Pair Robsjohn-Gibbings for John Widdicomb Mahogany 3 Drawer Chests or Commodes
View Similar Items
Pair Robsjohn-Gibbings for John Widdicomb Mahogany 3 Drawer Chests or Commodes
About the Item
- Creator:John Widdicomb (Maker),T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 32 in (81.28 cm)Width: 40 in (101.6 cm)Depth: 22 in (55.88 cm)
- Sold As:Set of 2
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1940s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Very good original condition.
- Seller Location:Hudson, NY
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU106282550942
T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings
British-born designer, interior decorator and author T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings (1905–76) was one of the great American tastemakers in the middle decades of the 20th century. Much like Edward Wormley, Robsjohn-Gibbings was a design classicist by education and inclination, but he would come to create some of the most gracious and livable modern furnishings of the era.
Robsjohn-Gibbings studied architecture at the University of London, then held various jobs that included designing décors for passenger liners and working as the art director of a film studio. In the early 1930s, while employed by the upper-crust interior designer Charles J. Duveen, Robsjohn-Gibbings experienced an epiphany during a visit to the British Museum. Examining the furniture depicted on ancient Greek ceramics — lithe stools and klismos chairs — he realized that he had found a design touchstone. By 1936, he had moved to New York and set up a showroom on Madison Avenue for his modern reinterpretations of classic Greek designs. Aided by contacts he’d developed while working with Duveen, he quickly established a clientele that included Elizabeth Arden, Doris Duke and Thelma Chrysler Foy.
Through his writings for magazines and books, Robsjohn-Gibbings earned a public following and was established as an urbane arbiter of taste. From 1943 to 1956, he produced an understated line of modernist furnishings for Widdicomb, which included one of the icons of the period: the tiered, biomorphic Mesa coffee table (1951). Robsjohn-Gibbings moved to Athens, Greece, in 1966, and created a new line of antiquity-inspired pieces for the firm Saridis. The series turned out to be his swan song.
Collectors’ interest in Robsjohn-Gibbings was reignited in the 1980s, when the 200-plus pieces from his 1936–38 commission for the Bel-Air estate of Los Angeles socialite Hilda Boldt Weber — pared-down neoclassical pieces rendered in blond wood (with the occasional flourish) — came on the market. (Up until then, the collection had remained in the house, despite its having changed hands several times.)
But his work for Widdicomb remains his most widely known, appreciated for its elegance and generous proportions. Robsjohn-Gibbings despised the stern aesthetic associated with his Bauhaus contemporaries, and a keynote of his modernist pieces is that they have no sharp angles. His chair and sofa frames, table legs and even many cabinets feature softly contoured edges. In whatever styled he designed, Robsjohn-Gibbings was guided by simplicity and timelessness. He wanted his furniture to be lived with happily.
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.
- Mid Century Classic Sculptural T.H. Robsjohn Gibbings for Widdicomb Arm ChairBy Widdicomb Furniture Co., T.H. Robsjohn-GibbingsLocated in Hudson, NYStunning heavy sculptural chair in near excellent condition.Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Armchairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Wood, Walnut
$3,040 Sale Price20% Off - Pair of Michael Taylor for Baker Far East Collection Dresser Chests CommodesBy Baker Furniture Company, Michael Taylor, Baker Far East CollectionLocated in Hudson, NYExceptional pair of solid wood dressers designed by Michael Taylor for the very collectable "Far East Collection" by Baker Furniture. This pair has been expertly refinished by Columbia County's premier woodworker Michael Gregorio. This finish shows the action of the original wood which appears to be elm. The double ring door pulls which are the Michael Taylor signature complete the look. The design of these dressers are the definition of style meets function.Although elegantly styled- the pieces are solid and very usable. We are offering the pair in this listing as well as a second pair which you can find in our other listings. We also have available the companion "vanity" piece which can be added between any of the pieces as shown in the last few photographs. All dressers...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsWood, Elm
$7,840 Sale Price / set20% Off - Pair of Michael Taylor for Baker Far East Collection Dresser Chests CommodeBy Baker Furniture Company, Michael Taylor, Baker Far East CollectionLocated in Hudson, NYExceptional pair of solid wood dressers designed by Michael Taylor for the very collectable "Far East Collection" by Baker Furniture. This pair has been expertly refinished by Columbia County's premier woodworker Michael Gregorio. This finish shows the action or the original wood which appears to be elm. The double ring door pulls which are the Michael Taylor signature complete the look. The design of these dressers are the definition of style meets function.Although elegantly styled- the pieces are solid and very usable. We are offering the pair in this listing as well as a second pair which you can find in our other listings. We also have available the companion "vanity" piece which can be added between any of the pieces as shown in the last few photographs. All dressers...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsWood, Elm
$7,840 Sale Price / set20% Off - Pair of Sleek Mahogany Parzinger Style Dining / Occasional Chairs by John StuartBy John Stuart Inc.Located in Hudson, NYAn elegant pair of John Stuart armchairs that could be used as dining or occasional chairs. They have the original dark mahogany almost ebony finish and serviceable original fabric. ...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsUpholstery, Mahogany
$1,528 Sale Price / set45% Off - Stunning & Rare John Hutton for Donghia 'Block Island' Sofa of Wicker & MahoganyBy John Hutton, DonghiaLocated in Hudson, NYA very rare example from the limited production Block Island collection designed by John Hutton (1947-2006) for Donghia. The chocolate colored version is very rare- only a few were p...Category
20th Century American Modern Patio and Garden Furniture
MaterialsMahogany, Cane, Wicker
$14,800 Sale Price20% Off - Burled Blonde Mahogany Midcentury 6 Drawer Ring Pull Dresser Red Lion FurnitureLocated in Hudson, NYAll original 1950s dresser by Red Lion Firniture. Stunning burled mahogany drawer fronts with elegant brass ring pulls. Solid wood with mahogany case. Sculpted feet complete the look...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsBrass
$1,480 Sale Price20% Off
- Pair of Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb 3 Drawer ChestsBy Widdicomb Furniture Co., T.H. Robsjohn-GibbingsLocated in Hanover, MAPair of American classical modern chests of drawers designed by Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb Furniture Co. in figured walnut with contrasting maple moldings. Both have original la...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsMaple, Walnut
- Robsjohn Gibbings for Widdicomb Dresser Bachelors ChestBy Widdicomb Furniture Co., T.H. Robsjohn-GibbingsLocated in New York, NYSophisticated tailored design three drawer chest designed by T. H. Robsjohn Gibbings for Widdicomb circa 1950/1960’s. The dresser features three deep drawers, each having a dowel form pull, and a picture frame molding cabinet...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsWood
- T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb Walnut Six Drawer Chest of DrawersBy T.H. Robsjohn-GibbingsLocated in New York, NYAmerican mid-century (1950s) walnut six-drawer chest of drawers with rattan-wrapped dowel drawer pulls and four tapered brass legs with circular brass feet. (T.H. Robsjohn-gibbings f...Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsMetal, Brass
- Six Drawer High Boy Gentleman's Chest by Robsjohn, Gibbings for WiddicombBy Widdicomb Furniture Co., T.H. Robsjohn-GibbingsLocated in New York, NYImpressive six drawer high boy chest designed by T H Robsjohn- Gibbings for Widdicomb Furniture, ca 1950's. The drawers each feature a dowel form pull which runs across it's front. T...Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsWood
- T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb Maple and Brass Three-Drawer ChestBy T.H. Robsjohn-GibbingsLocated in New York, NYAmerican mid-century (1950s) maple three-drawer chest with beveled drawer fronts and six brass ring-shaped drawer pulls. (T.H. ROBSJOHN-GIBBINGS FOR WIDDICOMB MODERN)Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsMetal, Brass
- Six Drawer Teak Chest/Dresser by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for WiddicombBy Widdicomb Furniture Co., T.H. Robsjohn-GibbingsLocated in San Francisco, CAGreat six drawer double dresser/credenza designed by T.H. Robsjohn Gibbings for Widdicomb Furniture in teak. The chest features two banks of three drawers, including dividers in a co...Category
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsTeak