Find many varieties of an authentic 1950s French provincial available at 1stDibs. Frequently made of
wood,
metal and
oak, every 1950s French provincial was constructed with great care. Your living room may not be complete without a 1950s French provincial — find older editions for sale from the 19th Century and newer versions made as recently as the 20th Century. A 1950s French provincial is a generally popular piece of furniture, but those created in
Louis XV,
Hollywood Regency and
Empire styles are sought with frequency. Many designers have produced at least one well-made 1950s French provincial over the years, but those crafted by
Drexel,
John Widdicomb and
Michel Caugant are often thought to be among the most beautiful.
A 1950s French provincial can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price 1stDibs is $1,463, while the lowest priced sells for $120 and the highest can go for as much as $14,500.
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.