T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings Style Expandable Dining Table by Widdicomb, circa 1938
View Similar Items
T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings Style Expandable Dining Table by Widdicomb, circa 1938
About the Item
- Creator:Widdicomb Furniture Co. (Manufacturer)
- Similar to:T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 28.75 in (73.03 cm)Diameter: 48 in (121.92 cm)
- 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. One small 2" scratch on the top - doesn't distract from the overall condition is excellent.
- Seller Location:Chicago, IL
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU923310465011
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.
- T.H. Robsjohn Gibbings for Widdicomb Glove Box NightstandsBy Widdicomb Furniture Co., T.H. Robsjohn-GibbingsLocated in Chicago, ILGlove box nightstands model #4001 designed by T.H. Robjohn Gibbings for Widdicomb, 1950s. Restored walnut box with a single pull-out drawer with cane and brass accent handles. Stands on brushed brass tapered legs, original label in the drawer. These iconic nightstands...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Night Stands
MaterialsMarble, Brass
$7,196 Sale Price / set20% Off - T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings Chair and OttomanBy Widdicomb Furniture Co., T.H. Robsjohn-GibbingsLocated in Chicago, ILChic and rare upholstered spoon lounge chair and ottoman set designed by T.H. Robsjohn Gibbings for Widdicomb, 1950's. The walnut frame has been lacquered in ebony and the chair ha...Category
Vintage 1950s American Hollywood Regency Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Walnut
- Mid-Century Strap Lounge Chair in the style of Robsjohn GibbingsBy T.H. Robsjohn-GibbingsLocated in Chicago, ILRemarkable mid-century lounge chair in the style of T.H, Robsjohn Gibbings in black lacquer sculptural wood frame with criss cross straps, bronze nail heads in the back, newly uphols...Category
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Lounge Chairs
MaterialsFabric, Wood
- Gueridon Table by Maison JansenBy Maison JansenLocated in Chicago, ILExquisite Gueridon table by Maison Jansen in black lacquer and silvered/black mirrored top. The throat of the base echos the Églomisé top.Category
Vintage 1940s French Art Deco Dining Room Tables
MaterialsMirror, Wood
$7,196 Sale Price61% Off - Italian Black and White Marble Pedestal Table, 1970sLocated in Chicago, IL1970s pedestal table in the style of Ettore Sottsass in a black Italian marble hexagon shaped base with rounded bottom and a white 51" round Italian marble top.Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Post-Modern Dining Room Tables
MaterialsMarble
- John Dickinson Style Side TableBy John DickinsonLocated in Chicago, ILVintage John Dickinson style "Africa" table crafted in plaster with the iconic claw sculpted feet.Category
Vintage 1980s Organic Modern Side Tables
MaterialsPlaster
- T.H. Robsjohn Gibbings Dining TableBy T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Widdicomb Furniture Co.Located in Atlanta, GAElegant mid century dining table, designed by T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb, American, circa 1950s. Clean lined design with elegant splayed legs. It expands from 58-78" width...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
MaterialsMetal
- Vintage Klismos Legs Dining Table by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for WiddicombBy T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Widdicomb Furniture Co.Located in North Hollywood, CAStunning vintage dining table designed by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb in the United States, circa 1950s. Indulge in the ultimate dining experience with our rare and unique m...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
MaterialsMahogany
- T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb Mid Century Walnut Expanding Dining TableBy T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Widdicomb Furniture Co.Located in Countryside, ILT. H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb Mid Century Walnut Expanding Dining Table with 3 Leaves This table measures: 48 wide x 48 deep x 28.5 inches high, with a chair clearance of 25...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
MaterialsWalnut
- Robsjohn Gibbings for Widdicomb Mid Century Saber Leg Expanding Dining TableBy T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Widdicomb Furniture Co.Located in Countryside, ILRobsjohn Gibbings for Widdicomb Mid Century Saber Leg Expanding Dining Table with 3 Leaves This table measures: 78 wide x 44 deep x 29.5 inches high, with a chair clearance of 28 in...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
MaterialsWood
- T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb Walnut Sabre Leg Dining / Conference TableBy T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Widdicomb Furniture Co.Located in New York, NYMid-Century rectangular walnut dining / conference table with rounded corners and two expansion leaves, resting on four sabre legs. (T.H. ROBSJOHN-GIBBINGS FOR WIDDICOMB FURNITURE CO...Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
MaterialsWood, Walnut
- T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb Curved Pedestal Dining Table with 2 LeavesBy T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, Widdicomb Furniture Co.Located in St. Louis, MOT.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb 1951 "trestle extension table", impressive vintage mid-century modern walnut dining table...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
MaterialsWalnut