French Provincial Decorative Objects
FRENCH PROVINCIAL STYLE
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.
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Item Ships From: USA
Style: French Provincial
French Majolica Palissy Monkey Vase, circa 1880
Located in Austin, TX
French Majolica Palissy monkey vase, circa 1880.
Dressed monkey with a bottle sitting on a basket.
Category
1880s French Antique French Provincial Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
18th Century French Decorative Hand Carved Box
Located in Winter Park, FL
An 18th century French Provencal fariniere beautifully carved and constructed. A sliding front panel features two carved fish. The box is dovetailed with a false bottom drawer. Lovel...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique French Provincial Decorative Objects
Materials
Fruitwood
19th Century French Miniature Coffer Marquetry
Located in Winter Park, FL
An early 19th century miniature French coffer, or small hinged box, made of solid walnut with marquetry inlay. Original decorative bronze hardware and...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique French Provincial Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Majolica Clog with Flowers Edouard Gilles, circa 1880
Located in Austin, TX
Large Majolica clog with pink flowers signed Edouard Gilles, circa 1880.
Category
1880s French Antique French Provincial Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
Terracotta Majolica Bulldog Bavent Filmont, circa 1900
Located in Austin, TX
Terracotta bulldog Bavent signed Filmont, circa 1900.
Category
Early 1900s French Antique French Provincial Decorative Objects
Materials
Terracotta
Terracotta Majolica Bulldog Bavent Normandy
By Bavent
Located in Austin, TX
Terracotta bulldog from Bavent (Normandy), circa 1900.
Category
Early 1900s French Antique French Provincial Decorative Objects
Materials
Terracotta
Grande Maison HB Quimper French Faïence Breton Figural Knife Rests, Set of Eight
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A scarce set of eight Porte Couteau, or knife rests, each signed HB Quimper, Grande Maison, de la Hubaudière or the HB factory. “H” for Hubaudière, the f...
Category
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Decorative Objects
Materials
Earthenware
Continental Wire Basket
Located in New York, NY
Antique continental wire basket with turned wood handles, Europe, late 19th century.
Dimensions: 19"W x 15" D x 12" H to handles; 7" H to top of basket.
Category
Late 19th Century European Antique French Provincial Decorative Objects
Materials
Wire
19th Century Majolica Rooster Massier Jardiniere
Located in Austin, TX
Lovely colorful Majolica rooster jardiniere laying on a pink and brown wall attributed to Jerome Massier, circa 1890.
Reference / Page 98 " Barbotine...
Category
1890s French Antique French Provincial Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic, Faience, Majolica
Pair of Monumental Figures of a Duke & Duchess
Located in New York, NY
Pair of French (19th Cent) white painted monumental figures of a Duke & Duchess on square bases. (att. to be patron saints of a provincial French town & used in an annual parade)
Category
19th Century French Antique French Provincial Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
French Antique Brass Candelabra Converted into a Table Lamp
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Late 19th century French antique brass candelabra converted into a table lamp.
Three candleholders in brass, nice hammered designs.
Candle h...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique French Provincial Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass
Morbier Clock
Located in Woodbury, CT
A painted case, enamel dial with brass surround and an elaborately decorated pendulum are the defining characteristics of a Morbier clock. At nearly eigh...
Category
19th Century French Antique French Provincial Decorative Objects
Materials
Pine
Pair of Blue and Gold Vases
Located in Washington, DC
These are an exceptional pair of large blue and gold high glazed ceramic vases.
The detail in gold has really superb quality peacocks surrounded with leaves.
Category
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
French Faience Rhinoceros, circa 1910
By Desvres
Located in Austin, TX
French faience blue and white rhinoceros attributed to Desvres, circa 1910.
Minor hairlines on the glaze.
Category
1910s French Vintage French Provincial Decorative Objects
Materials
Faience
French Painted Tall Case Morbier Clock
Located in Woodbury, CT
Faux-painted, French Morbier tall case clock with brass and enamel face, hammered brass pendulum. Posies, lily-of-the-valley and strawbe...
Category
19th Century French Antique French Provincial Decorative Objects
Materials
Pine
Gilt Bronze Candelabra
Located in Washington, DC
A gilt bronze candelabra decorated with Maddona lilies, roses, and chrysanthemums.
Category
19th Century French Antique French Provincial Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Gilt Bronze Candelabras
Located in Washington, DC
A pair of gilt bronze candelabras with Madonna lily, Roses and Chrysanthemums.
Category
19th Century French Antique French Provincial Decorative Objects
Materials
Bronze
4 French Provincial Carved Life-Size Horse Heads
Located in New York, NY
4 French Provincial (19th Century) carved pine life-size horse head wall plaques on black painted panel.(PRICED EACH)
Category
19th Century French Antique French Provincial Decorative Objects
Materials
Pine
A pair of cassolettes
Located in Washington, DC
A pair of cassolettes - carved wood and gilt - rare and very decorative
Category
19th Century French Antique French Provincial Decorative Objects
Materials
Wood
Group of Three Early 20th C French Ceramic Confit Jars
Located in Troy, MI
Group of three early 20th C French ceramic confit jars
Individual Sizes:
#11472 (L2) = 14.5" h x 10" w x 10" d
#11283 (Y4) = 12" h x 12" w x 9.75" d
#11081 (G6) = 9.25" h x 9.5" w...
Category
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Decorative Objects
Materials
Ceramic
French Scalloped Porcelain Floral Faience Birds Jardiniere Planter Cachepot 8"
Located in Dayton, OH
French Desvres style porcelain planter / jardiniere / cachepot / compote / footed centerpiece bowl - oval form with scalloped, gilded edge, tapering to a flared base. Hand painted wi...
Category
Late 20th Century French Provincial Decorative Objects
Materials
Porcelain
Vintage French Plaster Bust of Voltaire
Located in High Point, NC
A renowned literary figure and French icon, this plaster bust captures the likeness of Voltaire. With layers built up and revealed by time, the time touched appearance reflects a jou...
Category
20th Century French French Provincial Decorative Objects
Materials
Plaster
Late 18th C. Belgium Provincial Longcase Clock
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Late 18th century Belgium provincial long case clock with inlaid star motif at the bottom. The clock retains al of it's original hardware. The door with pendulum window opens to reveal a single weighted pendulum. The top has an arched and carved bonnet that contains a pewter and brass clock face. Above the clock face, there is a Belgium address plaque...
Category
18th Century Belgian Antique French Provincial Decorative Objects
Materials
Brass, Pewter
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 ...
Category
1920s European Vintage French Provincial Decorative Objects
Materials
Wrought Iron
19th C French Tall Case Morbier Clock or Comtoise Signed B. Bignon à la Martigné
Located in Milford, NH
A fine faux bois grain painted pine case comtoise or morbier tall clock of a grand scale with porcelain enameled clock face with Roman numeral dial and calendar, signed by the clockm...
Category
19th Century French Antique French Provincial Decorative Objects
Materials
Pine
Small French Faience Jardinière Desvres, circa 1900
By Desvres
Located in Austin, TX
Small French faience jardinière with floral pattern Desvres, circa 1900.
Category
Early 1900s French Antique French Provincial Decorative Objects
Materials
Faience, Ceramic
French Provincial decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique French Provincial decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage decorative objects created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, building and garden elements and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with ceramic, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used French Provincial decorative objects made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Italy pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original decorative objects, popular names associated with this style include Limoges, Bavent, Fives-Lille, and Alfred Corneau. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for decorative objects differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $51 and tops out at $125,000 while the average work can sell for $778.
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