John Widdicomb French Provincial Louis XV White Lacquered Dresser, Refinished
About the Item
- Creator:John Widdicomb (Manufacturer)
- Dimensions:Height: 34 in (86.36 cm)Width: 74.25 in (188.6 cm)Depth: 24.5 in (62.23 cm)
- Style:French Provincial (In the Style Of)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1950s
- Condition:Refinished. Newly refinished. Excellent condition.
- Seller Location:South Bend, IN
- Reference Number:
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: South Bend, IN
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 1 day of delivery.
- John Widdicomb French Provincial Louis XV White Lacquered Dresser, RefinishedBy John Widdicomb, Ralph WiddicombLocated in South Bend, INAn exceptional French Provincial Louis XV style six-drawer dresser or credenza Designed by Ralph Widdicomb for John Widdicomb Co. USA, Circa 1940s White lacquered carved sol...Category
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Dressers
MaterialsBrass
- John Widdicomb French Provincial White Lacquered Dresser, Newly RefinishedBy Ralph Widdicomb, John WiddicombLocated in South Bend, INAn exceptional French Provincial eight-drawer dresser or credenza Designed by Ralph Widdicomb for John Widdicomb Co. USA, Circa 1940s White lacquered carved mahogany, with o...Category
Vintage 1940s American French Provincial Dressers
MaterialsBrass
- John Widdicomb French Provincial Louis XV Cherry Wood Dresser, Newly RefinishedBy John WiddicombLocated in South Bend, INAn exceptional French Provincial Louis XV style twelve-drawer dresser or credenza By John Widdicomb USA, Circa 1940s Carved solid cherry wood, with original brass hardware. ...Category
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Dressers
MaterialsBrass
- John Widdicomb French Provincial Louis XV Lacquered Highboy Dresser, RefinishedBy John WiddicombLocated in South Bend, INAn exceptional French Provincial Louis XV style highboy dresser By John Widdicomb USA, circa 1940s White lacquered mahogany, with original brass hardware. Measures: 39.25...Category
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Dressers
MaterialsBrass
- Baker Furniture French Provincial Louis XV White Lacquered Dresser, RefinishedBy Baker Furniture CompanyLocated in South Bend, INAn exceptional French Provincial Louis XV style nine-drawer dresser or credenza By Baker Furniture USA, Circa 1960s White lacquered carved solid walnut, with original brass ...Category
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Dressers
MaterialsBrass
- Baker Furniture French Provincial Louis XV White Lacquered Dresser, RefinishedBy Baker Furniture CompanyLocated in South Bend, INA gorgeous French Provincial Louis XV style triple dresser or credenza By Baker Furniture, USA, Circa 1960s White lacquered walnut, with original brass hardware. Measures...Category
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Dressers
MaterialsBrass
- John Widdicomb French Provincial Style Tall Chest DresserBy John WiddicombLocated in Esperance, NYFor sale is this very heavy well made dresser by John Widdicomb. All drawers are dovetailedCategory
Vintage 1970s American French Provincial Dressers
MaterialsWalnut
- Robsjohn Gibbings Widdicomb Ebonized Black Lacquer 6 Drawers Dresser Sharp Mint!By John Widdicomb, T.H. Robsjohn-GibbingsLocated in Rockaway, NJRobsjohn Gibbings Widdicomb ebonized black lacquer 6 drawers dresser sharp mint!Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Credenzas
MaterialsWalnut
- Prince Howard French Provincial Hollywood Regency Antique White Dresser CredenzaBy Prince Howard Furniture CompanyLocated in Topeka, KSMagnificent French Provincial or Hollywood Regency style antiqued or cerused white dresser or credenza by the Prince Howard Furniture Company. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind th...Category
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Dressers
MaterialsMetal
- Long 9 Beveled Front Drawers Dresser Credenza by WiddicombBy T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings, John WiddicombLocated in Rockaway, NJMid-Century Modern extra long 9 beveled drawers oak interior dresser credenza.Category
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Dressers
MaterialsWalnut
- 1950s, Vintage French Provincial Style Cherry Wood Dresser by John WiddicombLocated in Seattle, WAFrench provincial dresser made by John Widdicomb. Grand Rapids, USA , circa 1950s. Sold Cherry Cconstruction and original custom paint and brass hardware. Good original vint...Category
Vintage 1950s French Provincial Dressers
MaterialsWood
- Louis XV Provincial Style Painted DresserLocated in Sheffield, MALouis XV Provincial style painted commode or chest of drawers with wonderful details. Painted wood with trim detailed, decorative hardware.Category
20th Century French French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
MaterialsWood