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.
$2,250 / set
Pair of French Country Walnut Slipper Chairs
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A pair of charming French country low slung slipper chairs. With elegant shaped crest rails and sides with slight wings on the ends. Wide comfortable seats, raised on cabriole legs w...
Walnut
$2,695 / set
Pair Of Antique Provincial French Slipper Chairs
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A fine pair of Custom upholstered Slipper Chairs having a Blue and White Stripe fabric with nail head trim. The black and green painted frames with Cabriole legs, shaped Stretcher an...
Fabric, Wood
1920s Horsehair Filled in Pierre Frey French Curved Slipper Chairs, Set of 2
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Transport yourself back to the sleek and sophisticated late 19th Century with the exquisite slipper chairs. A magnificent pair of late 19th-century Napoleon III-style slipper bedroom...
Upholstery, Wood
19th C French Needlepoint Carved Diminutive Fauteuil
Located in Clifton Forge, VA
This is the sweetest small French style fauteuil with a needlepoint seat depicting love birds on a tree and back showing a dapper gentleman holding something out for his lady (who wa...
Fabric, Wood
Pair of 1940's French Wrought Iron Frame Slipper Chairs
By René Prou
Located in North Miami, FL
These extraordinary scrolled and elegantly ornate wrought iron slipper chairs newly upholstered in a rich and luxurious green mohair fabric, are in the style of French master, Rene P...
Wrought Iron
$2,320Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Early 19th Century Highly Carved Italian Slipper Chairs
Located in Pasadena, TX
These chairs date to the early part of the 19th century. They're made of a fine walnut and are hand carved. The legs taper down to a French Provincial Style foot. Reupholstery reco...
Walnut
Pair French Provincial Style Fruitwood Tufted Velvet Upholstered Slipper Chairs
Located in Germantown, MD
A Pair of French Provincial Style Fruitwood and Tufted Velvet Upholstered Slipper Chairs in great vintage condition Measures 21.5" in width, 23" in depth and 34.5" in height. Seat he...
Hardwood, Velvet
French Provincial Slipper Chairs with Cane & Velvet, Rocaille Carvings
Located in Southampton, NJ
A pair of early 20th C. French Country slipper chairs with beautifully maintained cane seats & backs. The pair is enhanced with custom cushions upholstered in the mid 1970's in Jack...
Velvet, Cane, Walnut
Vintage French Provincial Louis XV Cream Blue Boudoir Slipper Chairs - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage French Provincial Louis XV Style Cream Blue Boudoir Slipper Chairs - a Pair. Item features a nice petite size, cream and blue distress painted frames, shapely carved backs, c...
Fabric, Wood
17th Century French Chair
Located in palm beach, FL
Beautiful French walnut chair from the 17th century, with twisted legs and cushioned seats. The chairback is nicely done and openly worked in three parts. The cushioned seats are in ...
Nutwood
Sold|$4,200
H 30.71 in W 21.26 in D 19.69 in
Pair of Italian Mid-Century Slipper Chairs Attributed to Gio Ponti
By Gio Ponti
Located in Roma, RM
A refined pair of Italian mid-century slipper chairs attributed to the influential architect and designer Gio Ponti, dating to the 1950s. The chairs embody the understated elegance a...
Fabric, Wood
Needlepoint Upholstered Slipper Chair
Located in Kittery Point, ME
Of typical form, raised on legs ending in casters.
Wood, Fabric
$7,692Sale Price / set|25% Off
H 41.34 in W 16.15 in D 21.66 in
Pierre Lottier brown Spanish Slipper chairs by Almazan, 1950s
Located in Zevenaar, NL
Spanish neo-classical high-back auxiliary chair designed by Pierre Lottier for Almazan, 1950s. Oak wood structure with curved and harmonious lines where the reddish-brown leather ba...
Metal
Pair of Slipper Chairs by Edward Wormley for Dunbar
By Edward Wormley, Dunbar Furniture
Located in Middlesex, NJ
Pair of slipper chairs by Edward Wormley for Dunbar. Chairs are reupholstered in a Maharam Mohair.
1940s French Tufted Back Slipper Chair
Located in Buchanan, NY
An exquisite 1940s French tufted slipper chair. This tufted high back slipper chair is a beautiful piece of French furniture from the 20th century. Upholstered in a light peach satin...
Upholstery
$3,600 / set
H 31 in W 22 in D 25 in
Pair of 19th C. Style French Regency Ebonized Wood & Cane Chairs on Casters
Located in North Miami, FL
These cane back lounge chairs on casters with a wonderful ebonized carved wood trim and accents throughout. Very solid and in good ready to use condition.
Cane, Wood
Pair of Edward Wormley for Dunbar Slipper Chairs
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A pair of Classic Edward Wormley for Dunbar slipper chairs. Frames redone in high gloss black lacquer finish. New upholstery. ...
Upholstery, Walnut
$1,570
H 28.35 in W 25.6 in D 27.17 in
19th Century Button-Tufted Slipper Chair with Turned Beech Legs
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
This elegant slipper chair dates from the 19th century and reflects the refined taste of Napoleon III seating furniture. The chair features a generously cushioned seat and a graceful...
Velvet, Beech
A large mid 19th century walnut slipper chair c1860
Located in Batley, GB
A large sized mid 19th century walnut slipper chair with a serpentine front rail. Raised on quality walnut turned front legs with splayed walnut legs to the rear and all with the ori...
Walnut
$10,500
H 30.4 in W 22.125 in D 29.75 in
Pierre Jeanneret, Slipper Chair, Birch, Steel, Fabric, USA, 1948
Located in High Point, NC
A birch, chrome-plated steel, fabric and velvet slipper lounge chair designed by Pierre Jeanneret and produced by Knoll, USA, c. 1948. Dimensions: 30.4“ H x 22.125” W x 29.75” D Se...
Steel
Late French Victorian Carved Walnut Prie Dieu Chair
Located in New Orleans, LA
This is an antique prie dieu slipper chair, later 19th century, in hand carved walnut and a light coral colored upholstery. The highly detailed carve...
Walnut
On Hold|$8,700 / set
H 31.25 in W 26.5 in D 33 in
A Classic Pair of Original T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings Slipper Chairs for Widdicomb
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A pair of elegant, classic slipper chairs designed by T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings for Widdicomb Furniture Co. walnut frames with new Larsen's "Tilia" linen (70%) and cotton (30%) ivory co...
Fabric, Walnut
Sold
H 33.25 in W 25.25 in D 24.25 in
Baker Furniture Style French Provincial Louis XV Carved Walnut Slipper Chair or
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Provincial Louis XV style slipper chair or lounge chair In the manner of Baker Furniture USA, Circa 1960s Carved walnut frame, with whimsical Chinoiserie upholst...
Upholstery, Walnut
Vintage Gingham Napoleon III Style Armchairs - a Pair
Located in Charleston, SC
French Napolean III 'crapaud' style chairs. Crapaud chairs sit low to the ground and are perfectly sized for use an accent chairs in a bedroom or living ...
Upholstery, Wood
Sold
H 35.5 in W 30.5 in D 33 in
Pair of Chairs, Late 19th Century, France, Reupholstered in Schumacher Fabric
Located in New York, NY
We love the elegant silhouette of this pair of late 19th-century chairs, discovered in the South of France and newly upholstered in Schumacher's Apolline Botanical fabric...
Linen, Wood
Pair Of French Country Slipper Chairs
Located in Bradenton, FL
Pair of French country slipper chairs with wide comfortable seats. Upholstered chairs have beautifully shaped backs and are raised on scrolled cabriole legs. Upholstery is in a small...
Textile, Wood
19th Century French Upholstered Slipper Chairs, A Pair
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of re-upholstered slipper chairs from France, produced in the 19th Century. Upholstered in a terry blue boucle, cascading up and over the chairs’ arching backs, makes a compel...
Bouclé, Upholstery, Wood
Vintage French Slipper Chairs with Toile Upholstery, a Pair
Located in Centennial, CO
A charming and well made pair of vintage, likely 1950s or 60s, French slipper chairs with mauve, tan, pink and cream toile upholstery on the front. Back side is a beautiful solid mau...
Cotton, Hardwood
1900s French Slipper Chairs, a Pair
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of wooden upholstered chairs from 1900s France. Skinny waists and wide high-arching backs form a pleasing hourglass-like construction. A bright and clean upholstery slopes dow...
Fabric, Wood
Sold
H 29 in W 29 in D 26 in
Antique Robert W Irwin French Provincial Channel Back Vanity Chair Pink Brocade
Located in Dayton, OH
"A quaint channel back vanity or accent chair by Robert W. Irwin Furniture Company. Upholstered in an elegant pink brocade with throw pillow. Supported by turned, tapered and flute...
Upholstery, Hardwood
1880s French Provincial Slipper Chairs, a Pair
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of re-upholstered slipper chairs from France, produced circa 1880. Two low-slung seats upholstered in a heathered khaki standing on four black legs. A sumptuous set with seats...
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood
Pair of French Slipper Chairs
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair of newly upholstered French slipper chairs.
Fabric
Sold
H 38 in W 34 in D 28 in
Henredon French Tufted Tweed and Nailhead Slipper Java Lounge Chair and Ottoman
By Henredon
Located in Dayton, OH
Henredon French lounge chair and ottoman. Features tufted tweed, with nailhead trim and carved legs. Finished in Java.
Upholstery, Hardwood
Pair of Louis XV-Style Carved Walnut Chauffeuses
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is a super chic pair of early 20th century French walnut chauffeuse or fireside/slipper chairs that have been newly upholstered in the coveted Clarence House Zebra Belgium linen...
Brass