The company was founded in 1858 when George Widdicomb started a cabinet shop in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
[1] The oldest sons opened a small furniture shop in 1864, with the other two brothers joining them around when the war ended.
At that time, Widdicomb Furniture Company as known for their spindle bed frames.
Their focus products included bed frames, chiffoniers, and bedroom furniture of various kinds made of oak, ash, birch and maple.
During the first two decades of the 20th century, bedroom sets were inspired by the Italian Renaissance, Georgian Revival, among others.
George Nakashima's "Origin Collection," was inspired by Japanese and Shaker furniture.
[2] Works by the Widdicomb Furniture Company are found in the collection of the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum.
[4] The company's archive is held in the collection of the Grand Rapids Public Library.