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.
1930's French Small Flush Mount with Opaline Glass
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1930 Freich gilt metal flush mounted light fixture with opaline glass inset ( 2 interior lights)
Metal
1930’s French Sunburst Light Fixture Flush Mount
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1930’s French sunburst light fixture with interior lights, no included chain and canopy
Metal
1930's French Gilt Metal Flush Mount with Frosted Glass
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1930's French gilt metal light fixtures flush mounted with frosted glass inset
Metal
1930's Large Silver Plated Flush Mount With Opaline Glass
Located in New York, NY
A large silver plated or gilt bronze light fixtures with Opaline glass inset. Available gold finish 2 items, silver plated 2 items
Silver Plate, Bronze
1930's French Flush Mount with Crystal Flowers
Located in New York, NY
circa 1930's French gilt metal light fixture with crystal flowers (4 interior lights)
Crystal, Metal
$4,800 / set
1930's French Silver Plated Sunburst Flush Mount
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1930's French silver plated sunburst light fixtures with interior lights. Available as 1 light fixture, not pair.
Metal
1930’s French Gilt Metal Sunburst Flush Mount
Located in New York, NY
Circa 1930’s French gilt metal and cut glass sunburst small flush mount
Metal
1930’s French Silvered Sunburst Flush Mount
Located in New York, NY
circa 1930’s French silvered sunburst flush mount with two lairs of leaves
Metal, Silver Leaf
1930's French Bagues Flush Mount with Orange Glass Leaves
Located in New York, NY
Circa 1930's French Bagues gilt metal light fixture with colored glass leaves
Metal
1940s French Gilt Metal Sunburst Flush Mount Light Fixture
Located in New York, NY
Circa 1940’s French gilt metal sunburst flush mounted light fixture with 2 interior lights. Available 2 items
Metal
$2,800 / item
1930's French Sunburst Flush Mount
Located in New York, NY
A pair of circa 1930's French gilt metal light fixture with cut crystal inset and 2 interior lights
Crystal, Metal
1930's Silvered Metal French Flush Mount
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1930's French silver leafed metal light fixture with glass inset
Metal
$3,800 / item
1930's French Gilt Metal Sunburst Flush Mount
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1930's French gilt metal sunburst light fixture
Metal
1930's French Gilt Bronze Flush Mounted with Etched Glass
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1930's French gilt bronze light fixture with etched frosted dome inset
Bronze
Crystal Flush Mounted Light Fixture
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1930's French gilt metal and crystals flush-mounted light fixture with five interior lights. Measurements: Diameter: 21" Drop: 6"
Crystal, Bronze
$1,874Sale Price|20% Off
H 5.71 in Dm 12.21 in
French Sunburst Flower Flush Mount Light Fixture, Gilt Iron, 1940s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Eye-catching sunburst foliage flower flush mount light fixture in gold leaf gilt iron. France, 1940s. This handwrought iron ceiling light fixture has a nice patina showing its original gold leaf gilding. It can be used as a flush mount, as a wall light but also as a pendant hanging from a chain at the desired height. It will be an elegant touch placed in an entryway, bathroom or bedroom and will add a glamourous Hollywood Regency accent to any classical, modern, eclectic or midcentury decoration. Newly wired. Measures: 31 cm diameter x 14,5 cm H // 12,20 in diameter x 5,70 in H We are specialists in lighting: A curated selection of light fixtures and other lighting items is avaliable at our 1stdibs marketplace. Flower Bud Sunburst Light Fixture // French Gilt Sunburst Light Fixture...
Metal, Iron, Wrought Iron, Gold Leaf
Kinkeldey 1960s Flush Mount Light Fixture with Crystal Prisms
By Kinkeldey
Located in New York, NY
Ultra glam flush mount fixture featuring Austrian deep cut square crystal prisms on a polished nickel frame. Fixture houses five light sources. Rewired ...
Crystal, Nickel
Sunburst Flush Mount Light Fixture in Gilt Iron by Ferro Art
By Ferro Art
Located in Barcelona, ES
Eye-catching gold leaf gilt iron leafed sunburst flush mount. Manufactured by Ferro-Art. Spain, 1950s-1960s. This ceiling flushmount features an iron structure with a central round p...
Metal, Iron, Gold Leaf
French Neoclassical Style Bronze and Frosted Cut Glass Flush Mount
Located in Barntrup, DE
A French neoclassical style flush-mounted ceiling fixture from the 1920s with a bronze fixture and beautiful frosted glass lamp shade. One socket for an E14-size light bulb. Dimensio...
Bronze
Swedish designer large glass and copper flush mount, 1930s
Located in Eskilstuna, SE
Monumental flush mount made by anonymous designer in the first half of the 20th century. Goes well under the style Swedish Grace that was celebrated in the design world during the 1...
Metal, Copper
Capiz Shell Flush Mount Light Fixture Chandelier
Located in New York, NY
Unusual capiz shell flush mount light fixture, chandelier, in excellent, clean condition, working ready to install condition. The fixture features repeating geometric capiz shell e...
Shell
Mid Century Maison Bagues Style Crystal Flower Flush Mount Fixture
Located in Troy, MI
Found in France, this flush mount fixture in the style of Maison Bagues has a brass and gilt metal base with faceted crystal flowers in clear and amber. Three candelabra sockets. Wir...
Metal, Brass
British Frosted Glass Flush Mount Ceiling Lamps
Located in Amsterdam, NL
British clear glass flush mount. Metal bulb holder with brass glass holder. Frosted glass with many lines and irregularities Brass ceiling plate / wall plate : diameter 10 cm / 3.94...
Brass
British Opaline Glass Flush Mount Ceiling Lamps
Located in Amsterdam, NL
British opaline glass flush mount. Metal bulb holder with brass glass holder. White opaline glass Brass ceiling plate / wall plate : diameter 10 cm / 3.94 inches Weight: 0.90 kg / ...
Brass
Italian Brass and Opaline Glass Flush Mount Ceiling Light, 1970s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Elegant Italian flush mount ceiling light from the 1970s, featuring a brass frame adorned with decorative clear glass elements surrounding a central opaline glass diffuser. The fixtu...
Brass
Flush mount with Swarovski crystals , 1970s
Located in Delft, NL
Flush mount with Swarovski crystals , 1970s Dimensions: 32cm diameter , 11cm Height Condition: Good Period: 1970s Material: Crystal , lucite , metal
Crystal
1930 French Gilt Metal Sunburst Flush Mounted
Located in New York, NY
1930’s French gilt metal sunburst light fixture with frosted glass inset ,newly UL rewired
Metal
1930’s Small Gilt Sunburst Flush Mount
Located in New York, NY
Circa 1930’s French gilt metal sunburst light fixture with interior lights and cut glass inset
Metal
1930’s French Crystal Flush Mount
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1930's French crystal light fixture with interior lights
Crystal, Metal
1930's French Flush Mount with Crystal Flowers
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1930's French gilt metal light fixture with crystal flowers (4 interior lights)
Crystal, Metal
1930s French Gilt Metal Sunburst Light Fixture
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1930's French gilt metal sunburst light fixture with hammered design.
Metal
A circa 1930's French flush mounted light fixture with large cut crystal
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1930.s unusual large flush mounted light fixture with cut crystal inset.4 interior lights
Crystal, Metal
1930's French Sunburst Light Fixture
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1930's French gilt metal light fixture flowers and leaves design
Metal
1930’s Gilt Metal Sunburst Light Fixture
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1930’s French gilt metal light fixture with interior lights
Metal
1930's French Nickel Plated Flush Mount
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1930's French flush mounted nickel-plated light fixture with etched glass dome and 2 interior lights
Bronze, Nickel
1930’s French Sunburst Flush Mount
Located in New York, NY
A circa 1930’s French gilt metal light fixture with interior lights
Metal
French Flush Mount Lighting
Located in Ciudad Autónoma Buenos Aires, AR
There are three French-style ceiling lights, capacity for two bulbs. They can be used as wall sconces.
Metal
Large Light Fixture with Opaline Glass
Located in Astoria, NY
A large silver plated light fixtures with opaline glass inset, also available gold finish - 12 available. Dealer: G302YP.
Silver Plate