John Widdicomb Mid-Century Modern Walnut High Chest Dresser
View Similar Items
John Widdicomb Mid-Century Modern Walnut High Chest Dresser
About the Item
- Creator:John Widdicomb (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 46 in (116.84 cm)Width: 38 in (96.52 cm)Depth: 20 in (50.8 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1970s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Good original vintage condition with a few sings of gentle use,.
- Seller Location:Rockaway, NJ
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU8837814135
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.
- John Widdicomb Mid Century Modern Walnut Gentlemen's High Chest Dresser MINT!By Dale Ford, John WiddicombLocated in Rockaway, NJJohn Widdicomb Mid Century Modern Walnut Gentlemen's High Chest Dresser MINT!Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsAluminum
- Mid Century Modern Walnut High Chest DresserBy Gilbert Rohde, George NelsonLocated in Rockaway, NJNice Mid-Century Modern five drawers one-door compartment chest or dresser.Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
- John Stuart 5 Drawers Walnut High Boy Chest Dresser Mid-Century Modern Mint!By John StuartLocated in Rockaway, NJJohn Stuart 5 drawers walnut high boy chest dresser Mid-Century Modern Mint! Book matched drawers.Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsBrass
- Oiled Walnut Mid-Century Modern High Chest 4 Drawers DresserBy Broyhill Brasilia, American of MartinsvilleLocated in Rockaway, NJVery clean beautiful walnut wood pattern oil finished high chest dresser.Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsWalnut
- Mid-Century Modern Walnut 5 Drawers High Chest Dresser MINT!By DrexelLocated in Rockaway, NJMid-Century Modern Walnut 5 Drawers High Chest Dresser MINT!.Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsTeak
- Johnson John Stuart Mid Century Modern Walnut High Chest Dresser Brass Pull MINTBy Johnson Furniture Co., John StuartLocated in Rockaway, NJVery nice mid-century modern walnut dresser high chest by Johnson for John Stuart.Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsBrass
- Handsome Pair Asian Style John Widdicomb Bachelors Chests Mid-Century ModernBy John WiddicombLocated in Pemberton, NJHandsome pair of John Widdicomb Asain style bachelors chests. These are fine examples of the level of craftsmanship and the standards of the John Widdicomb Furniture Company. These p...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsBrass
- Pair John Widdicomb ChestsBy John WiddicombLocated in New York, NYPair John Widdicomb Walnut and Brass Chests. The chests are walnut with four pull-out drawers. The handles have brass trim. Well made and sturdy.Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsBrass
Price Upon Request - Persian Walnut Dresser by Bert England for John WiddicombBy John Widdicomb, Bert EnglandLocated in Hanover, MALuxurious nine drawer dresser in Persian walnut designed by Bert England for the John Widdicomb's Orientation Group. End doors with chunky s...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsBrass
- Mid-Century Modern Walnut High ChestLocated in Clarksboro, NJThis listing is for a Mid-Century Modern Walnut High Chest. Featuring a straight line design, two doors with recessed wooden pulls, two large hidden drawers, three more larger drawer...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsWood, Walnut
- Mid-Century Modern Walnut High ChestLocated in Clarksboro, NJThis listing is for a Mid-Century Modern Walnut High Chest. Featuring a straight line design, two drawers at the top with wooden pulls, three drawers at the bottom with original bras...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsBrass
- Mid-Century Modern American Designer Sculptural High-Boy Dresser, Chest, WalnutLocated in Stamford, CTMid-Century Modern American designer sculptural high-boy dresser, chest, walnut Measures: 50.5H x 44W x 20D.Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsWalnut