John Widdicomb 2 Nighstands and One Dresser Made in England

One of the two nightstands has more scratches on surface then then other. Otherwise the pieces are in fair condition. Don't know much else beyond this in terms of history, background. Below is furniture maker info from www.John Widdicomb.com - Thanks! Joan

In 1858 George Widdicomb, father of John Widdicomb, came from Devonshire, England to settle in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He gathered together twelve craftsmen and set up a small cabinet shop, which prospered from the start. His English training was different from the frontier training of the average small town cabinetmaker and his well made furniture found a ready market. The outbreak of the Civil War put a sudden end to the new enterprise, when the entire work force, including his sons, joined the Union army.

 Following the war, George Widdicomb was joined by his four sons, John, Harry, William and George, Jr., and the business started up again. The trade, entirely local to start with, was quickly expanded. The Widdicomb name soon became known in Chicago, then East as far as Boston, Philadelphia and New York. In 1897, one of the boys, John Widdicomb, felt the need for a plan of his own and started in a small way making interior woodwork and fireplace mantels on a site across the street from that of his father.

Ralph Widdicombe, a nephew of John, had earlier become interested in the designing of fine furniture, and when his uncle branched out for himself, Ralph joined him. For fifty-three years, until his retirement in 1951, all John Widdicomb Company furniture was designed by Ralph Widdicombe, known as the Dean of furniture designers. Ralph Widdicombe always retained the old English spelling of his name ending with the "e". Although Ralph Widdicombe will always be remembered best for his classical designs, he was awarded first prize for his Modern bedroom suite at the Paris Exposition in 1900. In 1924, working from models he had procured in Eorope, Ralph Widdicombe introduced Louis XV Provincial designs, which were the first of their kind to be made in this country, and started the wave of popularity for French Provincial that still continues.

The Widdicomb name, which had been shared by two manufacturers since John left his father in 1897, was brought together again in November of 1970, when John Widdicomb Company purchased the name and goodwill of the Widdicomb Furniture Company, the latter having ceased production several years previously.

In May of 2002, the John Widdicomb Company closed its Grand Rapids doors and a new chapter in the history of this revered company began. Operating as a division of the renowned L. & J.G. Stickley, Inc., John Widdicomb is now manufactured with pride in Manlius, New York and is positioned to flourish for years to come.

The John Widdicomb line includes nearly one hundred French, Italian, English, and Russian reproductions, as well as a broad range of pieces from the Moderne tradition of the early 20th century, all of which are crafted in limited quantities - and in the tradition of highest quality for which the Widdicomb name has been internationally known for over one hundred forty-five years.

John Widdicomb furniture is available through Stickley, Audi & Co. stores, other fine retail stores world wide, and to interior designers through Baker Knapp and Tubbs showrooms in major cities in the United States.