French Provincial Bookcases
FRENCH PROVINCIAL STYLE
Removed from the fashions of the court, French Provincial style developed in the provinces of the country, such as Provence, Normandy, the Loire Valley and Bordeaux. Dating to the 17th and 18th centuries, French Provincial furniture was not as ostentatious as the designs being produced for the royal palaces, but elegant S-shape cabriole legs and ornate carvings elevated the sturdy chairs, sofas, tables and bedroom furniture intended for everyday use.
Although it varies by region, antique French Provincial furniture is unified by solid construction and an artisanal attention to design. While this furniture often followed the metropolitan trends — including the Rococo or neoclassical aesthetics of Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI — since it was produced in the French countryside it was more subdued with nods to its rustic settings.
Local materials like fruitwoods, oak, beech and walnut were used to construct large French Provincial armoires for storage and comfortable armchairs with rush-woven seats. Wrought-iron elements and carvings like floral details and scallop patterns were common as ornamentation. Furniture was frequently painted white or other muted colors that coordinated with gilt and would acquire a patina of age over time. Other wood was just stained with vibrant fabric such as toile de Jouy, which sometimes depicted pastoral scenes, adding color as upholstery.
The style arrived in the United States after World War I, with soldiers returning home wanting furniture like what they had seen in the rural homes and castles of France. In Grand Rapids, Michigan, designer John Widdicomb split from his family business, the Widdicomb Furniture Company, and had been focusing on Louis XV– and French Provincial–style furnishings since the early 1900s. Other American manufacturers such as Baker, Drexel, Henredon and Thomasville also responded to demand. Today antique French Provincial pieces and reproductions continue to be popular.
Find a collection of antique French Provincial dining tables, seating, decorative objects and other furniture on 1stDibs.
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Style: French Provincial
1880's Bleached / Carved Oak French Bookcase
Located in Houston, TX
This late 1800s French carved and bleached oak bookcase is a testament to exquisite craftsmanship. Its intricate figural carvings captivate the eye, showcasing the artistry of the pe...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Oak
John Widdicomb French Provincial Louis XV Cherry Breakfront Bookcase Cabinet
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Provincial Louis XV style two-piece lighted breakfront bookcase or dining cabinet
By John Widdicomb
USA, Circa 1960s
Beautiful carved solid cherry wood, with ins...
Category
1960s American Vintage French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Brass
Drexel Heritage French Provincial Carved Oak Lighted Breakfront Bookcase Cabinet
By Drexel
Located in South Bend, IN
A beautiful French Provincial Louis XV style lighted breakfront bookcase or dining cabinet
By Drexel Heritage
USA, 1970s
Carved oak, with glass shelves and original brass hardware...
Category
1970s American Vintage French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Brass
French 19th Century Glazed Bookcase
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Impressive 19th century French glazed bookcase.
In old paint and has old glass. The upper section with arched cornice above a pair of glazed doors. The base with twin paneled...
Category
19th Century French Antique French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Wood, Paint
Pair French Side Cabinets Bookcase Walnut 1880
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Wonderful Pair of French Walnut Side Cabinets.
The Doors on These Cabinets Featuring Brass and Gilt Grills. The Doors Open to Reveal 2 Adjustable Shelves.
The Cabinets Stand Upon Tap...
Category
1880s Antique French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Walnut
Provincial Ebonized Display Cabinet
Located in Westwood, NJ
Provincial-style pine painted display cabinet. The display case has remarkably subtle details such as slightly splayed legs that are tapered and encase the bottom shelf. Crown moldin...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Asian French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Wood
French Breakfront Library or Cupboard Cabinet
Located in Los Angeles, CA
French bookcase with breakfront. Also to be used as cupboard for kitchen or dining spaces, our as decorative cabinet or vitrine for accessories and books in living room. Three units,...
Category
Mid-20th Century French French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Brass
Mid century vintage handmade Italian bookcase for Bloomingdale’s
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a handsome dark walnut. Handmade Italian bookcase made exclusively for Bloomingdale’s. The two hand carved doors at the front have chicken wire inserted to the center and has...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Wood
Early 19th Century Country French Bookcase ~ China Buffet from Normandie
Located in Dallas, TX
Early 19th Century Country French Bookcase ~ China Buffet from Normandie is a timeless example of the amazing talents of provincial artisans that created their own regional looks ove...
Category
1820s French Antique French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Brass
19th century French Vitrine Cabinet Bookcase Barley Twist Black Forest Carved
Located in Shreveport, LA
Antique French Vitrine Cabinet Bookcase Barley Twist Black Forest Carved Oak.
Direct from France, a stunning antique French bookcase/cabinet, with...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Glass, Oak
Romweber French Provincial Louis XV Burl Wood Breakfront Bookcase Cabinet, 1920s
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional French Provincial Louis XV style breakfront bookcase cabinet or dining cabinet
By Romweber
USA, Circa 1920s
Gorgeous burled olive wood, with mullioned glass front d...
Category
1920s American Vintage French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Brass
19th Century Large French White Oak Painted Light Grey Bookshelf
Located in Milano, IT
This French Provincial large display case is a statement in any space. Off white/grey painted oak exterior and a light blue/grey painted interior. Featuring original wavy glass in al...
Category
19th Century French Antique French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Oak
Baker Furniture Italian Provincial Maple Bibliotheque Bookcase Cabinet
Located in South Bend, IN
An outstanding Italian Provincial or Rustic European style bibliotheque bookcase cabinet
By Baker Furniture, "Milling Road" Collection
Italy, ...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Brass
Antique 19th Century Country French Bookcase
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Wonderful Country French Bookcase. Done in solid Oak. Beautiful carved wood. Six doors, 11 shelves + one extra. Four shelves in each side, and three in the middle.
The bookcase come...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Glass, Oak
Late 19th Century Vintage French Painted Bookcase With Window Doors
Located in Sheridan, CO
Elegant and handsome vintage French 2-piece display cabinet / tallboy featuring original French window glass doors. The top has glass partition double doors, with original glass and pull, as well as interior shelves, the lower section features 2 drawers. This cabinet’s exterior has a beautiful matte grey, soft green tint and the inside is painted off white and matte grey too. The cabinet top features a handsome classic crown.
Acquired on a buy trip to France in 2019. The case piece was built more recently to showcase the original antique French windows...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Metal
French Provincial Waxed Pine Bookcase Display Cabinet Cupboard
Located in Shippensburg, PA
FRENCH WAXED PINE DISPLAY CABINET OR CUPBOARD
Circa mid-to-late 19th century
Item # 306REP14A
A delightful French Provincial cabinet of the 19th century, it features a positively g...
Category
19th Century French Antique French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Magnets
French 19th Century Glazed Bookcase
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
French glazed bookcase or display cabinet, circa 1880.
This bookcase has a wonderful neoclassical feel and a tall slim form.
The long glazed doors to the top section enclose a red...
Category
19th Century French Antique French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Pine
French Provincial Louis XV Birch Lighted Breakfront Bookcase Cabinet
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Country Louis XV breakfront bookcase or china cabinet
USA, 1980s
Carved solid birch, with glass front doors, and original brass hardware.
Measures: 44.25"W x 19....
Category
1980s American Vintage French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Brass
Auffray & Co French Provincial Antique Distressed Style Bookcase China Cabinet
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Auffray made some of the finest French furniture ever made in the United States. Their quality and design was second to none and made to look like an authentic antique and beautifull...
Category
1960s American Vintage French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Oak
Baker Furniture French Provincial Walnut Secretary Desk With Bookcase Hutch
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Provincial Louis XV style bureau with drop front secretary desk and bookcase hutch top
By Baker Furniture
USA, Circa 1960s
Carved walnut, with original brass har...
Category
1960s American Vintage French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Brass
Vintage Baker Country French Provincial China Display Cabinet Bookcase Wire
Located in Dayton, OH
Style No 295 (Cabinet , Wire Grille Doors)
Literature : Page 63-118 of Baker's European and Far East Furniture Handbook, circa 1960s (assembled for those who appreciate the finest)
...
Category
1960s Vintage French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Hardwood
Provincial Painted Display Cabinet
Located in Westwood, NJ
A French provincial-style pine painted display cabinet. The white display case has remarkably subtle details such as slightly splayed legs that...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Asian French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Wood
French Solid Oak Corner Buffet a deux Corps
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This substantial corner buffet a deux corps was made in 19th century France from solid walnut. The top portion is crowned with a molded cornice over rounded double doors with shapely...
Category
19th Century French Antique French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Metal, Brass
20th Century Belgian Oak Bookcase, Set of Four
Located in High Point, NC
This set of four oak cabinets provides an accommodating storage solution with a vintage elegance. Built in Belgium in the 20th Century, paneled cupboards and scrolled cabriole feet f...
Category
1950s Belgian Vintage French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Oak
Thomasville French Provincial Louis XV Oak Writing Desk with Bookcase Hutch Top
By Thomasville
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Provincial Louis XV style writing desk with bookcase hutch top
By Thomasville
USA, Circa 1980s
Carved solid oak,...
Category
Late 20th Century American French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Brass
19th Century French Provincial Highly Carved Oak Hunt Bookcase
Located in Dallas, TX
PRESENTING AN ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS AND IMPOSING Early 19C French Provincial Highly Carved Oak Bookcase.
French Provincial Oak Bookcase from circa 1840.
Heavily carved, this style is often referred to as being in "Hunt Style", from Northern France and often incorrectly, described as Flemish.
Pelmet heavily carved with Armorial Crest.
The upper section consists of a 2 door glass fronted Bookcase and has Gorgeous barley twist columns to the sides, with 3 interior shelves.
The Base has two doors each with exquisite carvings, one with hanging game birds...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Oak
French Provincial Glass Door Cabinet
Located in Westwood, NJ
French provincial buffet cabinet with a molded edge rectangular parquetry top and four frieze drawers, above cabinet doors with beveled glass panels. The interior two sections with f...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Glass, Wood
French Provincial Plantation Style Walnut Vitrine, Bookcase, 19th Century
Located in Miami, FL
This early (circa 1830) French Provincial plantation style walnut bookcase features an upper part topped by a cornice above two glazed doors opening u...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Walnut
French Country Painted Secretary
Located in Westwood, NJ
A French Country-style white washed painted secretary bookcase with an unusual folding writing surface that can convert to a table. It features a bea...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Asian French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Wood
French Painted Open Bookcase
Located in Westwood, NJ
A French painted open bookcase with a molded cornice with carved shell and leaf medallion panels, with LED lit interior and glass inset wood fra...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Wood
19th Century French Hunt Cabinet Bookcase Black Forest Carved Oak Barley Twist
Located in Shreveport, LA
19th century French hunt cabinet bookcase Black Forest carved oak barley twist
~Direct from France~
~This stunning French ‘hunt cabinet’ or bookca...
Category
19th Century French Antique French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Oak
1960s Italian Bamboo Rattan Bohemian French Riviera Étagère Cupboard Bookshelf
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern étagère or bookshelf or cupboard in rattan wicker bamboo. The organic beauty of the woven materials is timeless and classic, making bamboo ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Bamboo
Country Painted Quatrefoil Bookcase
Located in Westwood, NJ
French Country Painted Quatrefoil bookcase or long console table with a painted green distressed finish. A beautiful piece for book storage and display, this bookcase console table f...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Asian French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Wood
French Provincial Glass Door Cabinet, Small
Located in Westwood, NJ
French provincial two door cabinet with a molded edge rectangular parquetry top, two frieze drawers, glazed beveled glass doors a fixed interior shelf on a plinth base.
Dimensions: ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Glass, Wood
European Provincial Painted Cabinet
Located in Westwood, NJ
A North European provincial painted cabinet in an antique 18th century style with a distressed grey painted finish. A cabinet of grand size and scal...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Asian French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Wood
Provincial Painted Tall Bookcase, Grey
Located in Westwood, NJ
French-inspired Provincial painted tall bookcase or cabinet in dark grey with gold-painted accents. This beautiful cabinet is inspired by an 18th-centur...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Asian French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Wood
Antiqued Farmhouse Style Painted Cabinet
Located in Westwood, NJ
Antiqued farmhouse style painted cabinet. A beautiful and functional cabinet that can be used for display and storage. The exterior is painted ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Asian French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Wood
Tall Provincial Painted Cabinet
Located in Westwood, NJ
French-inspired tall provincial painted cabinet with a lightly distressed finish. This beautiful cabinet is inspired by an 18th-century French antiq...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Asian French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Wood
French Provincial Style Painted Open Shelf Cabinet Bookcase
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Country French Provincial two-part cabinet or bookcase featuring an open shelf design. Constructed from pine with a lovely distressed finish and craquelure detail. The upper part has a corniced top and six suspended shelves...
Category
20th Century European French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Lacquer, Pine
20th Century French Step Back Cupboard or Linen Press with Four Doors
Located in Miami, FL
20th century French step back cupboard or linen press with four doors
The wood has a lovely patina
This is a rare period Regence French Buffet a D...
Category
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Pine
Fine and Large French Style Distressed Painted Wood Display Case
Located in Bridgeport, CT
In a pale yellow distressed paint, the interior painted blue-gray. A carved cavetto cornice over double glazed doors on top, opening to four shelves. The separate lower cabinet doors...
Category
20th Century French French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Wood
Provincial Painted Cabinet, France
Located in Vista, CA
French, Provincial, painted cabinet; the molded cornice above a cabinet fitted with four doors, each fabric-backed and fitted with two wire grill panels, the lower section fitted wit...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Wood
18th Century Provencal Cherrywood, Wire-Front Bibliotheque
Located in Washington, DC
A Provençal, Louis XV period cherrywood bibliotheque with wire-front doors and interior antique hardware latches and key.
Eight interior shelves of lighter wood, comes from Bregnoles in the Var...
Category
18th Century French Antique French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Wire
19th Century French Classical Mahogany Bookcase Cabinet Formerly a Gun Cabinet
Located in London, GB
19th century bookcase/cabinet with unusual classical features of lions paw feet and pilasters as this piece was formerly a gun cabinet from which it has been converted. The piece com...
Category
1830s French Antique French Provincial Bookcases
Materials
Mahogany
French Provincial bookcases for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique French Provincial bookcases for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage bookcases created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, glass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used French Provincial bookcases made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Asia pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original bookcases, popular names associated with this style include Baker Furniture Company, Auffray Furniture, and Thomasville. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for bookcases differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,348 and tops out at $38,500 while the average work can sell for $6,200.
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