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
$542Sale Price|30% Off
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
$1,083Sale Price / set|20% Off
French Gilt Window Seats, Hand-Carved Pine, Linen Upholstery, 1920
Located in Southampton, GB
Pair of French Window Seats with original cream and gold paint and just the right amount of wear. Newly upholstered in quality linen fabric. Fran...
Pine, Giltwood
French Regency Style Carved Upholstered Footstool or Bench
Located in Redding, CT
French Regency Style Carved Upholstered Footstool or Bench. Polychromed wooden finish with scrolled corners and cabriole legs make this a sweet accent piece. Use it at a small desk o...
Upholstery, Wood
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 Provincial Foot Stool, Leather Upholstered, Brass Studs, 1920
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
$805Sale Price|30% Off
H 10 in W 19 in D 19 in
Late 20th Century William and Mary Style Upholstered Footstool Ottoman
Located in Germantown, MD
A beautiful late 20th century walnut and Upholstered William and Mary style footstool or ottoman in very good vintage condition. Measures 19" in width, 19" in depth and 10" tall.
Upholstery, Velvet, Walnut
Pair of Claw Foot Stools in the style of Thomas Chippendale
Located in Sturminster Marshall, Dorset
A carved mahogany, upholstered stool in the mid Georgian manner with shell carved knees, acanthus decoration and hairy paw feet. We are currently working to a 30-36 week lead time.
Wood
$1,232
H 15 in W 29 in D 39 in
20th C. Louis XVI Style Tabouret Upholstered in Velvet with Brass Nailhead Trim
Located in Morristown, NJ
20th c., a Louis XVI style tabouret with concave sides to a rectangular upholstered seat, raised on turned wood legs with brass casters. The seat is upholstered in a small scale jewe...
Silk, Velvet, Wood
Pair Queen Anne Revival Walnut Foot Stools circa 1920s
Located in Dereham, GB
Pair Queen Anne Revival Walnut Foot Stools circa 1920s Deep buttoned leather seats. recently covered in leather & coloured to chestnut Walnut Cabriole shaped legs with turned H cros...
Leather, Walnut
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
George Smith Kilim Upholstered Ottoman, Late 20th Century
By George Smith
Located in Astoria, NY
George Smith Kilim Upholstered Ottoman, maker's plaque label underneath. 16" H x 41" W x 24" D. Provenance: From a Forest Hills Garde...
Upholstery, Wood
Vintage Neo-classical Style Needlepoint Upholstered Curule Bench
Located in Sheffield, MA
Vintage neoclassical style curule bench covered in multi toned floral needlepoint upholstery and nailheads. Bench, needlepoint bench, ottoman, footstool, floral bench...
Upholstery, Walnut
$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
$1,800 / item
H 18 in W 22 in D 18 in
Upholstered Bench with Brown Horsehair Seat with Mahogany Frame and Tapered Legs
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Denton bench made by LF Upholstery is shown with brown and taupe patterned horsehair with soft foam padding. It has a hand carved mahogany wood and finished frame with tapered legs - it is shown without trim but can be made custom with choice of pewter or French Natural nailheads or gimp trim...
Mahogany
$3,743
H 17.33 in W 49.61 in D 23.63 in
ViNTAGE HAND DYED BROWN LEATHER EXTRA LARGE CHESTERFIELD TUFTED BENCH FOOTSTOOL
By Chesterfield
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning hand dyed Chestnut Brown Leather Chesterfield Tufted large bench or footstool Ple...
Leather
$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
Mid-century French Bulldog Leather Foot Stool c.1960
Located in San Francisco, CA
ABOUT An original leather French Bulldog leather footstool attributed to Dimitri Omersa. "Made in England" attached underneath. Brass foot caps. CREATOR Attributed to Dimitri O...
Brass
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
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
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