John Stuart Wall Decorations

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.

Creator: John Stuart

Vintage Burl Wood and Bronze Freestanding Wall Unit by John Stuart

$6,500

Vintage Burl Wood and Bronze Freestanding Wall Unit by John Stuart

By West Michigan Furniture Co., John Stuart

Located in North Hollywood, CA

This stunning mid-century modern freestanding wall unit is a true masterpiece designed by John Stuart and crafted by West Michigan Furniture. This exquisite piece exudes elegance wit...

Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage John Stuart Wall Decorations

Materials

Bronze

Mid Century Wall Unit Cabinet by Nils Jonsson for Troeds

$3,516Sale Price|20% Off

H 71.86 in W 70.87 in D 19.69 in

Mid Century Wall Unit Cabinet by Nils Jonsson for Troeds

By Nils Jonsson, Troeds Bjarnum 1

Located in Mortsel, BE

Very nice wall cabinet, some wear and tear see pictures please

Category

Mid-20th Century Swedish Mid-Century Modern John Stuart Wall Decorations

Materials

Wood, Rosewood

Mid Century Omni Wood Modular Wall Unit Shelving & Bookcase by George Nelson

$5,900

H 95.5 in W 65.5 in D 21 in

Mid Century Omni Wood Modular Wall Unit Shelving & Bookcase by George Nelson

By George Nelson

Located in Detroit, MI

This vintage mid century modern Omni wall unit shelving system designed by George Nelson is circa 1960. This ingenious shelving system features spring-loaded floor to ceiling aluminu...

Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage John Stuart Wall Decorations

Materials

Metal, Aluminum

Danish Modern Teak Bookshelf Wall Unit

$1,600

H 15.5 in W 70.5 in D 12 in

Danish Modern Teak Bookshelf Wall Unit

Located in Atlanta, GA

Danish Modern Teak Bookshelf Wall Unit, Denmark, circa 1960s. This piece is a versatile size and can be used as a bookshelf, bar, media cabinet, vitrine...

Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage John Stuart Wall Decorations

Materials

Glass, Wood, Teak

50 Piece Barzilay Walnut Wall Unit

$6,850 / set

H 80 in W 95 in D 19 in

50 Piece Barzilay Walnut Wall Unit

By Barzilay

Located in Los Angeles, CA

We have over 50 pieces of this amazing Barzilay walnut wall unit with aluminum accents. Please contact us for custom pricing and visit our L...

Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage John Stuart Wall Decorations

Materials

Aluminum

606 wall unit by Dieter Rams for Vitsoe, 1960s Germany.

$8,791 / set

H 43.71 in W 160.64 in D 14.97 in

606 wall unit by Dieter Rams for Vitsoe, 1960s Germany.

By Dieter Rams, Vitsoe

Located in Landgraaf, NL

606 wall unit by Dieter Rams for Vitsoe, 1960s Germany. The 606 is a well-known modular shelving system that became a benchmark of modernist design. The system is based on a simple a...

Category

1960s German Mid-Century Modern Vintage John Stuart Wall Decorations

Materials

Aluminum

Large Mid Century Swedish Teak Wood Bookshelf Wall Unit by Bodafors

$8,900 / set

H 78.25 in W 107.5 in D 17.75 in

Large Mid Century Swedish Teak Wood Bookshelf Wall Unit by Bodafors

By Bodafors, Bertil Fridhagen

Located in Detroit, MI

This beautiful vintage mid century Swedish modern four-piece teak wood bookcase wall unit was designed by Bertil Fridhagen for Bodafors and made in Sweden in 1962. The minimalist Sca...

Category

1960s Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage John Stuart Wall Decorations

Materials

Wood, Teak

Rosewood Metal Glass and Formica Wall Unit Baugnman Attributed for John Stuart

$3,840Sale Price|20% Off

H 84 in W 75.25 in D 22 in

Rosewood Metal Glass and Formica Wall Unit Baugnman Attributed for John Stuart

By John Stuart, Milo Baughman

Located in New York, NY

Stunning wall unit having rosewood cabinets with white Formica surfaces, brushed metal trim, and tinted glass shelves. Impressive three bay unit, having storage cabinets, drawers and...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern John Stuart Wall Decorations

Materials

Metal

Italian Mid-Century Macassar Wood Wall Unit by Vittorio Dassi

$2,800

H 70.75 in W 93 in D 19 in

Italian Mid-Century Macassar Wood Wall Unit by Vittorio Dassi

By Vittorio Dassi

Located in Brooklyn, NY

This vintage Italian wall unit features stunning Mid-Century design and offers a modular cabinet display perfect for storage in any modern setting. Rich lacquered wood finish is comp...

Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage John Stuart Wall Decorations

Materials

Wood, Macassar

Teak Cado System Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius

$15,000 / item

H 72 in W 225 in D 18 in

Teak Cado System Wall Unit by Poul Cadovius

By Poul Cadovius

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Highly versatile and functional wall unit in teak by Danish designer Poul Cadovius. The unit shown is an example of what we typically stock. Units are sold by the component - wall ...

Category

1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage John Stuart Wall Decorations

Materials

Teak

Amuneal's Black Wood, Steel, and Bronze Industrial Wall Mounted Shelving

$14,013 / item

H 73.75 in W 39.5 in D 17 in

Amuneal's Black Wood, Steel, and Bronze Industrial Wall Mounted Shelving

By Amuneal

Located in New York, NY

Amuneal's Charred Pine, Steel and Bronze Shelving with Formed Returns. This single bay Loft Shelving Series unit is wall-mounted to support five shelves, using custom machined brass fittings on bent steel posts. Amuneal’s proprietary machined hardware clamps onto the posts so that the shelves can be easily adjusted at any time. The burnt oak shelves are milled in house from pine before being hand-finished using the traditional Shou Sugi Ban process of burning the wood. Ebonized oak is a similar looking alternative black wood option. Once completed, the shelves are sealed with a protective coating that keeps that burnt finish from rubbing off. The combination of blackened steel posts, machined and patinated brass hardware and the charred oak shelves make this a stunning and sculptural shelving...

Category

2010s American Modern John Stuart Wall Decorations

Materials

Brass, Steel

Space Age Italian Wall Unit

$6,400

H 82.5 in W 86 in D 17.25 in

Space Age Italian Wall Unit

Located in Brooklyn, NY

An Italian Space Age wall unit. Laminate blue faux bois with black lacquer, glass and aluminum details. A diverse storage piece allowing for use as a bookshelf, bar unit or media cab...

Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Space Age John Stuart Wall Decorations

Materials

Aluminum, Chrome

Mid-Century Modern Lucite and Formica Wall Unit, circa 1980s

$5,500

H 84.5 in W 106.25 in D 18.75 in

Mid-Century Modern Lucite and Formica Wall Unit, circa 1980s

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Large modular Mid-Century Modern wall unit offering multiple flexible storage options. Impressive 1" thick Lucite columns support cabinets, shelves and overhead light canopies. Doubl...

Category

1980s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage John Stuart Wall Decorations

Materials

Formica, Lucite

John Stuart wall decorations for sale on 1stDibs.

John Stuart wall decorations 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 wall decorations, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original wall decorations by John Stuart were created in the mid-century modern style in united states during the late 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider wall decorations by Herman Miller, Charles Hollis Jones, and Paul Evans. Prices for John Stuart wall decorations can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $3,500 and can go as high as $3,500, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $3,500.