French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
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.
20th Century Danish French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Oak
20th Century Danish French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass
Late 19th Century Antique French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Fruitwood
21st Century and Contemporary Spanish French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Iron
2010s American French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Cotton, Linen
20th Century French French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Fabric, Burlap, Wood
Early 20th Century French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Wrought Iron
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass
Early 20th Century French French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Rosewood, Walnut
Early 20th Century European French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Horn, Hide, Wood
Early 20th Century French French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Walnut
2010s North American French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Cotton
20th Century French French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Paper
19th Century French Antique French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Raffia, Wood
2010s North American French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Linen
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass
Late 20th Century American French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass
Late 18th Century French Antique French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Plaster, Wood
2010s North American French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Linen, Nylon
1950s French Vintage French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Metallic Thread
2010s American French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Linen, Nylon
1860s French Antique French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Copper
21st Century and Contemporary Asian French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood
Early 20th Century French French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Metal
Early 20th Century French French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Mirror, Oak
20th Century French French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Paper
Early 19th Century French Antique French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Earthenware
19th Century French Antique French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool
1970s French Vintage French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool, Jacquard
2010s North American French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Linen, Nylon
21st Century and Contemporary French French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Linen
Late 20th Century French French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Paper
Late 20th Century French French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Paper
18th Century North American Antique French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Linen
2010s North American French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Linen
Late 20th Century American French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass
20th Century French French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Asian French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass
1970s American Vintage French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass
20th Century French French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Marble
Early 19th Century French Antique French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Natural Fiber
Early 20th Century French French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Bronze
1920s French Vintage French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Concrete
19th Century French Antique French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass
Late 20th Century French French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood, Paint
21st Century and Contemporary North American French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Linen
2010s Australian French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Sheepskin
20th Century French French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Paper
1960s Vintage French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood
2010s North American French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Linen
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass
20th Century French French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Metal
2010s North American French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Linen
Early 19th Century French Antique French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Natural Fiber
Mid-20th Century French French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Metal
Early 20th Century French French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Paper
Mid-19th Century French Antique French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass, Bronze