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
French Bread Knife with Deer Hoof Handle, Stainless Steel Blade, 1950s
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
A distinctive French bread knife dating from the 1950s, featuring a stainless steel serrated blade and an authentic deer hoof handle. This rare piece reflects mid-20th-century French...
Stainless Steel
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
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
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
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
$3,021 / 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
$697 / 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
$1,650
H 10.75 in W 2.5 in D 0.85 in
Antique Hand Carved Bone Knife Hunting Scene Damascene Blade Possibly German
Located in Greer, SC
Exquisite antique hand carved bone knife with intricate hunting scene design. European made, possibly south German circa 1700s to 1800s, though we are not completely certain. The bla...
Bone
$737Sale Price|20% Off
H 0.79 in W 23.04 in D 14.49 in
Hollywood Regency Italian Tray in Brass Faux Bamboo and Fumè Glass, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
A splendid midcentury golden serving tray, in brass faux bamboo and fumè glass. This vintage tray is made in Italy, and datable between the 1960s and the 1970s; a functional serving ...
Brass
$606 / set
H 1.19 in W 0.79 in D 6.3 in
French Mid-Century Bamboo-Handled Cake Service Set, 12 Pieces, 1950s
By Maison Jansen, Jacques Adnet
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
A refined set of 6 French cake knives and 6 dessert forks from the 1950s, crafted in the spirit of Jacques Adnet and emblematic of post-war French modernist design. Each piece is fi...
Stainless Steel
$2,800
H 0.6 in W 3.75 in D 5.71 in
Art Deco Silver-Plated Knife Rest Set with Sea Creatures, France 1930
Located in Wiesbaden, DE
Art Deco Knife rest These knife rests were not only practical but also served as decorative elements on a well-dressed dining table. The use of silver or silver-plated materials adde...
Silver Plate, Bronze
Set of 13 Plastic knife rests dog shaped, France, 1970
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Set of clear plastic dog-shaped knife rests, dating from the 1970s and of French origin. These playful and decorative little tableware items feature a stylized dachshund silhouette, ...
Metal
$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
$682Sale Price / set|25% Off
H 0.79 in W 0.99 in D 7.09 in
Flatware Bernadotte 'Scanline' 6 Person Cutlery Set, 39 Pieces, Mid-Century
By P. Broste Copenhagen, Sigvard Bernadotte
Located in Andernach, DE
''Scanline'' design by Sigvard Bernadotte, around 1955. Brass/bronze shimmering flatware. Sigvard Bernadotte (1907-2002). The RISD Museum - Rhode Island School of Design Museum hold...
Bronze, Metal
12 Piece Cased Silver Plated Fish Cutlery Set – DEAKIN & SONS
Located in Bishop's Stortford, GB
12 PIECE CASED SILVER PLATED FISH CUTLERY SET A fine looking set of 6 pairs of fish eaters by James Deakin & Sons of Sheffield. Bone handled. Very lightly used, Handles are...
Silver Plate
Set of 21 bakelite and stainless steel knives, France, 1970
Located in Auribeau sur Siagne, FR
Set of 21 knives. This is a stainless steel knife set made in France in the 1970s. The handles are made of beige bakelite.
Bakelite
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
Sold
H 2.37 in W 15.75 in D 3.55 in
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
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