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.
$477Sale Price|54% Off
French, 17/ 18th Century Hand Forged Iron Candleholder
Located in Buisson, FR
Very old and beautiful hand forged iron candleholder. France, circa 1650-1750. Weathered.
Iron
$658Sale Price|44% Off
Antique French 18th Century Hand Forged Iron Candleholder, Circa 1700-1750
Located in Buisson, FR
Very old and beautiful hand forged iron candleholder. Amazing period piece with a very pure and rustic design. Despite of its high age this candleholder is still very strong. France...
Iron
Antique Silver plated France church candle sticks 1850s
Located in Den Haag, NL
Very nice pair of Silver Plated Church candle sticks .France 1850s Triangle shaped base . with Three saints Jesus Maria and Josef.. normal wear ...
Silver Plate
$694Sale Price|41% Off
French, 18th Century, Large Hand Forged Iron Rat De Cave Candleholder
Located in Buisson, FR
Large wrought iron rat de cave candleholder, Normandie, France, 18th century. Weathered. H:45cm W:19cm D:18cm .More photo's are available on request.
Iron
$694Sale Price / set|51% Off
Collection of 18th-19th Century French Pewter Candleholders
Located in Buisson, FR
Amazing collection of five pewter candlesticks. They are all different and unique, France, circa 1750-1850. Weathered, dented and small losses but these imperfections help authentica...
Pewter
$3,321Sale Price / set|20% Off
French Pair of 17th Century Hand-Forged Iron Candleholders
Located in Buisson, FR
Beautiful pair of 17th century hand forged iron candleholders, France, circa 1650. Weathered with great patine more photo's available on request.
Iron
$356Sale Price|47% Off
French, 18th Century, Hand Forged Iron Rat De Cave Candleholder
Located in Buisson, FR
Wrought iron rat de cave candleholder, Normandie, France, 18th century. Weathered. H:30cm W:18,5cm D:19cm
Iron
Pair of Late 19th Century French Brass Flower Candelabra
Located in Middleburg, VA
Pair of late 19th century French brass flower candelabra. Made of deeply patinated brass with intricately cast flower and leaf motifs. These a...
Brass
18th Century Antique French Miner’s Whale Oil Lantern Brass Rooster 8"
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique early 18th century French miner’s whale oil lantern, decorated with a brass rooster and iron handle/hook.
Brass
Pair of French Provincial Harvest Motif Bronze Candelabras
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of French Provincial bronze harvest motif 5-armcandelabras with decorative grape vines and leaves, wheat sheafs, and lilies intertwined above a ...
Metal, Bronze
Handmade Olive Branch Candle Holder from Provence
Located in New York, NY
Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, this Olive Branch Candle Holder is a testament to the exquisite artisanship of Provence, France. Each piece, handmade, embodies the seren...
Metal
French H B Quimper Faience Ceramic Candlesticks, a Pair
Located in Bradenton, FL
A pair of French hand-painted Faience pottery candlesticks made by HB Quimper. Decorated in their Soleil Yellow pattern with a floral edge. The candlesticks are each embellished with...
Ceramic, Faience
$2,717Sale Price|43% Off
Large French 17th Century Hand Forged Iron Candleholder
Located in Buisson, FR
Wonderful hand forged Iron candleholder in Gothic style. Although the Gothic period was already over this style stayed popular for a long time in the French country side. Very beaut...
Iron
Pair French Bronze Candelabras - Signed Gregoire Torcheres 3 ft
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Absolutely stunning pair of French Bronze candelabras by Gregoire Each figurine holds aloft the five branch candelbras Casting is superb and a...
Bronze
$3,060 / set
Set of 2 Bronze Candleholders by Victor Paillard
Located in Andrézieux-Bouthéon, FR
Set of 2 Bronze Candleholders by Victor Paillard Vintage Design Additional information: Materials: Bronze Color: Black Manufacturer: Paillard Design Period: Before 1890 Country of ...
Bronze
$2,880Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair Bronze & Marble Candelabras
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair of antique French gilt bronze & marble figural nude candelabras. A neoclassical nude maiden atop a white marble column base.
Marble, Bronze
$1,177Sale Price|48% Off
French 17/18th Century Hand Forged Iron Gothic Style Candleholder
Located in Buisson, FR
Beautiful hand forged Iron candleholder in Gothic style. Although the Gothic period was already over this style stayed popular for a long time in the French country side. Very beaut...
Iron
$694Sale Price / set|51% Off
Collection of 18th-19th Century French Pewter Candleholders
Located in Buisson, FR
Amazing collection of five pewter candlesticks. They are all different and unique, France, circa 1750-1850. Weathered, dented and small losses but these imperfections help authentica...
Pewter
$416Sale Price / set|50% Off
Collection of 18th-19th Century French Pewter Candleholders
Located in Buisson, FR
Amazing collection of three pewter candlesticks. They are all different and unique. France, circa 1750-1850. Weathered, dented and small losses but these imperfections help authentic...
Pewter
$416Sale Price / set|50% Off
Collection of 18th-19th Century French Pewter Candleholders
Located in Buisson, FR
Amazing collection of three pewter candlesticks. They are all different and unique. France, circa 1750-1850. Weathered, dented and small losses but these imperfections help authentic...
Pewter
Robert Picault (1919–2000) Chamberstick, Vallauris, France, 1950s
Located in New York, NY
Delightful hand-thrown ceramic chamberstick by Robert Picault, featuring his signature turquoise, brown, and white palette. The circular base and loop handle are decorated with Picau...
Ceramic
$332Sale Price|49% Off
Wrought Iron Rat De Cave Candleholder, 18th Century, Normandie, France
Located in Buisson, FR
Wrought iron rat de cave candleholder, Normandie, France, 18th century. Weathered.
Iron
$694Sale Price / set|51% Off
Collection of 18th-19th Century French Pewter Candleholders
Located in Buisson, FR
Amazing collection of five pewter candlesticks. They are all different and unique, France, circa 1750-1850. Weathered, dented and small losses but these imperfections help authenti...
Pewter
Antique Hand Painted French Carved Giltwood & Floral Candlesticks - Pair
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a pair of antique French hand painted carved wood candlesticks. Each is hand painted and depicts spray of flowers on a blue and gold background. Felt bottoms are in good shape.
Wood
French Baroque Style Grey Painted Alter Candle Pillar Stand
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Carved alter stand with fantastic paint and patina. Could be used with a pillar candle atop or just as is. Wonderful addition on a table or mantle in any formal or informal home seek...
Cement
19th Century French Pair of Antique Pinewood Candle Holders
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique French pair of early 19th Century candle holders on tripod base, carved out of Pinewood with acanthus leaf décor. Original polychrome silver gold patina, in good condition...
Metal
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
Pair of Wrought Brutalist Candleholders, 1930s/40s, France
Located in Nürnberg, Bayern
Super decorative. These two candleholders measure 61cm in height, 44.5cm in width and 20cm depth. The top diameter measures 11cm.
Wrought Iron
Early 20th French Faience of Desvres Candlestick, a Pair
Located in Winter Park, FL
An early 20th pair of French Faience Candlestick with the Rouen Decor, from the faiencerie of Desvres, signed on bottom Mosanic. Note : one chip on the top. See last picture. Dimen...
Faience
Large Provincial Copper Church Candlestick, France, ca. 1900
Located in Meulebeke, BE
France / 1900 / Candlestick / copper / Rustic / French Provincial This very large and tall, characterful candlestick from France, dating to around 1900, embodies the charming simpl...
Copper
Large Substantial Spanish Torchère
Located in Houston, TX
Large substantial Spanish torchère dating to the late 18th century. Gently scraped back to original paint and gesso finish. Decorative gilded adornment restored. Large enough to anch...
Gesso, Wood, Giltwood, Paint
Large French Copper Candlestick with Bold Geometric Details
Located in Middleburg, VA
A superb example of late 18th-century French provincial metalwork! This large copper candlestick exudes sculptural presence and timeworn beauty. Hand-forged in Provence around 1780, ...
Metal, Copper, Tin
French Antique Brass Candelabra Converted into a Table Lamp
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Late 19th century French antique brass candelabra converted into a table lamp. Three candleholders in brass, nice hammered designs. Candle h...
Brass
Rare 19th Century Three-Arm Bronze Candelabrum with Sculptural Lines
Located in PARIS, FR
This rare 19th-century three-arm candelabrum is crafted entirely from solid bronze — an unusual and refined choice compared to the more commonly used wrought iron of the period. Its ...
Bronze
$2,068 / set
A Pair of very Elaborate French Bronze Brackets
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
Two 19th Century French Provincial Turned Beech Wood Candlesticks
Located in Middleburg, VA
A charming pair of 19th-century French Provincial candlesticks, turned from solid beech wood with a beautifully weathered whitewashed finish. Crafted in France circa 1860, these rust...
Beech
Antique French Porcelain Flower Vase w/ Brass Candelabra
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique French Porcelain Flower Vase w/ Brass Candelabra Combine your candelabra and flower vase into one elegant piece. The central vase...
Brass
Pair of Louis Philippe French Bronze Candelabra with Snuffers
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Pair of 19th century Louis Philippe French bronze candelabra with snuffers A tall and impressive pair of 19th century French bronze candelabra, the candelabra are set on triangula...
Bronze
$1,800
Gilt Bronze Candelabra
Located in Washington, DC
A gilt bronze candelabra decorated with Maddona lilies, roses, and chrysanthemums.
Bronze
$6,247 / set
Pair French Bronze Cherub Candelabras Clodion
Located in Potters Bar, GB
You are viewing a gorgeous pair of antique French cherub candelabras After Clodion, they are over two feet tall and cast from bronze and ormolu Class...
Bronze