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.
Ralph was an internationally distinguished furniture designer whose modern mahogany bedroom suite won first prize at the Paris Exposition in 1900. 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. Chairs made in this style have distinct characteristics, such as floral motifs carved in the frames and gently angled backrests. 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 Provincial-style furnishings. 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. 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. The city became a destination for furniture makers who hailed from across the United States and beyond. There, he opened a shop with his four sons, including John Widdicomb (1845–1910), whose name would help carry the family legacy into the 20th century.Ī wealth of pine and oak forests rendered Grand Rapids a logging center during the 1800s, and it eventually gained recognition for its furniture industry. 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. Overall, this chair has exceeded my expectations and made me look at furniture shopping at Target in a whole new way because there are so many hidden gems-I’ve been converted!” - Sydney Gore, digital design editor 14.In the Widdicomb family, furniture ran in the blood. I should also mention that this chair came preassembled, so all I had to do was unbox and unwrap it after the delivery man was kind enough to help me push it up the stairs and into my apartment! In the event that I wasn’t happy with my purchase, I purchased a two-year protection plan on top of the 30-day limited warranty. I receive so many compliments about this chair from guests, and they’re always shocked when I reveal where it originally came from.
It’s firm, but after a few minutes, you really sink into it-though I’ve added a cushion to make it even more comfortable.
I’m lucky to have sat in the real thing, so I knew exactly what it should feel like when my order finally arrived, I was very impressed by the quality, even though the material is faux leather and steel. While it was carried at a number of retailers, Target offered the best price, and it also happened to be on sale, so I decided to go for it.
JOHN WIDDICOMB RUSSIAN COLLECTION HOW TO
Review: “Last year, while I was learning more about how to authenticate vintage furniture, I came across a Wassily chair replica that I simply couldn’t pass up.
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