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Widdicomb Furniture Co. Secretaires

American

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.

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Creator: Widdicomb Furniture Co.
T.H. Robsjohn Gibbings, Widdicomb, Walnut, Highboy Secretary, USA, 1960s
By T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Widdicomb Furniture Co.
Located in Manhasset, NY
T.H. Robsjohn Gibbings, Widdicomb, American Mid-Century Modern, Walnut, Highboy Secretary, USA, 1960s A walnut and glass highboy dresser designed by T.H. Robsjohn Gibbings and produ...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Widdicomb Furniture Co. Secretaires

Materials

Glass, Walnut

Midcentury Secretary Cabinet in Walnut by Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb
By Widdicomb Furniture Co., T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings
Located in Detroit, MI
This exceptional vintage midcentury secretary desk with bookcase was designed by British-born T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb. Expertly craf...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Widdicomb Furniture Co. Secretaires

Materials

Brass

T.H. RobsjohnGibbings Highboy Secretary with Glass Cabinet for Widdicomb
By T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Widdicomb Furniture Co.
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Highboy secretary cabinet by T.H Robsjohn Gibbings, manufactured by Widdicomb c.1950s USA. This beautiful oak cabinet features three drawers with the top drawer front pulling out to ...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Widdicomb Furniture Co. Secretaires

Materials

Oak, Glass

Rare Highboy Secretary by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb
By Widdicomb Furniture Co., John Widdicomb, T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Elevate your home office or study with this monumental secretary cabinet conceived by iconic British-American architect T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings (b. 1903-1976) for his legendary mid-ce...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Widdicomb Furniture Co. Secretaires

Materials

Metal, Brass

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Widdicomb Furniture Co. secretaires for sale on 1stDibs.

Widdicomb Furniture Co. secretaires are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of wood and are designed with extraordinary care. Many of the original secretaires by Widdicomb Furniture Co. were created in the mid-century modern style in united states during the mid-20th century. Prices for Widdicomb Furniture Co. secretaires can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $3,536 and can go as high as $3,536, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $3,536.
Questions About Widdicomb Furniture Co. Secretaires
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 26, 2024
    To identify Widdicomb furniture, look for a paper label. On tables, you will usually find it on the underside of the tabletop, while it is typically affixed to the bottoms of seats on chairs. With casegoods, search for the label on the backs or bottoms as well as inside drawers and cabinets. The paper label will identify the maker and may also provide information about the name of the collection and/or the year of production. A certified appraiser or expert antiques dealer can also assist you with identification. On 1stDibs, find a variety of Widdicomb furniture.

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