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.
Pair of Large French Gilt Bronze Church Two-Arm Candle Sconces, Mid-19th Century
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
A pair of french church two-arm wall candle sconces, gilt bronze decorated with leaf motifs, beautiful aged patina, France, mid-19th century. For indoor and outdoor use.
Brass, Bronze
Elaborate French Bronze Brackets, Antique Candle Sconces, 19th Century
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A Pair of very Elaborate French Bronze Brackets This is a unique and very fine pair of brackets, I am not sure of their original use perhaps as Candle Sconces, they need a good idea...
Bronze
$8,950Sale Price|22% Off
H 24 in W 14 in D 7 in
Pair 19th Century French Empire Figural Bronze 2 Arm Wall Sconces Sothebys
Located in Roslyn, NY
A pair of very fine 19th century French empire doré bronze figural two-arm sconces. The left facing figure is of a woman, and countering her is the right facing man. Provenance to...
Bronze
$1,200 / set
H 14.25 in W 6 in D 6 in
Pair of Early to Mid-19th Century French Empire Gilt Bronze Candlesticks
Located in San Francisco, CA
A fine pair of bronze Empire style candlesticks. In excellent original condition. France, early 19th century.
Bronze
$3,000 / set
H 35.5 in W 9 in D 9 in
Pair of Tall Italian 19th Century Silver Gilt Candlesticks from Italian Church
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of large-sized 19th century Italian candlesticks. This pair of antique candlesticks, circa 1850, were originally displayed in an Italian church and feature silver gilt over exquisite hand-carved wood bodies. Each candlestick is approximately 3 foot tall...
Metal
$16,800Sale Price|30% Off
H 28.35 in Dm 13.78 in
Amazing Pair of French 19th Century Bronze and Gilt Bronze Candelabras
Located in Rome, IT
A fine pair of French 19th century bronze and gilt bronze candelabras, each with a dark bronze delicious dancing putto figures and parrots holding aloft three scrolled candle-branche...
Bronze
$19,200Sale Price|20% Off
H 28.35 in Dm 13.78 in
Amazing Pair of French 19th Century Bronze and Gilt Bronze Candelabras
Located in Rome, IT
A fine pair of French 19th century bronze and gilt bronze candelabras, each with a dark bronze delicious dancing putto figures and parrots holding aloft three scrolled candle-branche...
Bronze
19th Century French Pair of Louis XV Bronze Candle Holders
Located in New Orleans, LA
This elegant pair of 19th-century French bronze candle holders is inspired by the graceful curves and decorative refinement of the Louis XV...
Bronze
Pair of 19th Century French Gilt Bronze 3-Light Candelabras
Located in Dallas, TX
The appeal of the Napoleon III style (sometimes referred to as the Second Empire) stems from the fact that art and furniture from the mid-1800s incorporated elements from previous Fr...
Metal, Bronze
$789
H 5.3 in W 4.6 in D 5.8 in
Very Rare 19th Century Antique Bronze Cold Painted Eagle Claw Candle Holder
Located in Lisse, NL
Top quality made and highly decorative, bronze eagle claw desk piece. With the holiday season on our doorstep we will be offering a number of season relat...
Bronze
A pair of 19th century gilt bronze French candelabra
Located in Eindhoven, NL
A very pretty pair of gilt bronze French candelabra in the style of Louis XV. Each with two candle light. Decorated with foliate motifs and acanthus leaves.
Bronze
19th Century French Pair of Bronze and Gilt Bronze Candlesticks
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of bronze and gilt bronze candlesticks of well-cast classical women holding a torch which holds the candle. They stand on a triangular plinth base and are supported with tripa...
Bronze
Tall Late 19th Century Brass Repousse Church Pricket, Candlestick
Located in Fayetteville, AR
Originally used in a French chapel, this exquisite brass repousse pricket or candlestick from the late nineteenth century stands at over two and a half f...
Brass
Antique Polychromed Wall Candle Holder Italy 19th Century
Located in Čelinac, BA
Wooden Torch Holder Putto Italy 19th Century
Wood
Pair of Silvered Metal Grape Vine Wall Sconces, Circa 1950
Located in ROUEN, FR
A charming pair of decorative wall sconces crafted in silvered metal, featuring an elegant grapevine motif with abundant clusters of grapes and finely detailed vine leaves. Each scon...
Metal
Sold
H 18 in W 12 in D 5.5 in
Pair of French Gilt Wrought Iron Carved Wood Two-Arm Electrified Wall Sconces
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
A pair of gilt wrought iron two-arm wall sconces, beautifully decorated with leaf on hand-carved and hand-painted giltwood in French Provincial Style, France, 1880-1890. The wall sco...
Wrought Iron
Vintage Gold Giltwood Single-Arm Candle Sconces, a Pair
Located in Cordova, SC
Pair of giltwood wall sconces that appear to have been hand carved. All pieces are wooden aside from one nail in the back of each to secure the sconce to the backing and the metal pi...
Giltwood
Sold
H 42 in W 70 in D 12 in
Antique French Monumental Wrought Iron Wall Sconce with Leaves Design, 7 Bulbs
Located in Plainview, NY
A majestic early 20th century wrought iron wall scone finely hand carved and featuring hanging leaves. The sconce holds 7 candelabra bulbs and ...
Wrought Iron
Sold
H 12.75 in W 4.75 in D 12.25 in
2 Antique French Carved Wood Acanthus Wall Sconce Candelabra Candle Light Pair
Located in Dayton, OH
Pair of antique carved wood three arm candle holder wall sconces painted in red and white.
Hardwood, Paint
Sold
H 12 in W 12 in D 7 in
Pair of French Gilt Wrought Iron Two-Arm Electrified Wall Sconces, 1880-1890
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
A pair of French gilt wrought iron two-light wall sconces, beautifully decorated with leaf and flowers, France, 1880-1890. The wall sconces have been electrified at a later time, gre...
Wrought Iron
Sold
H 18 in W 5 in D 4 in
Pair of French Gold Trompe L’Oeil Tassel Wall Candle Sconces with Mirror, a Pair
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
A pair of brass mirror wall sconce candleholders. Each candleholder is tall and hangs from brass hardware attached at the back. Trompe L’Oeil metal is wrapped around the frame of eac...
Brass
Sold
H 10 in W 4 in D 11 in
Pair of French Style Bronze Gold Doré Wall Candleholders Handcut Crystals G E
Located in Toledo, OH
Pair of French style bronze gold doré candleholders with handcut crystals. Details of leaves and pine cones. Marked on the back G E? #5.
Bronze
Pair of French Bronze Wall Sconces, Late 19th Century
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
A pair of french two-arm wall candle sconces, gilt bronze and brass decorated with leaf and floral motifs, beautiful aged patina.
Brass, Bronze