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.
Set of 4 Stainless Steel Serving Utensils with Stag Handle, Game & Salad Service
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Set of Four Stainless Steel Serving Utensils with Stag Handle, Game & Salad Service This set of four stainless steel serving utensils, designed for meat, game, or salad service, is ...
Metal
Set of 10 French Faux Bamboo Forks, Fondue and Cheese Forks, 1970s
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Set of 10 French Faux Bamboo Forks, Fondue and Cheese Forks, 1970s Description: This charming set of 10 vintage French forks, crafted in the 1970s, beauti...
Faux Bamboo
Goldsmith lamb cutlery by Guepe & Poly, France 1970, Fork and Knife 2 pieces
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This lamb carving set is made up of a steel and bone knife and fork. It has never been used, it is still in its original box. It is a service created by a goldsmith company...
Steel
Cutlery France 1970, Fork and Knife 2 Pieces for Salad Service in Faux Bamboo
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This salad service set is made up of faux bamboo knife and fork. It is a service created France.
Faux Bamboo, Plastic
Cutlery France 1970 Knifes Flatware 12 Pieces in Faux Bamboo
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This Knifes service set is made up of faux bamboo. It is a service created France. It coud have never been used Brown color.
Faux Bamboo
French Wood and Steel Bread Knife on a wood plate brown Color 20th Century
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
A Bread Knife on a Patinated wood plate, in a brown Color.The knife is in Steel Made in France during the 20 th Century.
Stainless Steel
Old Nutcracker, Old Patina, Bronze and Wood, 19th Century, Guilt, Brown, France
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
This Nutcracker is very old. It has been made in France in the 19th century. We can benefit of the beautiful Patina, of the wood and of the Bronze. Thee colors are Brown and gold.
Brass
$285Sale Price / set|40% Off
H 4.75 in W 1 in D 1 in
Set of Six Vintage Mother of Pearl Shell and Gold Appetizer Fondue Forks
Located in Van Nuys, CA
Vintage Set of Six Mother of Pearl and Gold Appetizer/Fondue Forks. Set of six vintage appetizer forks, likely from the 1960s or 70s. Each fork...
Steel
$3,024 / set
H 1.97 in W 9.45 in D 9.45 in
12-Piece Art Deco Silver-Plated Knife Rests Set in the Manner of Christofle
By Christofle
Located in London, GB
A 12-piece Art Deco silver-plated knife rests set in the manner of Christofle French, Early 20th Century Case: 5cm high x 24cm wide x 24 in depth. Elephant: 3cm high x 9cm wide x ...
Silver, Silver Plate
$719 / set
H 13 in W 18.51 in D 3.94 in
Vintage Flatware Cutlery Set Fürst Besteck Solingen, Set 68, Germany, 1960s
Located in Bastogne, BE
Solingen set of cutlery made of high-quality stainless steel in the amount of 68 pieces for 12 people in a stylish package. Germany, 1960s. Rust resistant. Mirror polishing technol...
Stainless Steel
$1,368
H 11.82 in W 17.72 in D 13.78 in
Victorian Campaign Cutlery Box Set Knife Fork Rushworths Huddersfield
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Extensive Canteen of Silver-Plated Cutlery (c. 1900) in Campaign-Style Fitted Oak Cabinet Inscribed by the maker - Rushworths 2 Webgate Huddersfield ...
Oak
$375 / set
H 0.5 in W 8.75 in D 3 in
Danish Odin Stainless Steel Salad Servers Set by Jens Quistgaard for Dansk
By Dansk, Jens Quistgaard
Located in Stamford, CT
The enduring sensibility of Danish design has proven timeless, with both vintage and contemporary works continuing to captivate collectors worldwide. Dansk embodies this appreciation...
Stainless Steel
$1,046 / set
H 1.19 in W 0.79 in D 9.85 in
Set of 12 Mid-Century Modern French Knives with Bamboo Handles
By Maison Jansen, Jacques Adnet
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
An elegant and rare set of twelve French table knives from the 1950s, beautifully representative of post-war French design and craftsmanship. Each knife features a finely turned nat...
Stainless Steel
$3,727
H 1.58 in W 11.23 in D 12.8 in
Signed Art Deco Knife Rests by Gallia, Silver-Plated Bronze, 1930s
By Gallia
Located in Wiesbaden, DE
Signed Knife Rests “Gallia” Signed knife rests by “Gallia” are highly collectible decorative objects known for their exquisite craftsmanship and Art Deco design. The company “Gallia”...
Silver Plate, Bronze
$275 / set
H 2.13 in W 7 in D 9.25 in
Antique Victorian English Sheffield EPNS Silverplate Faux Ivory Fork Knife Set
Located in San Diego, CA
Nice set of 19th Century English Victorian nickel silver flatware. Set includes six forks and six knives and comes in the original wood box. Each knife and fork features a beautiful ...
Silver Plate
Set of Six German Stag-Handled Steak Knives by Solingen
Located in Northport, MI
A beautifully preserved early 20th-century set of six German stag-handled steak knives by Solingen, the legendary “City of Blades.” Each knife is finely cr...
Stainless Steel
$125
H 0.38 in W 7 in D 0.75 in
Vintage Vernco Hand Honed HI CV Stainless Steel Japan Paring Knife Set 5
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, Vintage Vernco Hand Honed HI CV Stainless Steel Japan Paring Knife Set 5 Dimensions: 7" Overall - 4" Blade Please visit take a look at our listings, we hav...
Stainless Steel
$390
H 2 in W 8 in D 10 in
Early 20th Century Anton Wingen Jr. Solingen Germany Stag-Handled Knife Set
Located in Northport, MI
A handsome boxed set of six early 20th-century German steak knives by Anton Wingen Jr., renowned Solingen cutlers celebrated for their fine craftsmanship and decorative blade etching...
Stainless Steel
$3,000
H 12 in W 8 in D 6.75 in
18th Century Continental Baroque Period Gilt Tooled Leather Clad Knife Box
Located in Forney, TX
A scarce original antique European Baroque Period tooled leather clad cutlery caddy, circa 1740 Handcrafted in Continental Europe in the first half of...
Leather, Wood
Vintage Laguiole France 12 Pieces Steak Knives
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Laguiole France 12 pieces steak knives. French traditional and elegant Laguiole design with the iconic three Rivet curved handle and bee emblem is comfortable to hold and per...
Aluminum
Vintage Laguiole de France 24 Piece Flatware Set
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Laguiole de France 24 piece flatware set. French maker Laguiole may be most well-known for their elegant, handcrafted knives, complete with arched blades and bee-adorned han...
Metal
19th Century French Porte Couteaux or Knife Rack
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th century French porte-couteaux or knife rack made of walnut, having a small dovetailed drawer with hand-carved floral decoration and brass knob. Waxed patina. A beautiful utili...
Walnut