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.
1940s French Blue and White Toile Serpentine Arch Settee, Set of 2
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Transport yourself back to the sleek and sophisticated mid 20th Century with this exquisite original French toile settee set. The ultra rare set exudes an air of history and refineme...
Upholstery, Wood
French Style Settee in Silk Upholstery and Silvered Frame
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Stunning settee in the French style, having rounded shape, upholstered in a silk fabric and a silvered frame. The cushion is detached from the frame and it comes with three back pil...
Fabric, Silk, Wood
Vintage French Style Pine Bench Settee With Rope Rattan Has Cushion
Located in Saddle River, NJ
Vintage French Style Pine Bench Settee Rattan Cushion 3-Seater Farmhouse Brown French-style pine bench settee with rope rattan is a beautiful piece that embodies the charm of French...
Rattan
Custom Designer French Provincial Louis XV Floral Apricot Settee Chair
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description click on More Details below. Shipping Quote Information The shipping quote stated in the listing was from 1st Dibs and they normally set all the costs and ...
Cotton, Wood
$5,750 / set
Vintage Regency Upholstered Cane Settee - A Pair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Indulge in timeless elegance with this exquisite pair of vintage Hollywood Regency settees, perfect for adding a touch of sophisticated charm to any refined interior. Each settee sho...
Upholstery, Wood
Antique French Farmhouse Benches Banquette Seating Pair Window Seats
Located in Tyler, TX
BEAUTIFUL Antique French Farmhouse Benches, Banquette Seating or Pair Window Seats Handsome pair of French Country farmhouse style trestle benches~~these benches have that "rustic" ...
Oak
French Country Settee & Ottoman Set
Located in Lake Worth, FL
For FULL item description click on More Details below. Shipping Quote Information The shipping quote stated in the listing was from 1st Dibs and they normally set all the costs and handle all the shipping details. However, if you let us know what 1st Dibs is quoting you and give us your zip code, we can sometimes ship it for less and get it to you faster. For a shipping quote, click on "ASK THE SELLER" under the purchase button and provide your zip code. Offering One Of Our Recent Palm Beach Estate Fine Furniture Acquisitions Of A French Country Settee...
Cotton, Wood
White Washed Ribbon Back French Settee with Linen
Located in Lambertville, NJ
An elegant whitewashed wood frame upholstered French Provincial armless settee. The diminutive size, 44 inches long with a newly covered linen seat with brass nailhead trim. there ...
Linen, Wood
Vintage Paradigm Cane Settee
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This elegant vintage settee by Paradigm embodies the romantic allure of Louis XV design, offering a sophisticated silhouette for the refined home. Featuring a beautifully contoured f...
Other
$15,525
H 39.38 in W 77.56 in D 41.34 in
Louis XV period Canapé à Oreilles Serpentine Shaped Sofa, Settee Upholstered
Located in Basingstoke, Hampshire
A Louis XV period Canapé à Oreilles serpentine-shaped sofa. Featuring carved detailing, decorated with floral motifs and acanthus, with original Verd...
Walnut
Modern Gio Ponti Style Window Benches or Settees
By Gio Ponti
Located in Rome, IT
Modern walnut sculpted and brass sabot benches or settees inspired by Gio Ponti the famous Italian Mid - Century designer . Floating cushion newly upholstered on top of solid brass ...
Wood
French Louis XV Style Cane Back Settee
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Large French Louis XV style cane back settee, also called canapé or sofa. Sofa in a very good state, no damage to the cane, rare find. Double-caned s...
Velvet, Cane, Wood
19thC French Oak Bank Waiting Bench
Located in Staffordshire, GB
circa 1880 19thC French Oak Bank Waiting Bench, the matching Counter is also available separately Ideal for a hotel reception or Lobby, restaurant etc Pr...
Oak
1940's Art Deco Settee Sofa
By Cygal Art Deco, Heywood-Wakefield Co.
Located in Burbank, CA
Vintage Art Deco / Mid-century settee loveseat for sale. Was previously reupholstered in a beautiful velvet, and still in incredible condition. The velvet is gray with pink and blue ...
Velvet
Banquette in Bronze and Upholstery by Anasthasia Millot
Located in New York, NY
This elegant bench or settee by Anasthasia Millot embodies her victory of line over mass and presence over volume. The seat is newly upholstered with elegant fabric.
Bronze
A Mid Century Modern Upholstered Settee, C. 1950.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Elegant and refined, this mid-century settee features splayed legs and sculpted wood armrests, framing a newly upholstered backs, arms and seat. The clean geometry, lightness of form...
Brass
Vintage British Colonial Style Caned Sofa or Settee
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Standout British colonial style sofa crafted in mahogany in classic form featuring a caned back and seat under a removable upholstered cushion, rolled arms with carved medallions and...
Brass
$2,717
H 29.93 in W 66.93 in D 26.38 in
French Louis Philippe Bench Seat Wood Sofa or Banquette French 19th Midcentury
Located in Labrit, Landes
Louis Philippe banquette or sofa on wheels Carved with floral decorations and canelures. France circa 1840 Good seating with springs. The fabric can be...
Upholstery, Wood
$4,800
H 31.5 in W 59 in D 29 in
Danish Midcentury 1940s Sofa or Settee with Open Armrests by Alfred Christensen
By Alfred Christensen, Slagelse Mobelvaerk
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Fantastic 1940s Alfred Christensen designed sofa in his characteristic style of open armrests carved from solid beech wood and made by Slagelse Mobelvaerk in the 1940s. Beautiful ref...
Wool, Beech
$3,506
H 41 in W 51.5 in D 29 in
19th-C. French Louis XVI Style Carved Giltwood Settee With Down Cushion
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is such a lovely piece! It is a 19th century French Louis XVI style carved giltwood settee in vintage upholstery. The frame shows some non-offensive chippiness. The upholstery i...
Upholstery, Giltwood, Down
$14,900
H 32.5 in W 77.5 in D 25.25 in
Antique French Recamier Sofa Bench, Ebonized Mahogany, Circa 1820
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A black, antique French sofa bench-recamier made of hand crafted ebonized Mahogany, in good condition. The canapé is particularized by two side backrests, standing on four arched wooden...
Mahogany, Fabric, Ebony, Upholstery, Cotton
Sold
H 19 in W 78.75 in D 11.5 in
Antique French Farmhouse Bench Banquette Seating Window Seat c.1920s-30
Located in Tyler, TX
BEAUTIFUL Antique French Farmhouse Bench, Banquette or Window Seat 1920s-30s Handsome French Country farmhouse style trestle bench~~perfect for dining table banquette, window seat o...
Oak
Sold
H 18.5 in W 94 in D 14 in
Antique French Farmhouse Benches Banquette Seating Pair Window Seats 19th C
Located in Tyler, TX
BEAUTIFUL Antique French Farmhouse Benches, Banquette Seating or Pair Window Seats Late 19th Century Rarely do we find matching PAIRS~~beautiful and highly sought-after 19th centu...
Oak
Sold
H 36.5 in W 20.5 in D 48 in
Italian Carved Giltwood Caned Settee With French Styling - Down Cushion
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a mid-century carved giltwood settee with a triple round caned back. The caning is the French method. The down cushion is almost Moorish. It is most likely Italian and is in ...
Upholstery, Giltwood
Antique French Walnut Custom Upholstered Camelback Settee
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Fine Antique upholstered settee with tight camel back and seat, carved scrolling arms and resting on 8 carved and tightly scrolled feet. Upholstered in a blue textured woven fabric. ...
Fabric, Walnut
1960s Vintage French Provincial Settee Sofa in Cane and Wood
Located in Saddle River, NJ
1960s Vintage French Provincial Settee Sofa in Cane and Wood. This exquisite vintage French Provincial settee is a stunning piece of furniture that adds a touch of elegance to any r...
Wood
Sold
H 35.44 in W 44.49 in D 20.87 in
19th Century French Provençal Bench with Cane Seats, Back and Arms
Located in Miami, FL
19th century French provencale bench. Charming rustic piece with original paintwork in French walnut, age distressed.
Cane, Walnut
Sold
H 18.25 in W 110 in D 12 in
Antique French Farmhouse Benches PAIR Trestle Oak Farm Table Banquette 110" LONG
Located in Tyler, TX
BEAUTIFUL HARD TO FIND PAIR of Antique French Country Oak Farmhouse Farm Table Benches, Banquette Seating or Window Seating with Trestle Base and Stretchers~~early 20th century ...
Oak
Antique French Triple Chair Back Walnut Settee
Located in Sheridan, CO
French Provincial triple chair back settee, late 19th/ early 20th c. This settee features a walnut frame with turned finials, ladder back, woven rush seat, rising on turned legs join...
Rush, Wood
French Louis XV Style Upholstered Settee
Located in Sheridan, CO
French Louis XV style settee / salon sofa, 20th c., having carved rocaille crest, in a floral upholstery, with foliate handholds, above shell motif apron, rising on cabriole legs, en...
Brass
Sold
H 40 in W 52 in D 29 in
20th-C. French Country Carved Maple Settee W/ Rush Seat Att. To Pierre Deux
By Pierre Deux
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a late 20th century French country settee attributed to the manufacturer Pierre Deux. The frame appears to be maple with a sound rush se...
Upholstery, Rush, Maple
Sold
H 36.5 in W 54 in D 32 in
Antique French Provincial Bird Motif Mahogany Setee in Original Blush Velvet
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Victorian French Provincial Bird Motif Mahogany Tufted Settee in Original Blush Velvet Antique Victorian Rococo settee, mahogany, original upholstery, triple arched back wi...
Upholstery, Velvet, Mahogany
Vintage Provincial Cane Upholstered Settee
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
Beautifully appointed settee in a provincial style. Intact cane bench seat with upholstered pillow cushion with matching upholstered back rest. Nicely...
Upholstery, Cane, Wood