John Widdicomb Mid-Century American Modern Walnut and Bronze Dresser
About the Item
- Creator:Widdicomb Furniture Co. (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 31.25 in (79.38 cm)Width: 74 in (187.96 cm)Depth: 20 in (50.8 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:20th Century
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:New York, NY
- Reference Number:
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: Long Island City, NY
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 2 days of delivery.
- Pair of John Widdicomb American Mid-Century Walnut Bachelor's ChestsBy Widdicomb Furniture Co.Located in New York, NYPAIR of American Mid-Century walnut bachelor's chests with four drawers and rectangular wooden drawer pulls resting on four square wooden legs. (JO...Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsWalnut, Wood
- Pair of Widdicomb Modern American Mid-Century Walnut Three Drawer ChestsBy Widdicomb Furniture Co.Located in New York, NYPAIR of American Mid-Century walnut commodes / chests with three drawers and round brass drawer handles resting on bracket-shaped bases with four legs. (WIDDICOMB MODERN)(PRICED AS P...Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsMetal, Brass
- Jens Risom Danish Mid-Century Walnut 8-Drawer Dresser / Writing DeskBy Jens RisomLocated in New York, NYDanish Mid-Century walnut 8-drawer dresser with four narrow drawers on the left and four wider drawers on the right, the top of which folds down to crea...Category
20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsWalnut, Wood
- Jens Risom Danish Mid-Century Walnut 8-Drawer Dresser / Writing DeskBy Jens RisomLocated in New York, NYDanish Mid-Century walnut 8-drawer dresser with four narrow drawers on the left and four wider drawers on the right, the top of which folds down to crea...Category
20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsWood, Walnut
- Jens Risom Danish Mid-Century Walnut 8-Drawer Dresser / Writing DeskBy Jens RisomLocated in New York, NYDanish Mid-Century walnut 8-drawer dresser with four narrow drawers on the left and four wider drawers on the right, the top of which folds down to crea...Category
20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsWood, Walnut
- Italian Modern 12 Drawer Walnut Dresser, Gio PontiBy Gio PontiLocated in New York, NYItalian Mid-Century Modern 12 drawer walnut dresser, Gio Ponti.Category
20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsWalnut
- Mid-Century Modern T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings by Widdicomb Walnut DresserBy Widdicomb Furniture Co., T.H. Robsjohn-GibbingsLocated in Toledo, OHElegant mid-century modern walnut dresser by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb features a curved front, captivating spear-shaped silver finish tipped pulls, and 6 deep drawers wit...Category
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsWalnut
- John Widdicomb Mid Century Walnut and Brass Highboy DresserBy John WiddicombLocated in Countryside, ILJohn Widdicomb Mid Century Walnut and Brass Highboy Dresser This highboy measures: 36 wide x 21 deep x 52.5 inches high All pieces of furniture can be had in what we call restored ...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsBrass
- John Widdicomb Mid Century Walnut and Brass Highboy DresserBy John WiddicombLocated in Countryside, ILJohn Widdicomb Mid Century Walnut and Brass Highboy Dresser This highboy measures: 40.5 wide x 20 deep x 47 inches high All pieces of furniture can be had in what we call restored ...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsBrass
- John Widdicomb Mid Century Walnut and Brass Lowboy DresserBy John WiddicombLocated in Countryside, ILJohn Widdicomb Mid Century Walnut and Brass Lowboy Dresser This lowboy measures: 70.25 wide x 21.5 deep x 32 inches high All pieces of furniture can be had in what we call restored...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsBrass
- John Widdicomb Mid Century Walnut and Brass Highboy DresserBy John WiddicombLocated in Countryside, ILJohn Widdicomb Mid Century Walnut and Brass Highboy Dresser This highboy measures: 36 wide x 21 deep x 52.75 inches high All pieces of furniture can be had in what we call restored...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsBrass
- Mid Century Modern Walnut Dresser by T.H. Robsjohn-Gidding for WiddicombBy Widdicomb Furniture Co., T.H. Robsjohn-GibbingsLocated in Chicago, ILMid Century Modern Walnut Dresser by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb Furniture Gorgeous Mid Century modern clean lined walnut 6-drawer dresser, designed by T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbi...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsWood, Walnut