French Provincial Desks
FRENCH PROVINCIAL STYLE
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.
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Style: French Provincial
Baker Furniture French Provincial Walnut Secretary Desk With Bookcase Hutch
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Provincial Louis XV style bureau with drop front secretary desk and bookcase hutch top
By Baker Furniture
USA, Circa 1960s
Carved walnut, with original brass har...
Category
1960s American Vintage French Provincial Desks
Materials
Brass
Thomasville French Provincial Louis XV Oak Writing Desk with Bookcase Hutch Top
By Thomasville
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Provincial Louis XV style writing desk with bookcase hutch top
By Thomasville
USA, Circa 1980s
Carved solid oak,...
Category
Late 20th Century American French Provincial Desks
Materials
Brass
Maddox French Provincial Louis XV Painted Secretary Desk With Mirrored Bookcase
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Provincial Louis XV style bureau with drop front secretary desk and mirrored bookcase hutch top
By Maddox Furniture
USA, 1970s
Cream lacquered walnut, with hand-...
Category
1970s American Vintage French Provincial Desks
Materials
Brass
Vintage Boho Patinated Drop Front Desk
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Overflowing with storybook charm, this antique slant-front desk is a captivating piece of functional art. Its elegant form, defined by graceful cabriole legs and a serpentine apron, ...
Category
Early 20th Century American French Provincial Desks
Materials
Brass
Baker Furniture Collector's Edition Provincial Style Oak Parquetry Coffee Table
Located in Germantown, MD
A very well crafted Collector's Edition French Provincial Style Parquetry Walnut Coffee Table by Baker Furniture. Great vintage condition
Measures 42" in width, 42" in depth, 18" in ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Unknown French Provincial Desks
Materials
Walnut, Oak
Antique Country French Provincial Pine Farmhouse Table
Located in Astoria, NY
Charming 19th-century French Provincial farmhouse writing desk or small dining table, sourced directly from Provence, France. Handcrafted from solid rustic European pine, it features...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique French Provincial Desks
Materials
Chrome
Antique French Provincial Mahogany Inlaid Marquetry Kidney Desk
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique French Provincial Mahogany Inlaid Marquetry Kidney Desk
Elevate your workspace with this beautiful antique inlaid marquetry kidney desk. Its kidney shape not only enhances ...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown French Provincial Desks
Materials
Mahogany
19th Century Country French Provincial Walnut Writing Table Desk
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Handsome 19th century country French provincial diminutive writing table or desk carved from walnut. The top and frieze have a gracefully curved serpentine shape with a small storage...
Category
19th Century French Antique French Provincial Desks
Materials
Walnut
Early 20th Century Provincial Cherry Newly Enameled Decorated Desk or Vanity
Located in Germantown, MD
An Early 20th Century French Provincial Cherry with a freshly Hand Enameled and Decorated Desk or vanity. Artistic and professionally enameled. Light Lemon yellowish green base. Me...
Category
Early 20th Century American French Provincial Desks
Materials
Enamel
Antique French Provincial Leather Top Painted Kneehole Desk
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Dynamic 19th century kneehole desk with a brown tooled leather top over a three piece pedestal base with nine drawers and two pullout trays...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique French Provincial Desks
Materials
Leather, Wood, Paint
19th Century French Provincial Fruitwood Writing Table Desk
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Diminutive size 19th century French provincial writing table or desk. The table is constructed from fruitwood with a warm patina and lovely wood grain patterns. Fronted by a single s...
Category
19th Century French Antique French Provincial Desks
Materials
Fruitwood
$1,875 Sale Price
25% Off
Heredon Country French Carved Walnut Lighted China Cabinet Breakfront with Desk
By Henredon
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This Heredon Country French carved walnut lighted china cabinet breakfront with desk is a stunning piece that blends elegance, versatility, and fine craftsmanship. Made by the renown...
Category
Early 2000s American French Provincial Desks
Materials
Walnut
$2,396 Sale Price
20% Off
Early 20th Century Art Deco French Colonial Rosewood Desk
Located in San Marino, CA
A French Colonial rosewood desk of distinctive and graceful design. 1930s with one pencil drawer.
Category
1920s Vietnamese Vintage French Provincial Desks
Materials
Rosewood
Classic Antique French Cherry Desk with Breadboard Top
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A Classic Antique Provincial French writing table with breadboard top. Plank top two drawer desk featuring scalloped knee hole and apron with two drawers with brass pulls on simple c...
Category
Late 19th Century Antique French Provincial Desks
Materials
Wood, Cherry
French Provincial Secretary Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
A French provincial secretary desk with an angled arched cornice above two paneled doors enclosing adjustable shelves, the midsection with a fall front writing surface with an interi...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese French Provincial Desks
Materials
Wood
Painted French Provincial Ivory and Green circa 1920s Secretary/ Desk
Located in Essex, MA
In an all-over ivory paint with a wonderful light green interior throughout this beautiful turn of the century, a French provincial secretary...
Category
Early 20th Century Unknown French Provincial Desks
Materials
Wood, Paint
Guillerme & Chambron Desk in Oak for Votre Maison, France 1960s
Located in Hellouw, NL
This Guillerme & Chambron desk, manufactured in the 1960s, is a beautiful example of mid-century French design. It is made of high-quality oak wood, which ensures a sturdy and durabl...
Category
Mid-20th Century French French Provincial Desks
Materials
Oak
French Empire Desk Marquetry Inlay Harrods Bureau Plat Writing Table
Located in Potters Bar, GB
You are viewing a gorgeous French Empire style bureau plat or desk
Piece was originally purchased in Harrods - please see close up of store stamp on the inside of the drawer
The intr...
Category
1980s Vintage French Provincial Desks
Materials
Wood
Louis XV Style French Provincial Desk
Located in Bradenton, FL
19th Century Louis XV Style French Provincial Desk. Desk features an aged patina with warm, rich tones. Desk is designed with a serpentine apron and cabriole legs, embodying the grac...
Category
19th Century French Antique French Provincial Desks
Materials
Walnut
French Empire Desk Bureau Marquetry Inlay Knee Hole
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Stunning knee hole desk in the French Empire manner
French writing desk in king wood decorated with french marquetry
Hopefully the photos do the inlay some justice, so florid and de...
Category
1980s Vintage French Provincial Desks
Materials
Kingwood
French Antique Desk Directoire Bureau Plat 1880
Located in Potters Bar, GB
You are viewing a gorgeous antique French Directoire desk
Circa 1880 the desk features original gilt mounts
Top: Rectangular top with inset brown leather writing surface,
panelled in...
Category
1880s Antique French Provincial Desks
Materials
Giltwood
Vintage Regency Drexel Writing Desk
By Drexel
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A masterpiece of classic design, this vintage writing desk by renowned maker Drexel embodies the grace and sophistication of the French Provincial style. The desk's exquisite silhoue...
Category
Late 20th Century American French Provincial Desks
Materials
Brass
Theodore Alexander French Louis XV Walnut Bureau Plat Leather Top Desk
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Louis XV style writing desk or bureau plat desk
By Theodore Alexander
Vietnam, Early 21st Century
Carved walnut, with bronze ormolu mounts, and embossed black le...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese French Provincial Desks
Materials
Bronze
French Provencial Writing Desk by Sligh Furniture
Located in Pasadena, TX
French Provencial writing desk by Sligh Furniture
Vintage leather top half moon desk by Sligh. Walnut and tooled black leather top. Five drawers with b...
Category
Mid-20th Century North American French Provincial Desks
Materials
Walnut
French Country Tiger Oak Writing Desk by Henredon
By Henredon
Located in Southampton, NJ
French Country style desk with custom glass top by Henredon USA, Circa 1960s.
Featuring impressive Tiger Oak grains finished on all sides, the desk boasts classic elegance suitable f...
Category
20th Century French Provincial Desks
Materials
Brass
French Empire Escritoire Chest Desk 1880 Mahogany
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Classic French Empire escritoire / desk
Crafted from mahogany with ormolu fittings
Great space saving piece as both a desk and a chest of drawers
We ...
Category
1880s Antique French Provincial Desks
Materials
Mahogany
Baker Furniture French Provincial Louis XV Carved Oak Leather Top Bureau Desk
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional French Provincial Louis XV style bureau plat writing desk
By Baker Furniture, "Milling Road" Collection
USA, Circa 1960s
Carved oak, with black leather top and orig...
Category
1960s American Vintage French Provincial Desks
Materials
Brass
Antique Small Writing Desk on Cabriole Legs
Located in Sheridan, CO
Antique small writing desk on cabriole legs with original brass hardware. Desk features 7 drawers and pull out slide on the front.
Dimensio...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique French Provincial Desks
Materials
Brass
Beacon Hill Collection Federal Style Desk and Chair
By Beacon Hill
Located in Pasadena, TX
Beacon Hill Collection Federal Style Desk and Chair
20th century style desk by established company Beacon Hill. Five drawers with nickel pulls and ...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Provincial Desks
Materials
Mahogany
Antique French Bureau Plat Desk
Located in Potters Bar, GB
This rather impressive French bureau plat stands upon shaped legs Circa 1920
Featuring 3 working drawers to the front with 3 faux drawers to the rear with wonderful decorative ormolu...
Category
1920s Vintage French Provincial Desks
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century French Oak Desk Organizer
Located in High Point, NC
This authentic desk organizer was crafted from fine oak wood in 19th-century France. Adorned with delicately carved finials reminiscent of chess figures, it features a spacious compa...
Category
19th Century French Antique French Provincial Desks
Materials
Oak
Antique Petite Secrétaire
Located in Malibu, CA
This petite secrétaire is perfect for small spaces. Small drawers with original hardware and multiple shelves are perfect to hold writing paper, note...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique French Provincial Desks
Materials
Fruitwood
Petite French Ladies Desk Writing Table Sevres Plaques
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Gorgeous French ladies writing desk with ormolu mounts and Sevres plaques
circa 1930 and hand crafted from kingwood
Burgundy tooled leather ...
Category
1930s Vintage French Provincial Desks
Materials
Porcelain, Wood
19th-Century Sandblasted Walnut Extendable Desk
Located in PARIS, FR
This elegant 19th-century walnut extendable desk is a perfect blend of functionality and timeless design. Measuring 101 cm in width without extensions ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique French Provincial Desks
Materials
Walnut
Boulle Desk .
Located in Kraków, Małopolska
Boulle Desk from 1880
Category
1870s French Antique French Provincial Desks
Materials
Oak
$8,350 / item
French Provincial desks for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique French Provincial desks for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage desks created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used French Provincial desks made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original desks, popular names associated with this style include Baker Furniture Company, Henredon, Beacon Hill, and Sligh Furniture. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for desks differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $795 and tops out at $12,953 while the average work can sell for $2,995.