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.
Rustic French Provincial Sculptured Chair in the Style of Alexandre Noll, 1960s
Located in Nürnberg, Bayern
Rustic French Provincial Sculptured Chair in the Style of Alexandre Noll, 1960s The seat width is 32 cm, the seat depth 35 cm and the seat height 38 cm. The overall width is 42cm, ...
Elm
$765Sale Price|20% Off
Pair of Provincial French Oak and Rush back Chairs C1920s
Located in Trensacq, FR
Charming Pair of Provincial French oak and rush back and chairs C1920 All original carved oak frames, with cabriolet legs, pawed feet, woven rush work backs and seats and dais...
Rush, Oak
French Pair of Side Poplar Chairs Escabelle Swiss Alp Style 19th Century
Located in Labrit, Landes
Two side chairs Escabelle, made of poplar in 1807. Mountain chalet style perfect for a log cabin. A heart on the folder Shipping: 90 / 51 / 39...
Poplar
Antique French Provincial Rush Corner Chair Carved Oak 19th C.
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Antique 19th c. French Bobbin rush corner chair. French rush-seat corner chair, Coin du Feu. 19th Century French Provincial-style carved oak armchair with open backs and rush seat....
Rush, Oak
Leopard Upholstered Pair of French Fauteuils a La Reine
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Fauteuils a la Reine in newly upholstered cut velvet leopard with a black ribbon gimp and nailheads. Extremely large and very comfortable. The photos show the gimp with nail...
Velvet, Wood, Upholstery
Hand Carved Oak Rustic Alpine Chair, France 1920's
Located in Oud-Turnhout, VAN
Vintage Hand Carved Oak Rustic Alpine Chair. Made in France, early 20th Century, 1920's period. Solid heavy oak slabs carved chair or side chair. This comes in very good original con...
Oak
$1,895 / set
French Louis XV Accent Chairs Pair
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, Cherry
Charles Dudouyt Low Fire Side Chair, France
Located in Split, Splitsko-dalmatinska županija
Wood and straw low chair attributted to Charles Dudouyt. A major figure in early 20th-century French design, Charles Dudouyt moved France’s design aesthetic from an elaborate class...
Straw, Oak
Charles Dudouyt, French decorator, set of 4 low chairs, 1940s
Located in leucate, FR
4 French design armchairs. These armchairs were designed by designer Charles Dudouyt in the 1930s. They are made up of a solid oak structure and a seat in woven rye straw. The wood ...
Straw, Oak
Three Early 20th Century French Walnut Carved Side Chairs, circa 1900
Located in San Francisco, CA
Three early 20th century French walnut carved side chairs, circa 1900 Classic French walnut side chairs. Each chair is carved from solid waln...
Walnut
Vintage French Provincial Fruit Wood Curved Glass One Door Display Side Table
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Provincial Fruit Wood Curved Glass One Door Display Side Table. Circa Late 20th Century. Measurements: 24.5" H x 29" W x 29" D x 11" Interior height.
Glass, Wood
Antique 18th Century French Provincial Prie Dieu Chair
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique 18th Century French Provincial Prie Dieu chair.
Wood
Great Hand Carved Wooden High Back Chair with Sea Grass Seat from Spain, 1960s
Located in Nürnberg, Bayern
Great hand carved wooden high back chair with sea grass seat from Spain, 1960s. The pictures speak for themselves.
Seagrass, Wood
Set of 5 Walnut Cane Back French Provincial Side Chairs
Located in Pasadena, TX
This is a nice set of French Provincial cane back side chairs. The chairs have high backs. The headrest is carved and the chairs are nicely sculpted.
Cane, Walnut
Vintage French Provincial Louis XVI Style Walnut Upholstered Side Chairs - Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Provincial Louis XVI Style Walnut Upholstered Side Chairs - Pair. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 39" H x 20" W x 21...
Fabric, Walnut
Pair French Bergere Side chairs
Located in Swadlincote, GB
A very nice pair of French painted bergere side chairs,, pink check seats, in very good overall condition.. 39" high 19" wide 17" depth 20" seat height You are welcome to view this...
Cane, Beech
$595 / item
One Geiger French Style Armchair
By John Geiger
Located in Pasadena, TX
Master cabinet maker, John Geiger`s Interiors International Limited .IIL. began as a 2,000-square-foot custom shop with four craftsmen in Toronto, Ontario. Primarily fabricating architecturally designed office furnishings, the company`s sales reached $50,000 .Canadian. in its first few years. IIL soon relocated to a 35,000-square-foot manufacturing facility and expanded to 35 craftsmen. While still producing custom wood furniture...
Wood
$3,360 / set
Pair of French Ivory Wood Painted Antique Chairs
Located in Locust Valley, NY
A lovely pair of vintage French wood painted chairs with ivory upholstered seat and back. This super chic pair has a delicate presence and is an adorable addition to either side of a...
Fabric, Wood
Vintage French Cast Iron Chair
Located in High Point, NC
A cast iron chair from France, produced circa 1960. A richly decorated garden chair with white and green patination. This cast metal seat stands out fo...
Metal
French Provincial Upholstered Side Chair
Located in North Palm Beach, FL
Elegant and timeless, this French Provincial-style side chair draws inspiration from the designs of Louis XV and Queen Anne. Showcasing a sculpted top rail, carved apron, and classi...
Textile, Wood
Antique High Back Parlor Chair, France
Located in Antwerp, BE
French antique throne high back parlor chair with original floral upholstery and tacks. Carved wooden frame with scrolling floral motif dated 18...
Upholstery, Wood
Antique French Wood and Rattan Chair, circa 1900
Located in Meulebeke, BE
France / 1900 / Chair / wood and rattan / Antique This graceful antique chair from France, dating to around 1900, showcases the natural elegance of turn-of-the-century design. Cons...
Rattan, Oak
Wood Turned Bobbin Low Rush Chair in the style of Charles Dudouyt, France, 1950s
Located in Zaandam, NL
Stunning rush low chair often named in the style of Charles Dudouyt with lovely sphere or ball feet and two lovely large acorn finials at the top of the backrest. This gorgeous littl...
Oak
Pair of Cane Back French Provincial Side Chairs
Located in Pasadena, TX
This is a nice pair of French Provincial cane back side chairs. The chairs have high backs. The headrest is carved and the chairs are nicely sculpted.
Cane, Walnut
Pair of Antique French Dressing Chairs
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A fine pair of primitive Country French Dressing Chairs. Time-softened hardwood frames with curved flat crest rails on the tall shaped slat backs...
Cane, Hardwood
$2,850 / set
Pair French Dressing Chairs
Located in New York, NY
Pair French dressing chairs. Pair vintage French provincial chairs with shaped top rail, ladder back and low rush seat for putting on y...
Wood
19th Century Spanish Hand-Carved oak Side Chair with Velour Seat
Located in Meulebeke, BE
Spain / 19th century / side chair / oak, fabric / Spanish / Antique / French Provincial A charming 19th-century Spanish side chair, handcrafted from solid oak wood and richly detai...
Velvet, Oak
Pair of French 19th Century Exquisitely Carved Oak Side Chairs
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Stunning pair of French carved oak side accent chairs with new high end neutral upholstery. The back showcases a center crest of acanthus leaves in a wave pattern with flower detail ...
Upholstery, Oak
1950s Wood and Woven Wicker Chair in Gio Ponti Style from Paris, France
By Gio Ponti
Located in IT
This 1950s wood and woven wicker chair, crafted in the style of renowned designer Gio Ponti, exudes timeless elegance and craftsmanship. Made in Paris, France, the chair features a s...
Wicker, Wood
$1,588Sale Price|20% Off
French Provincial Lacquered Black Wood Dining Chair Upholstered Red and White
Located in Brescia, IT
This model is a stunning French provincial style black wood lacquered dining chair hand upholstered in Italy in white cotton fabric and red linen fabric. It is a French contemporary production and it is available in stock. This elegant dining chair is a strong presence in every room of your home. It can be put in contrast inside a minimal style interiors, or put among a maximalist style ones. It has a timeless style, moreover cause the black lacquered wood structure and the contemporary upholstered fabric in geometrical shape, it looks a framed Mondrian painting...
Linen, Wood
Pair of Vintage Salterini Umanoff Style Iron Scroll Back Dining Side Chairs
By Salterini
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Pair of stunning and substantial wrought iron scroll back chairs in the French style with straight backs designed with central support, branching out in swooping arched forms with a ...
Wrought Iron
Pair of 19th Century French Provençal Nurse’s Chairs in Beechwood
Located in Atlanta, GA
A charming pair of 19th-century French Provençal nurse’s chairs, distinguished by their notably low seats, a form traditionally associated with fireside seating and domestic interior...
Beech
Set of 8 French Provincial Louis XV Green Side Chairs
Located in Queens, NY
Set of 8 French Provincial Louis XV style (20th Cent) walnut carved side chairs with a shaped cane back and green upholstered seat.
Upholstery, Cane, Walnut
Wood and Straw Stool, France 1970, in the Style of Charles Dudouyt
Located in Split, Splitsko-dalmatinska županija
Wood and straw chair in the manner of Charles Dudouyt. A major figure in early 20th-century French design, Charles Dudouyt moved France’s design aesthetic from an elaborate classic...
Straw, Oak
Charles Dudouyt Style Armchairs in Beechwood and Rush Seat, France, 1940s
Located in Almelo, NL
Charles Dudouyt armchairs in beechwood and rush seat, France 1940s Charles Dudouyt style armchairs In beechwood and rush seat, France 1940s these very comfortable chairs with armr...
Beech
$1,700Sale Price / set|51% Off
Unique 4S Spec French Antique 19 th c Walnut Chairs Redisigned
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Spectacular set of 4 French antique handcarved walnut side chairs made in 19!th c Louis XVI style. Reupholstered in brocade silk, repainted white with gold wash distressed finish. De...
Walnut
C18th century French country provincial chair
Located in London, GB
A charming C18th provincial french oak chair which has a tall ladder back, turned legs and curved stretcher. The low but comfortable seat has been upholstered in a vintage off white ...
Oak
$1,654 / set
Pair French Silver Gilt Elbow Chairs
Located in Swadlincote, GB
A nice pair of Louis X1V salon chairs, original upholstery, in very good overall condition. 37" high 25" wide 20" seat depth 17" seat height You are welcome to view this item at ou...
Beech
$1,203Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of 19th century Faux Bamboo Parlor Chairs by Thonet
By Thonet
Located in Munich, DE
19th Century bentwood parlor chairs by Thonet. Beautiful gold patina & faded fabric. Both chairs show heavy signs of their age, flaking gold patina, washed out seat fabric & yet the ...
Fabric, Faux Bamboo
Pair Fine Quality French Gilt Salon Chairs circa 1880
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A pair fine quality French gilt salon chairs circa 1880 Old world faded elegance a pair of French salon chairs in the Louis XVI style, the chairs are in...
Giltwood
$7,088Sale Price|20% Off
Early 20th Century Vintage French Horn & Hide Chairs, Set of 4
Located in Ross, CA
A suite of 4 unique lounge chairs made of horns and stretched leather over wood frame. Origin unknown, possibly made from bull horns and hides found in the foothill of the Pyrénées...
Horn, Hide, Wood
Seat, Northern Europe, early 20th century.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Seat imported from Northern Europe. Furniture in very good condition, after professional renovation. The seat has been covered with a new fabric. Dimensions: height 50 cm / width 7...
Velvet, Beech