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.
Drexel Large Tufted Floral Upholstery 35” Diameter Ottoman Foot Stool Bench MINT
By Drexel
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Drexel Large Tufted Floral Upholstery 35” Diameter Ottoman Foot Stool Bench MINT
Upholstery
$984Sale Price|20% Off
19th Century French Mahogany Footstool, circa 1850
Located in Faversham, GB
A large and simply stunning 19th Century French footstool. Made in mahogany with delicate Ormolu mounts to legs ending in square tapering supports. The gently bowed sides are topped ...
Mahogany
Mid 20th Century Provincial Style Fruitwood and Upholstered Footstool
Located in Germantown, MD
A Mid 20th Century Provincial Style Fruitwood and Upholstered Footstool Measures 16.5" in width and 9" in height and 12.5" in depth.
Upholstery, Fruitwood
Pair of Foot Stools in Walnut and Leather Seat with Tacks
Located in Miami, FL
The structure forms a rectangular form with both sides of the base intersecting and supporting each other. The seats are natural cowhide and attached to the frame by large round bron...
Bronze
French Leather Upholstered Long Foot Stool
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
French leather upholstered long foot stool A Lovely piece standing on fluted shaped legs and the 5” deep seat is upholstered in beautifully soft “M...
Leather
Brown Leather Pouf with Sheepskin Shearling Foot Stool
Located in Dural, AU
What a great way to add a stylish addition to your living room comfort with this brown leather pouf. Featuring an Italian grained leather trimmed with Australian curly wool shearling...
Sheepskin
$600Sale Price|20% Off
H 18 in W 23 in D 21.5 in
Antique French Style Carved Walnut & Upholstered Foot Stool, C1920
Located in Big Flats, NY
An antique French style footstool offers upholstered seat over walnut base having carved skirt and cabriole legs, C1920. Measures- 18'' H x 23'' W x 21.5'' D. A French style walnut f...
Walnut, Upholstery
19th Century French Louis XVI Walnut Six Leg Oval Footstool
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Charming 19th century French walnut footstool featuring an elongated oval form supported by six fluted legs. Made in the grand Louis XVI taste with neoclassical carved rosettes on th...
Brass
19th Century Scalamandré Leopardo Silk Velvet Round Footstool
Located in Houston, TX
19th Century wood footstool newly upholstered in a Scalamandré Leopardo silk velvet.
Silk, Velvet, Wood
$1,856
H 13.78 in W 27.17 in D 27.17 in
LARGE VINTAGE GEORGE SMITH FOOTSTOOL OTTOMAN WiTH EMBROIDERED UPHOLSTERY
By George Smith
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this exquisite and highly collectable Vintage George Smith Kilim Ottoman...
Upholstery, Hardwood
19th Century Biedermeier Footstool
Located in Darmstadt, DE
We present an authentic small Biedermeier footstool from around 1830. The piece features a solid walnut top resting on oak legs, displaying the w...
Oak, Walnut
Vintage Foot Stool Upholstered with Antique Suzani Textile
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Elegant foot stool made of hand carved wood, upholstered with beautiful antique hand embroidery Suzani textile, beautiful trimming. Newly uphol...
Cotton, Silk, Wood
Antique Hand Carved Needlepoint Textile Upholstered Foot Stool
Located in Delray Beach, FL
Petite Elegant foot stool made hand carved woof wood, upholstered with beautiful floral motif needlepoint textile. Great decorative object of art for any room.
Wool, Wood
$796Sale Price|20% Off
H 22 in W 32 in D 16 in
Carved Walnut French Louis XV Oval Foot Stool Circa 1930
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This charming French Louis XV oval foot stool, crafted circa 1930, exudes timeless elegance and refined craftsmanship. Made from rich carved walnut, the stool features graceful cabri...
Walnut
$1,996Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 15.25 in W 35.5 in D 18.5 in
Pair of Rare Walnut American Victorian Foot Stools Attributed to Belter
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This exquisite pair of rare walnut American Victorian footstools, attributed to the renowned cabinetmaker John Henry Belter, showcases the opulence and craftsmanship of mid-19th cent...
Walnut
$975
H 9.75 in W 16.5 in D 13.5 in
19th Century French Louis XV Style Walnut Footstool with Custom Linen Upholstery
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Louis XV style walnut footstool from the 19th century with custom linen upholstery. This exquisite 19th-century French walnut footstool is a testament to the enduring elegan...
Fabric, Linen, Upholstery, Walnut
$3,000 / set
H 18.25 in W 22.5 in D 22.5 in
American Designer, Mid-Century Modern Tufted Ottomans, Stools, Walnut, Bouclé
Located in Manhasset, NY
Mid-Century Modern American Designer Tufted Ottomans, Stools, Footstools Walnut, Bouclé Pair of Mid-Century stools or ottomans by an unknown American designer having organic curve...
Textile, Wood
Vintage French Footstool Ottoman in Brunschwig & Fils Velvet
By Brunschwig & Fils, Henredon
Located in Southampton, NJ
Solid Oak French style bench stool ottoman upholstered in Brunschwig & Fils floral velvet. Striking ground color is of deep olive with an array of complimenting salmon, French blue &...
Velvet, Oak
Hand carved Antique French Leather Footstool
Located in Malibu, CA
Hand carved Antique French Leather Footstool19 Hand carved Antique French Antique leather footstool delicately hand carved antique French footstool...
Leather, Walnut
Pair of French Louis XV Carved And Painted Footstools
Located in Bradenton, FL
This is a beautiful pair of French Louis XV style stools from the 19th century, carved and painted serpentine frame and legs with yellow silk upholstery and nail head trim. Solid and...
Textile, Wood
Perriand Style Tripod Stool C1960s France
Located in Trensacq, FR
Fabulous wooden tripod stool from Mid-Century France in the style of Charlotte Perriand. Beautiful wood grain and texture, nice colour with good patina. In great vintage condition,...
Wood
Vintage French Provincial Louis XV Style Diamond Shape Footstool Ottoman
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Provincial Louis XV Style Diamond Shape Footstool Ottoman. Item features a unique diamond shape, solid wood frame, di...
Fabric, Wood
Pair of Fine French Style Carved Walnut Benches
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Raised on cabriole legs with wide scrolled knees and hoof feet with four shaped stretchers. Upholstered in a deep mauve and white plaid fabric with patinated nail head trim in a swag...
Fabric, Walnut
Turn of the Century French Wooden Miniature Footstool
Located in High Point, NC
This elegant footstool conjures up a bygone age of luxury and leisure. Made in France at the turn of the century, an upholstered cushion atop a woode...
Fabric, Wood
Pair of Triangular Rush + Wood Stools, France 20th Century
Located in Chicago, IL
A darling pair of petite French stools featuring sculptural turned legs with stretcher details and triangular rush seats. Sourced in France, 20th Century.
Rush, Wood
Ottoman Pouf Footstool Seafoam Green Velvet Coral Pattern
Located in Lake Worth, FL
Offering One Of Our Recent Palm Beach Estate Fine Furniture Acquisitions Of A Beautiful Tufted Ottoman Pouf Footstool Velvet fabric is Seafoam Green color with a Goldenrod Coral Pattern...
Velvet, Cotton
French Provincial Footstool
Located in Malibu, CA
Vintage French style Handcarved footstool upholstered in fine Italian linen wool blend. The stool is finished with antiqued brass nailheads.
Brass
Vintage French Provincial Louis XV Style Diamond Shape Footstool Ottoman
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Provincial Louis XV Style diamond shape footstool ottoman. Item features unique diamond shape, solid wood frame, dist...
Fabric, Wood
Sold
H 16 in W 20 in D 15 in
Antique French Provincial Walnut Needlepoint Stool Foot Rest Ottoman Seat
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique French Provincial stool, foot rest or ottoman. Made of walnut featuring French styling with serpentine form with carved floral, fluted and scalloped accents, and needlepoint ...
Upholstery, Walnut