19th Century French Provincial Farmhouse Fruitwood Dining Table

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.

Vintage, new and antique farm tables, with their cozy charm and functionality, make for a wonderful addition to both urban and country homes.

For those drawn to the warm appeal of farmhouse style, which is usually an amalgam of other rustically rooted ones, such as cottage, French country and industrial, antique farm tables made of wood are durable and a sound investment, and over the years have been constructed in a variety of shapes and sizes. Amid your other treasured antiques, a farmhouse table can help create a cohesive and welcome dining experience.

On 1stDibs, find country farmhouse tables that were designed to handle heavy use and are an ideal choice for families and large-group dining. Interior designer Suzanne Rheinstein surrounded a client’s farm table with 10 wicker chairs she had flown in from Montecito, California, as part of a project that called for a sophisticated oasis in the Virginia countryside. “The owners entertain beautifully, and this was for one of their relaxed country lunch parties,” she says.

It’s worth pointing out, however, that farm tables are versatile structures. They can pair easily with any manner of chair style that doesn’t necessarily have to be a wooden bench or other seating made from natural materials.

Farm tables were once universally known as “harvest tables.” Most likely made of pine in the early days — a material favored by contemporary designers for custom projects — farmhouse tables served as sturdy surfaces on which farmers could work. Antique farm tables were popularized by early settlers before furnishings became more modern and sophisticated and furniture makers sought materials other than wood for dining tables. An old pine farm table is going to be robust and will often accommodate more guests owing to its length. Plan accordingly, as a farmhouse dining table will occupy a lot of real estate in a modest-sized apartment. It will also likely be characterized by nicks, dings and imperfections, introducing character into your dining room as well as an air of nostalgia.

Whether you plan to take a minimalist approach to your decor with a sleek, pared-back vintage French farmhouse table or a contemporary farm table made of reclaimed white oak is a better fit, these tables are a great choice for both indoor dinners and outdoor entertaining.

Shop a wide range of antique and vintage farm tables at 1stDibs now.