Century French Art Deco John Stuart Stools

Previously Available Items
Paul Frankl 1940s Modern Swivel Stool for Johnson Furniture
Paul Frankl 1940s Modern Swivel Stool for Johnson Furniture

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...

Category

1940s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage John Stuart Stools

John Stuart stools for sale on 1stDibs.

John Stuart stools are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of John Stuart stools, although white editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original stools by John Stuart were created in the mid-century modern style in united states during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider stools by Arthur Umanoff, Herman Miller, and Paul Evans. Prices for John Stuart stools can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $350 and can go as high as $4,400, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $2,375.