Jarre A Huile Strie Terre Noir Poterie

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.

Beautiful plants deserve beautiful homes. It’s time to introduce antique and vintage planters and jardinieres to your home’s interiors and outdoor garden area.

The word “jardiniere” has roots in French, but the appeal of these vessels is global. The popularity of jardinieres — ceramic pots intended for cut flowers or plants — quickly gained traction in the United States during the start of the 20th century, when you could find them in some middle- and upper-class American homes. Jardinieres had already been coveted goods overseas for at least a couple of centuries by then, as intricate planters crafted from Chinese porcelain or gilded-bronze versions from Japan could be found in the living rooms of wealthy Europeans.

Today, the love for planters and jardinieres knows no bounds. And whether you consider yourself a proper gardener or merely a doting plant parent, there is likely a use for a planter inside or in the lively outdoor space around your home.

Outside, a pair of marble and terracotta planters or cast-iron urns designed in the neoclassical style can add a stately touch to your landscape design while helping establish boundaries between the areas you’ve created for gardening and entertaining.

Bare corners in your living room or dining room can often be difficult to populate with furnishings that fit just so, and a planter can change that. While it’s possible to get maximal impact from minimalist pottery — an understated mid-century modern planter could deliver on that front — you might be pining for an on-trend planter with pizzazz. Look to an outwardly angular fiberglass design decked out in bright colors to give your blooms a run for their money, while mounted or vintage hanging vessels can serve as the frame for nature’s organic artwork, quite literally taking your gardening skills to the next level.

Browse a broad collection of antique and vintage planters and jardinieres on 1stDibs today.