Asia Modern Chinese Style Armchair
About the Item
- Creator:Widdicomb Furniture Co. (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 44.5 in (113.03 cm)Width: 21 in (53.34 cm)Depth: 26 in (66.04 cm)Seat Height: 18 in (45.72 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1950s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Cushion worn and will need to be restored.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU97872097552
Widdicomb Furniture Co.
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Cohoes, NY
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 1 day of delivery.
- Asia Modern Chinese Style Table LampBy LightolierLocated in New York, NYMetal body, silvered base with brass foliate decoration. General wear and patination to finish, working original condition. Height in listing includes harp - height to top of lamp bo...Category
Vintage 1950s American Hollywood Regency Table Lamps
MaterialsMetal
- Pair of Tessellated Stone Asia Modern ChairsBy Maitland SmithLocated in New York, NYPair of tessellated stone, bone chair, modernist interpretation of Classic ancient Chinese form. Green, and off white, with brass string inly trim.Category
Vintage 1970s American Hollywood Regency Armchairs
MaterialsStone
- Brass Asia Modern Chinese Style Table LampBy Paul HansenLocated in New York, NYBrass urn or jug form table lamp, mounted on black lacquered plinth base. This example is in very Fine, original and working condition. The brass body has a minor crease in the rear ...Category
Mid-20th Century American Hollywood Regency Table Lamps
MaterialsBrass
- Asia Modern Mandarin Lacquer Sideboard in the Chinese Style by WillettBy Willett Furniture CompanyLocated in New York, NYLarge and impressive sideboard made by the Willett Furniture Company in the Chinese style, circa 1950/1960’s. The credenza is in an intriguing mandarin orange color lacquer finish and has ( later ) faux bamboo drawer pulls...Category
Mid-20th Century American Chinese Export Credenzas
MaterialsWood
- Pair of Teak Frame Danish Modern Armchairs by Grete JalkBy Grete JalkLocated in New York, NYRare form, teak frame arm chairs with vinyl seats and backs, designed by Grete Jalk. Both chairs are in very fine original condition, one has slight damage to the vinyl seat, as show...Category
Mid-20th Century Danish Scandinavian Modern Armchairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Teak
- Stylish Lucite Armchair in the Style of Charles Hollis JonesBy Charles Hollis Jones, Hill ManufacturingLocated in New York, NYChic voguish style Lucite armchairon wheel coaster feet. Nice thick Lucite frame supports upholstered seat and backrest. The upholstery shows wear and flaws, the backrest cushion is ...Category
Vintage 1970s American Hollywood Regency Armchairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Lucite
- Widdicomb Style ArmchairsBy Widdicomb Furniture Co.Located in Brooklyn, NYMid-Century Modern style wood frame chairs in the style of John Widdicomb. (Please confirm item location - NY or NJ - with dealer).Category
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsWood, Fabric, Upholstery
- Mid Century Chinese Asian Rosewood & Marble Armchairs PairLocated in Lake Worth, FLFor 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 A Pair of Mid Century Chi...Category
Mid-20th Century Chinoiserie Armchairs
MaterialsMarble
- Maitland Smith Style Tessellated Stone over Wood Pair Armchairs Asian Modern 70sBy Maitland SmithLocated in Miami, FLPair of Maitland Smith Style Asian Modern tessellated stone over wood Armchairs, Side Chairs. A gray and taupe tessellated stone over wood covered chair with bronze color pattern and brass inlays. They come with custom seat cushions...Category
Late 20th Century Philippine Chinoiserie Chairs
MaterialsStone, Brass
- English Chinese Chippendale Style ArmchairLocated in New York, NYTurn-of-the-century English Chinese Chippendale style armchair. The chair is composed of mahogany and features a Gothic pierced tracery des...Category
20th Century Chinese Chippendale Armchairs
MaterialsMahogany, Leather
- Pair of Asian Modern Mahogany Floating Seat ArmchairsLocated in Chicago, ILPair of Asian Modern carved mahogany wood and ivory print silk upholstered armchairs. Wide set arms with floating seat on doweled spacers. Tall backs wit...Category
Vintage 1950s American Armchairs
MaterialsMahogany, Silk
- French Vintage Armchairs in Chinese StyleLocated in Milano, ITSplendid pair of armchairs designed at the end of 1800, of fine French manufacture. The armchairs are in oriental style as you can see from the sinuous and curved shapes and woven d...Category
Antique Early 1800s French Baroque Armchairs
MaterialsVelvet, Rattan, Wood