John Widdicomb Co. Hexagonal Tortoiseshell & Glass Side Table, Grand Rapids, c. 1960s–1970s

A Signed Example from One of America's Most Prestigious Furniture Houses

This exceptional side table bears the original brass maker's plate of John Widdicomb Co., Makers of Fine Furniture, Grand Rapids, Michigan — one of the most storied and respected names in American furniture manufacture, in continuous production from 1858 through the late 20th century. A signed Widdicomb piece is a genuine collector's find; the company produced exclusively for the top tier of the American residential market and was sold through the finest interior design showrooms in the country.

The design is a tour de force of the Hollywood Regency and Chinoiserie-influenced modernism that defined Widdicomb's most ambitious work of the 1960s and 1970s. The hexagonal top frame is finished in a rich, hand-applied tortoiseshell lacquer — a warm, mottled ground of deep amber, burnt sienna, and near-black that catches the light differently from every angle. Set into the frame is a clear glass top panel, beneath which a bold geometric fretwork of ebonized wood forms a honeycomb pattern of interlocking hexagons — a motif that echoes the table's own silhouette with elegant self-reference.

The base is a six-leg ebonized wood structure with a distinctive X-stretcher configuration, lending the piece a campaign-style lightness that belies its visual weight. The combination of tortoiseshell lacquer, geometric fretwork, and ebonized base is quintessentially Widdicomb — luxurious in material, restrained in proportion, and utterly confident in execution.

Provenance & Maker

John Widdicomb Co. was founded in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1858 and grew to become one of America's premier fine furniture manufacturers. Grand Rapids was the undisputed capital of American furniture production, and Widdicomb was among its most distinguished houses. The company's mid-century output — particularly pieces with lacquer finishes, geometric detailing, and Asian-influenced motifs — is among the most collectible of any American manufacturer. Signed examples with original brass plates command a significant premium on the vintage market.

Details

• Manufacturer: John Widdicomb Co., Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Maker's Mark: Original brass plate present and legible
• Period: Circa 1960s–1970s
• Materials: Ebonized wood base and fretwork; hand-applied tortoiseshell lacquer frame; clear glass top insert
• Style: Hollywood Regency / Chinoiserie / American Modern
• Condition: Very good vintage condition; tortoiseshell lacquer with age-appropriate patina; glass top intact; original brass maker's plate present on base

Signed, documented, and unmistakably Widdicomb — a piece that belongs in a serious collection.