Mid-Century Polished Brass Rectilinear Open Frame Oval Mirror by John Widdicomb
About the Item
- Creator:John Widdicomb (Maker)
- Dimensions:Height: 35 in (88.9 cm)Width: 23.25 in (59.06 cm)Depth: 1.5 in (3.81 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1960
- Condition:
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU793438916952
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: New York, NY
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Mid-Century Modernist Oval Mirror with Polished Brass FrameLocated in New York, NYThis well scaled and bold Mid-Century Modernist Oval Mirror with Polished Brass Frame originates from the United States, Circa 1960. Features a beautiful rectilinear frame in solid b...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
MaterialsBrass
- Mid-Century Modern Sculptural Geometric Smoked & Plain Rectilinear MirrorLocated in New York, NYThis sophisticated and unusual Mid Century Modern dimensional mirror was realized in the United States circa 1970. It features various tiers of alternating segments of smoked and plain mirror...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
MaterialsGlass, Mirror
- Mid-Century Modern Segmented Octagonal Polished Brass MirrorLocated in New York, NYThis refined mirror was realized in the United States, circa 1970. It features an octagonal silhouette- a form that is reiterated in the central mirrored panel surrounded by eight pe...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
MaterialsBrass
- Mid-Century Modernist Shield Form Polished Brass Wrapped MirrorLocated in New York, NYThis lovely Mid-Century Modernist Shield Form Polished Brass Wrapped Mirror Originates from Italy, Circa 1950. Features a curvilinear heraldic shield for...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
MaterialsBrass
- Mid-Century Modernist Black Enameled Bronze Frame & Brushed Brass MirrorLocated in New York, NYThis Mid-Century Modernist Mirror in Black Enameled Bronze with Brushed Brass fittings originates from the United States, Circa 1950. Featuring an vertical oval form with cut angular...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
MaterialsBrass, Bronze
- Mid-Century Modern Rectilinear Polished Brass and Lucite Chandelier by SciolariBy Gaetano SciolariLocated in New York, NYThis refined rectilinear chandelier was realized by Gaetano Sciolari in Italy, circa 1970. It features a cylindrical body with six arms of the s...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
MaterialsBrass
- Hollywood Regency Brass Oval Mirror by John WiddicombBy John WiddicombLocated in St. Louis, MOOval mirror in the Hollywood Regency style by John Widdicomb, circa 1960s. Rectangle brass frame with oval mirror and brass edge. Shown with original patina, can be polished. No labe...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
MaterialsBrass
- Brass Framed Upholstered Octagonal Mirror by John WiddicombBy John Widdicomb, John Stuart Inc.Located in Hanover, MAHigh quality octagonal shaped mirror produced in 1960 by John Widdicomb for John Stuart. Outer frame is slim solid brass with upholstered 4 inch inner border. Currently in its ori...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
MaterialsBrass
- Magnificent John Widdicomb Brass Wall Mirror Mid Century ModernBy John WiddicombLocated in Pemberton, NJDramatic and Substantial Solid Brass Mirror with modernist Curved Arch Set in a Floating Rectangular Frame Designed By John Widdicomb in The 1960's. This piece measures 47” t x 28” ...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
MaterialsBrass
- John Widdicomb Mid-Century Modern Walnut MirrorBy John WiddicombLocated in New York, NYMid-Century Modern John Widdicomb rectangular walnut framed mirror, Widdicomb label to reverse. Dimensions: 33" H x 57" W. Dealer: S138XXCategory
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Wall Mirrors
MaterialsMirror, Walnut
- 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 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