John Widdicomb French Rococo Gold Gilt and Painted Large Wall Mirror, 1940s
About the Item
- Creator:John Widdicomb (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 44 in (111.76 cm)Width: 52.25 in (132.72 cm)Depth: 2.5 in (6.35 cm)
- Style:Rococo (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1940s
- Condition:Very good original vintage condition. Minor wear expected from age and use.
- Seller Location:South Bend, IN
- Reference Number:
John Widdicomb
In the Widdicomb family, furniture ran in the blood. 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, Michigan. There, he opened a shop with his four sons, including John Widdicomb, whose name would help carry the family legacy into the 20th century.
A wealth of pine and oak forests rendered Grand Rapids a logging center during the 1800s, and it eventually gained recognition for its furniture industry. The city became a destination for furniture makers who hailed from across the United States and beyond. 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. Admirers of mid-century modern furnishings likely recognize Widdicomb for the partnerships with iconic designers such as Frank Lloyd Wright, T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings and Mario Buatta. 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.
Today, Stickley continues to produce John Widdicomb Company furniture, including French, Italian, English and Russian reproductions, as well as modern works from the first half of the 20th century.
Find vintage John Widdicomb bedroom furniture, tables, case pieces and more on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: South Bend, IN
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 1 day of delivery.
- John Widdicomb Neoclassical Painted and Gold Gilt Large Wall Mirror, 1950sBy John WiddicombLocated in South Bend, INA gorgeous Neoclassical or Louis XVI style wall mirror By John Widdicomb USA, Circa 1950s Carved cherry wood frame, with original cream painted and gold gilt finish. Meas...Category
Vintage 1950s American Neoclassical Wall Mirrors
MaterialsMirror, Cherry, Paint
- John Widdicomb Mid-Century Modern Cherry and Brass Large Wall Mirror, 1950sBy John WiddicombLocated in South Bend, INA gorgeous Mid-Century Modern large framed wall mirror By John Widdicomb USA, 1950s Solid cherry wood, with brass trim. Measures: 52.38"W x 2"D x 34.5"H. Very good ori...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
MaterialsBrass
- John Widdicomb Mid-Century Modern Cherry Wood and Brass Wall Mirror, 1950sBy John WiddicombLocated in South Bend, INA gorgeous Mid-Century Modern cherry wood and brass framed wall mirror By John Widdicomb USA, 1950s Measures: 52.5"W x 2"D x 34.5"H. Very good original vintage condition.Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
MaterialsBrass
- John Widdicomb French Provincial Louis XV Cherry Wood Nightstands, Circa 1940sBy John Widdicomb, Ralph WiddicombLocated in South Bend, INA gorgeous pair of mid-century French Provincial Louis XV style nightstands or end tables By Ralph Widdicomb for John Widdicomb Co. USA, Circa 1940s Solid cherry wood, with ...Category
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Night Stands
MaterialsBrass
- French Art Deco Carved Walnut Wall Mirror by Landstrom, Circa 1940sBy Landstrom FurnitureLocated in South Bend, INA gorgeous French Art Deco style carved walnut framed wall mirror By Landstrom Furniture USA, Circa 1940s Measures: 24.25"W x 1"D x 41.5"H. Good original vintage condition. Matc...Category
Mid-20th Century American Art Deco Wall Mirrors
MaterialsMirror, Walnut
- Grosfeld House Hollywood Regency Mahogany Framed Wall Mirror, circa 1940sBy Grosfeld HouseLocated in South Bend, INA gorgeous Hollywood Regency or Neoclassical wall mirror. By Grosfeld House. USA, circa 1940s. Mahogany frame, with sunburst top and diamond inlay. Measures: 36.5"W x 1.7...Category
Vintage 1940s American Hollywood Regency Wall Mirrors
MaterialsMirror, Mahogany
- Large Gilt Rococo Wall MirrorLocated in Chillerton, Isle of WightLarge gilt rococo wall mirror. The mirror is in a 5” wide decorate gilt Rococo Style frame This is a beautiful and quite elaborate piece, the glass an...Category
Antique 19th Century Rococo Wall Mirrors
MaterialsMirror
- Vintage John Widdicomb French Style Silver Leaf and Painted MirrorBy John WiddicombLocated in Chapel Hill, NCVintage John Widdicomb French Style Silver Leaf and Painted Mirror. Cream painted frame with silver leaf accents in the Louis XV style. Retains origin...Category
Mid-20th Century American Louis XV Wall Mirrors
MaterialsSilver Leaf
- John Widdicomb Hand Painted Wood MirrorBy John WiddicombLocated in Miami, FLJohn Widdicomb Hand Painted Wood Mirror Offered for sale is a hand painted wood mirror manufactured by the John Widdicomb. The frame has rais...Category
Late 20th Century American Wall Mirrors
MaterialsWood
- Very Large French Rococo Oval Gilt Wall MirrorLocated in Chillerton, Isle of WightA very large French Rococo oval gilt wall mirror The mirror has an exquisite gilt frame in the Rococo style, it is decorated with shells, swags and leav...Category
Antique Late 19th Century Rococo Wall Mirrors
- A Very Large French Rococo Oval Gilt Wall MirrorLocated in Chillerton, Isle of WightA Very Large French Rococo Oval Gilt Wall Mirror The Mirror has an exquisite gilt Frame in the Rococo Style, it is elaborately decorated with shells, swags and Leaves with a neat ro...Category
Antique 19th Century Rococo Wall Mirrors
MaterialsGiltwood
- John Widdicomb Walnut & Gilt Accent Scalloped Rectangle Vintage Wall Mirror 70sBy John WiddicombLocated in Miami, FLOriginal John Widdicomb Mid-Century Modern Scalloped hand carved walnut wall mirror with giltwood accent. Made in America circa 1970. Makers Mark on the back. Mirror Size: 17 x 21...Category
Vintage 1970s Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
MaterialsWalnut, Giltwood