French Provincial Oak Armoire
Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
Oak
Antique 18th Century French French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
Oak
Antique 18th Century Wardrobes and Armoires
Oak
Antique 1710s Wardrobes and Armoires
Oak
Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
Oak
Antique 18th Century French French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
Wood, Walnut
Vintage 1960s American French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
Brass
Vintage 1960s American French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
Brass
Vintage 1960s American French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
Brass
Vintage 1960s American French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
Brass
Antique Early 1800s French French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
Brass
Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
Oak
Antique Early 1800s French French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
Oak
Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
Brass
Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
Brass
Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
Wood
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XVI Wardrobes and Armoires
Brass
Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
Steel, Metal
Antique 19th Century Belgian French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
Oak
Antique 18th Century French French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
Oak
Antique 1840s French French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
Oak
Antique Mid-18th Century French Louis XV Wardrobes and Armoires
Oak
Antique 19th Century Belgian French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
Oak
Antique Early 19th Century French French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
Steel
Antique 1870s French Neoclassical Wardrobes and Armoires
Brass
Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
Oak
Antique Mid-19th Century French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
Oak
Antique 1870s French French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
Oak
Antique 18th Century French French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
Wood, Oak
Vintage 1940s French French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
Oak
Antique 18th Century French Louis XV Wardrobes and Armoires
Mahogany
Antique 1720s French Regency Wardrobes and Armoires
Walnut
Vintage 1960s American French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
Brass
Antique 1750s French Louis XV Wardrobes and Armoires
Iron
Antique 18th Century Belgian French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
Brass
Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
Oak
Antique 18th Century English French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
Hardwood, Oak
Antique Early 19th Century French French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
Oak
Antique Late 18th Century French Louis XV Shelves and Wall Cabinets
Brass
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Models and Miniatures
Oak
20th Century American French Provincial Cupboards
Brass
Antique Early 1900s French French Provincial Cabinets
Chestnut
Antique 1890s French French Provincial Cabinets
Chestnut
Antique 1840s French French Provincial Doors and Gates
Oak
Antique Late 18th Century Spanish Baroque Cupboards
Oak
Antique 19th Century French Wardrobes and Armoires
Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
Oak
Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
Oak
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French Wardrobes and Armoires
Oak
Antique Late 18th Century French French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
Oak
Antique 18th Century and Earlier French French Provincial Wardrobes and ...
Mid-20th Century European French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
Oak
Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
Iron
20th Century French French Provincial Cabinets
Oak
Antique Early 19th Century French Provincial Dry Bars
Antique Mid-18th Century French French Provincial Doors and Gates
Oak
Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Architectural Elements
Wood
Antique Early 19th Century French French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
Brass
Antique Early 19th Century French French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
Brass, Iron
Antique Early 19th Century French French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
Oak
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French Provincial Oak Armoire For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a French Provincial Oak Armoire?
A Close Look at french-provincial Furniture
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.
Finding the Right wardrobes-armoires for You
When shopping for antique and vintage wardrobes and armoires for your home, there are several things to keep in mind, not least of which is question number 1:
What is the difference between an armoire and a wardrobe?
The difference between an armoire and a wardrobe is actually simple: An armoire is merely an ornate wardrobe. A wardrobe is a tall, streamlined storage cabinet that usually has some combination of drawers, shelves and hanging rods.
Antique and vintage armoires, on the other hand, are freestanding, heavy wooden structures that typically feature decorative metal hinges and pictorial carvings. Armoires are large cabinets that aren’t outfitted with the varied storage features that wardrobes now commonly have. Armoires often have one or two doors and a hanging bar and allow for quick access. Whether a minimalist mid-century modern wardrobe or grandiose Victorian-era armoire is the right fit for you, both are highly functional furnishings and can be a smart storage solution.
Armoires have been around since medieval times, and initially they may have housed weapons and armor. In their early days, armoires were often adorned with elaborate carvings and lavish paintings, particularly in Renaissance-era France. During the 18th century and later, armoires were widely known as “presses” for hanging clothes, and they were so large that they swallowed up the room where they stood.
In today’s modern homes, an antique armoire can be a striking, architectural work of art amid comparably unadorned furnishings. Whether you’re using your piece in the kitchen for cookware or as a food pantry, in the bedroom for clothes or in the living room as a media console, it will likely become a lovable focal point.
The evolution of the armoire can be seen in today’s corner wardrobes, which may rest on an asymmetrical base to account for corner placement, and even mirrored wardrobes, which feature a mirror affixed to the inside panel of one of the doors for convenience. Contemporary wardrobes commonly feature additional sliding trays and drawers and hanging space for clothing or linens, and the cabinet doors make them ideal for concealing televisions and computer monitors when such devices aren’t in use.
When choosing the right wardrobe or vintage armoire for your home, it’s good to have the following in mind: What are you planning to store in it? How much of what you’re storing will need to be housed in it? It should be big enough to accommodate your needs. What is the size of the room where your wardrobe or armoire will live? A large new piece of furniture in a modest space can easily become a hindrance if you have to navigate your way around it during your daily routine, so be mindful of the area you'll need in order to move freely.
Whether you are looking for an antique walnut armoire or a simple contemporary wardrobe, find the right piece for your home today on 1stDibs.