Bert England for John Widdicomb Half Shelf
View Similar Items
Bert England for John Widdicomb Half Shelf
About the Item
- Creator:John Widdicomb (Cabinetmaker),Bert England (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 4.75 in (12.07 cm)Width: 62 in (157.48 cm)Depth: 8 in (20.32 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1955
- Condition:
- Seller Location:South Charleston, WV
- Reference Number:Seller: Marble Table1stDibs: LU1616223985492
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.
- over-sized Dunbar End TableBy Dunbar Furniture, Edward WormleyLocated in South Charleston, WVDunbar, Edward Wormley, USA, Model 4478 table, New World Group, Enduring Modern collection Series. Linen White Lacquer over mahogany circa 1949, 30 1/8" deep and wide. 24 7/8" tall....Category
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern End Tables
MaterialsBrass
- Large Knoll Sofa TablesBy Knoll, Florence KnollLocated in South Charleston, WVVery large. Produced 1960's 30" x 30" x 19" tall this set of large tables are designed specifically for use with chairs or sofas as side or end tables. A good minimalist design with ...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Sofa Tables
MaterialsSteel
$1,250 Sale Price / set40% Off - Walnut and Fruitwood Table by Thomasville, 1965By ThomasvilleLocated in South Charleston, WV28 x 28 x 20 tall. Thomasville, circa 1965. Walnut and Fruitwood. Delicate and appealing this table was produced by Thomasville in 1965 and features walnut and fruit wood in an eleg...Category
Vintage 1960s American Hollywood Regency Sofa Tables
MaterialsFruitwood, Walnut
- 6 piece suite John Wisner for Ficks Reed Far Horizons Collection Bamboo RattanBy Ficks Reed, John WisnerLocated in South Charleston, WV6 pieces, from "The Far Horizons Collection" by John Wisner. Measurements listed further down. All purchased together and identical wood and finish...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Living Room Sets
MaterialsCane, Rattan
- 3 piece John Wisner for Ficks Reed Far Horizons Collection Bamboo Rattan SuiteBy Ficks Reed, John WisnerLocated in South Charleston, WVSettee, chair and coffee table from "The Far Horizons Collection" by John Wisner. Measurement listed further down. All purchased together and identical w...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Living Room Sets
MaterialsCane, Rattan, Ceramic
- Large John Bingham Handblown Glass Sculpture CentrepieceBy John BinghamLocated in South Charleston, WVJohn Bingham, Glassblower, Artist circa 1980 Handblown glass Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA Measures: 8 tall x 17 wide x 13 inches deep. One of 2 pieces by this artist we have liste...Category
Vintage 1980s American Modern Abstract Sculptures
MaterialsGlass
- Bert England Walnut Desk for John WiddicombBy John Widdicomb, Bert EnglandLocated in Philadelphia, PABert England for John Widdicomb faux-Tourtise shell finish body with a black vinyl work surface and drawer fronts. Asian inspired brass handles. Desk is finished on all sides! Fin...Category
Vintage 1960s American Hollywood Regency Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsFaux Leather, Walnut
- Bert England Persian Walnut and Leather Desk for John WiddicombBy John Widdicomb, Bert EnglandLocated in Chicago, ILFrom California designer Bert England's Orientation Group for John Widdicomb Company, this extraordinary desk is made of Persian walnut and solid mahogany. Wrapping around the fr...Category
Vintage 1960s American Desks
MaterialsBrass
- Bert England for John Widdicomb Mid-Century Modern Walnut Leather Top DeskBy Bert England, John WiddicombLocated in South Bend, INAn exceptional mid-century modern writing desk or executive desk By Bert England for John Widdicomb "Orientation Group" USA, 1960s Walnut, with leather top and original Asia...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Desks and Writing Tables
MaterialsBrass
- Exquisite Pair of Bombe Small Chests by Bert England for Widdicomb, circa 1965By Bert England, John WiddicombLocated in Atlanta, GAThese magnificent chests are shipped as professionally photographed and described in the listing narrative: Meticulously professionally restored and completely installation ready. ...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
MaterialsBrass
- Corner cupboard, shelf, open shelf unit, coffe table height 68xØ46cmBy Mauro Accardi & Silvia BuccheriLocated in Meolo, VeneziaTables on one or more levels, furnish ironically without remaining unnoticed. Ideal companions for public and private environments and contexts. The structure is a curved metal roun...Category
2010s Italian Modern Sofa Tables
MaterialsMetal
- Widdicomb Faux Finish 3 Drawer Long Sofa Console Table Credenza W/ Shelf Mint!By John WiddicombLocated in Rockaway, NJWiddicomb Faux Finish 3 Drawer Long Sofa Console Table Credenza Shelf MINT!Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Sofa Tables
MaterialsWalnut