Pair of High Back Lounge Chairs Framed in Mahogany by John Widdicomb
View Similar Items
Pair of High Back Lounge Chairs Framed in Mahogany by John Widdicomb
About the Item
- Creator:John Widdicomb (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 41 in (104.14 cm)Width: 24 in (60.96 cm)Depth: 27.5 in (69.85 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:Seller: loungechairs1341stDibs: LU78381933522
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.
- Pair of Elegant Tufted Back Slipper Chairs, 1940sBy William Billy HainesLocated in New York, NYPair of elegant slipper chairs, tufted backs with gently curving legs, in the manner of Billy Haines, American, 1940's.Category
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Slipper Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Foam, Wood
- Pair of Elegant Slipper Chairs in The Manner of Billy Haines 1940sBy William Billy HainesLocated in New York, NYPair of elegant slipper chairs, tufted backs with gently curving legs, in the manner of Billy Haines, American 1940's. These chairs have beautiful scale and are very comfortable. The...Category
Vintage 1940s North American Mid-Century Modern Slipper Chairs
MaterialsOther
- Pair of Elegant Slipper Chairs, 1940sLocated in New York, NYPair of elegant slipper chairs with dark walnut legs, American, 1940s. Refinished and newly upholstered by Lobel Modern.Category
Vintage 1940s American Mid-Century Modern Slipper Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Foam, Walnut
$7,500 / set - Pair Thick Molded Lucite Slipper Chairs, 1970sLocated in New York, NYChic pair of thick molded Lucite slipper chairs, custom design, American 1970's. These are beautifully made and were custom designed for a NYC interior i...Category
Vintage 1970s American Modern Slipper Chairs
MaterialsLucite
On Hold$12,000 / set - Chic Dunbar Slipper Chairs in Newly Upholstered in Blue Leather 1950s 'Signed'By Dunbar Furniture, Edward WormleyLocated in New York, NYPair of clean-line slipper chairs newly upholstered in beautiful blue leather with mahogany base by Edward Wormley for Dunbar, American 1950's (signed with Dunbar metal...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Slipper Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Mahogany
- Van Day Truex Pull Up Chair 1978By Van Day Truex, HinsonLocated in New York, NYChic pull up chair in ebonized mahogany with seat newly upholstered in yellow velvet by Van Day Truex in partnership with Harry Hinson, American 1978. This timeless chair is the perf...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Slipper Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Mahogany
- Pair of Karpen High Back Slipper ChairsBy Karpen of CaliforniaLocated in St.Petersburg, FLA pair of unusual high back, upholstered slipper chairs by Karpen of California. Original fabric and labels. These chairs are very comfortable and elegant. On chunky, tapered wood le...Category
Vintage 1960s American Modern Slipper Chairs
$4,800 / item - Pair of Curvaceous Lyre Back Lounge ChairsLocated in Atlanta, GAPair of curvaceous lyre back lounge chairs, American, circa 1950s. They have been completely restored in an ultra-deep brown lacquer and reupholstered in a taupe color fabric with a ...Category
Vintage 1950s American Hollywood Regency Lounge Chairs
MaterialsWood, Upholstery
$3,800 Sale Price / set20% Off - Pair Modernist High Back Leather ChairsLocated in Dallas, TXA handsome pair of slipper lounge chairs, circa 1960's. Designed with a minimalist approach each chair with perfect proportion and scale for ease and comfort. Showcases a high back a...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsLeather, Wood
$15,875 / set - Fabulous Pair of Hollywood Regency Tufted High Back ChairsBy Dorothy DraperLocated in Pemberton, NJGorgeous pair of hollywood regency high back tufted chairs. Super glamorous with their low wide seats and tall tufted backs. The retain their...Category
Vintage 1950s American Hollywood Regency Slipper Chairs
MaterialsWood
- Pair of Mid-Century Modern Curved Channel Back Lounge ChairsBy T.H. Robsjohn-GibbingsLocated in North York, ONPair of Mid-Century Modern curved channel back lounge chairs. Iconic mid-century modern American design with curved channel backs and large...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsVelvet, Wood
$7,200 Sale Price / set20% Off - Wonderful Pair of Super Tall Back Slipper Lounge Chairs Hollywood RegencyLocated in Pemberton, NJWonderful pair of super tall back slipper lounge chairs. We absolutely love how slender and tall those backs are -they measure a whopping 60" T. The tall backs and wide seats give th...Category
Vintage 1960s American Hollywood Regency Lounge Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Wood