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.
Pair John Stuart White Wash Beveled Glass MidCentury Modern Tall Display Cabinet
By John Stuart, Drexel
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Pair of nice mid-century modern bleached or cerused chestnut wall units curio cabinets for John Stuart. Solid brass hardware. Interior cabinets lights.
Brass
$2,200
H 72 in W 27.5 in D 14.5 in
Italian Mid-Century Modern Wood and Glass Showcase Display Cabinet Storage Case
Located in Miami, FL
Six feet tall and four-level glass shelves Mid-Century Modern showcase made in Italy. Wooden base and tall glass and chrome column display or storag...
Chrome
Tall Mid Century Modern Brass and Glass Mastercraft Vitrine Cabinet
By Mastercraft
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous brass and glass tall showcase with 4 thick glass shelves etched for showing plates. Shelves are adjustable. Two glass doors each hung on 4 hinge...
Brass
Pair of Mastercraft Brass Display Cabinets
By Mastercraft
Located in Dallas, TX
Offered is a pair of Mastercraft vitrines with highly polished lacquered brass along with two main compartments: two adjustable glass shelves in the top section and one in the lower ...
Brass
Stunning Practical Tall Slim Brass Display Cabinet, Early 1900s
Located in Copenhagen K, DK
Handsome old French brass display cabinet from around the year 1900, in classic Art Nouveau style, which one can see on the charming brass shelf jacks. Equipped with a large glass d...
Brass
$14,550 / set
H 84 in W 36 in D 16 in
Pair Modern Black Lacquered & Brass Curio Display Cabinets by Mastercraft
By Mastercraft
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair of modern Mastercraft black lacquered, brass and glass display cabinets or vitrines. These beautiful cabinets feature a burnished brass over a black lacquered frame, three adjus...
Brass
$10,015Sale Price|20% Off
H 61.42 in W 22.45 in D 15.75 in
Art Deco Style Modern Glass Display Cabinet in Green, White, Black, Gold, Brass
By Renats Kotlevs
Located in Riga, LV
Luxury display cabinet Emperador catches the eye from first sight. Bright and glamorous, this cabinet is perfect to show off owners prized possessions and favorite home accessories. The beautiful lines and romantic curves of the frame are finished with a fabulous high gloss green lacquer and eye-drop shaped brass handles. Featuring tempered glass doors and three glass interior shelves, with luxurious red velvet lining in lower drawer, providing a handsome storage solution. This design is truly sophisticated and refined, a modern glamour. Truly stunning when used with matching jewelry console...
Brass
$2,139Sale Price|20% Off
H 77.56 in W 34.26 in D 11.03 in
Cesare Lacca Italian Midcentury Bar Display Cabinet
By Cesare Lacca
Located in bari, IT
Bar display cabinet made in Italy from the 1950s, designer Cesare Lacca.
Brass
Bernhard Rohne Pair Mastercraft Display Cabinet Vitrines
By Mastercraft, Bernhard Rohne
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Pair Mastercraft illuminated display cabinet - Vitrines designed by Bernhard Rohne. Very well cared for in very good to excellent condition. Mastercraft was an old school United st...
Brass
$1,251
H 51.58 in W 23.63 in D 12.21 in
Mid-Century Modern Display Cabinet, Restored Metal and Glass, Italy, 1960s
Located in Milano, IT
An industrial display case from the 1960s, featuring an enameled metal frame that provides sturdiness and a style typical of the industrial design of that era. The cabinet, which fea...
Metal
$16,500
H 89.5 in W 52 in D 16.5 in
French Art Nouveau Walnut Display Cabinet, Beveled Glass Doors, 1890
Located in Queens, NY
French Art Nouveau walnut display cabinet with 3 beveled glass doors and a floral carved center pediment and side corners.
Walnut
$30,047 / item
H 78.75 in W 41.74 in D 20.48 in
Laurameroni "Talento" Modern Tall Cabinet in Black Wood and Glass
By Laurameroni
Located in Monza, IT
Tall storage unit with 2 hinged doors. Internally equipped with 2 glass shelves with LED lighting and 1 wooden shelf. Structure in black-dyed wood, d...
Glass, Wood
Antique White Painted Rococo Display Cabinet
Located in Round Top, TX
Lovely rococo curves and carvings accentuate this striking Vitrine or display cabinet from Sweden. Note the exagerated curves and heavily carved feet that combine for dramatic effect...
Glass, Wood, Paint
$2,150
H 99 in W 32 in D 21.5 in
19th Century French Regence Carved Oak Tall Glass Vitrine Display Cabinet
Located in Dallas, TX
Bring charm and height to your display with this tall and narrow antique vitrine cabinet. Crafted in Normandy, France circa 1880 and built in two sections of solid oak, the elegant d...
Glass, Oak
$448Sale Price|20% Off
H 34.65 in W 31.5 in D 20.08 in
Mid-Century Modern Display Cabinet, Lacquered Wood and Glass, Italy, 1980s
By Non-Standard Furniture and Lighting
Located in Milano, IT
Showcase with hinged door and exposed shelves, lacquered wood and clear glass.
Glass, Wood
$9,700 / set
H 82.5 in W 30 in D 17 in
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Henredon Black Lacquer & Brass Glass Display Cabinets
By Henredon
Located in North Hollywood, CA
A spectacular pair of Mid-Century Modern display cabinets by Henredon, expertly crafted with striking black lacquered frames and elegant brass trim detailing along the doors and edge...
Brass
John Stuart Vitrines Display Cases Birdseye Maple Pair
By John Stuart
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description click on CONTINUE READING at the bottom of this page. Offering One Of Our Recent Palm Beach Estate Fine Furniture Acquisitions Of An Set of 2 Exceptional M...
Birdseye Maple, Glass
John Stuart Leather Front Vitrine Display Cabinet for Founders
By Founders Furniture Company, John Stuart
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This beautiful Mid-Century display cabinet offers spacious storage behind oversized glass doors, with a lower shelved cabinet enclosed with leather front doors. Unique chrome trim, stylish John Stuart...