Mid Century Modern Walnut Dresser by Widdicomb

**Please Read Entire Description**

Please note that shipping amount is an estimate and the buyers location and the size of the item will determine concrete final shipping cost. Contact Scott on the VintageVaultTulsa Etsy store before placing any order to discuss any condition issues and shipping prices and options. Clients can also search Uship.com to secure their own shipper.

Please disregard any estimated delivery arrival date displayed by Etsy under my shipping information. This delivery date is generated by Etsy which does not have any contact with or control of my independent shippers.

Shipping through my independent shipping contacts usually takes 3-7 weeks, depending on my shippers schedule, location of buyer, and time of year.

Please view all listing pictures on a laptop if possible. Some cell phones don’t display all listing pictures and some could be pictures relating to condition. Please read all the way down through this entire description box to view the entire description of the item.

Please keep in mind that these are 40-75 year old items and will have some expected normal wear. We strive to represent our items well, and most of these items are in above average vintage condition. Noticeable flaws will be represented in the listing pictures and the text but we cannot describe or picture every small scratch, ding, or area of slight wear.

Once delivered, furniture CANNOT be refused, returned, or refunded unless damage has occurred in the shipping process. Our shipper takes care to wrap each item and pack it safely therefore we have rarely had any issues with damage in transit.

All items must be picked up within 3 weeks of order if buyer secures his own shipper. Shipping usually requires 3-7 weeks delivery through our shipping contacts and is only available in the continental US for large furniture items. Some smaller items are available to be shipped internationally through USPS/UPS.

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Mid Century Modern Walnut Dresser by Widdicomb.  Above average vintage condition and structurally sound. Has some expected slight finish wear and scratching mainly on edges and legs. Top has had a glass top laying on it for an indefinite amount of time which has left six small circles where the finish is worn on the dresser. Dresser doors are accordion style which fold out.  Outdoor listing pictures might appear slightly darker or more red than the item does indoors. List prices are established based on designer/manufacturer, condition, uniqueness, and the investment in the piece by VintageVaultTulsa. Please request additional pictures of condition prior to purchase.

72" long

34.5" tall

19" deep

2512S850

 

Widdicomb is one of those names in American furniture history that rings like a brass chime: warm, confident, quietly luxurious. If mid-century design is your playground, Widdicomb is one of the sturdier jungle gyms in

A Family Shop That Turned Into a Design Powerhouse

Widdicomb Furniture Company was founded in 1858 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Picture a frontier-era woodworking shop slowly evolving into one of the titans of 20th-century American furniture. By the early 1900s, the Widdicomb name was synonymous with impeccable craftsmanship, refined lines, and “good taste without bragging about it.”

There were actually two related but separate companies:

Widdicomb Furniture Company

John Widdicomb Company (founded later by one of the family members who branched off)

Both produced high-end goods, and both eventually intersected with some of the best designers of their eras.

Where They Fit Into the Mid-Century Universe

Widdicomb is interesting because they never chased the Danish Modern wave as aggressively as others. Instead, their pieces feel like the American cousin who had lived abroad. Clean lines, yes, but softened with subtle curves, warmth, and craftsmanship meant to last through household upheavals, remodels, and the occasional toddler with a crayon.

Their heyday in the mid-century was the 1940s through the 1960s, when they collaborated with several big names.

The Designers Who Made Widdicomb Sing

1. T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings (late 1940s–1950s)

Imagine Grecian elegance distilled into maple and walnut. Gibbings brought a sculptural, almost temple-like serenity to Widdicomb, making pieces that look like they were pulled from a tasteful dream. His Widdicomb lines are extremely collectible and often command 1stDibs-level prices.

2. George Nakashima (1950s)

Yes, that Nakashima. Before he became the poet-saint of live-edge wood, he briefly designed a line for Widdicomb. These pieces are rare, like museum-grade Easter eggs hidden in the wild.

3. Dale Ford / Other In-House Designers

Widdicomb kept a strong team of designers who leaned into understated luxury: tambour doors, sculpted drawer pulls, finely matched veneers, and construction meant for generations.

Signature Traits Collectors Hunt For

Your mid-century radar will enjoy this part:

Exceptional walnut and maple veneer work

Graceful drawer pulls (sometimes sculptural, sometimes inset)

Floating-platform bases on some 50s/60s dressers

Tambour doors on higher-end credenzas

Crisp but warm lines bridging modernism with classic appeal

High-level joinery that rarely loosens even after 60+ years

Manufacturing Timeline at a Glance

1858 – Founded in Grand Rapids

Early 1900s – Major growth as an American luxury furniture brand

1940s–1960s – Mid-century boom; collaborations with major designers

1960s–1970s – Product lines modernize but remain high-quality

1985 – The Widdicomb and John Widdicomb brands finally merge

2000s – Brand name changes ownership several times; occasional licensed lines appear

They’re no longer manufacturing at a large scale, but vintage Widdicomb remains prized, especially the designer-signed pieces.

How It Compares to Other Makers You Know

Think of Widdicomb as sitting somewhere between:

Henredon’s refinement

Drexel’s consistency

Baker’s luxury

Lane’s mass-market modernism

Widdicomb is the “quiet luxury” sibling. Not flashy, but always tasteful. The sort of furniture that sells well in your Tulsa shop when customers want something sophisticated but not too loud.

If You Ever Find…

A Gibbings for Widdicomb dresser with bronze-blade pulls

A Nakashima Widdicomb piece (unicorn territory)

A 1950s Widdicomb credenza with tambours and a platform base

…you’ve basically struck mid-century gold.