French Provincial Furniture
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.
Early 1900s French Antique French Provincial Furniture
Oak
Early 20th Century Unknown French Provincial Furniture
Upholstery, Hardwood
1920s Vintage French Provincial Furniture
Brass
1920s French Vintage French Provincial Furniture
Rush, Oak
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Furniture
Ceramic, Pottery
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Furniture
Iron
Early 20th Century Italian French Provincial Furniture
Wire
1920s French Vintage French Provincial Furniture
Oak, Pine
1920s American Vintage French Provincial Furniture
Burl
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Furniture
Upholstery, Mahogany
Early 1900s French Antique French Provincial Furniture
Terracotta
Early 1900s Italian Antique French Provincial Furniture
Upholstery, Wood
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Furniture
Wrought Iron, Tôle
Early 1900s French Antique French Provincial Furniture
Oak
1920s Vintage French Provincial Furniture
Oak
Early 20th Century Italian French Provincial Furniture
Mirror, Giltwood
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Furniture
Brass
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Furniture
Mirror, Oak
Early 1900s French Antique French Provincial Furniture
Walnut
Early 20th Century French Provincial Furniture
Cane, Walnut
Early 20th Century French Provincial Furniture
Blown Glass
Early 1900s French Antique French Provincial Furniture
Fabric, Upholstery, Wood, Linen, Oak, Lacquer
Early 1900s French Antique French Provincial Furniture
Terracotta
Early 20th Century American French Provincial Furniture
Hardwood, Giltwood, Paint
1920s American Vintage French Provincial Furniture
Burl, Upholstery
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Furniture
Elm
1920s American Vintage French Provincial Furniture
Upholstery, Burl
Early 1900s French Antique French Provincial Furniture
Pine, Paint
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Furniture
Oak
Early 20th Century French Provincial Furniture
Bronze
Early 20th Century French Provincial Furniture
Mahogany
1920s French Vintage French Provincial Furniture
Ceramic
1920s French Vintage French Provincial Furniture
Iron
Early 1900s French Antique French Provincial Furniture
Faience
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Furniture
Marble, Stainless Steel
Early 20th Century Italian French Provincial Furniture
Linen, Hardwood
Early 1900s French Antique French Provincial Furniture
Ceramic, Majolica
Early 20th Century Danish French Provincial Furniture
Tin
Early 1900s French Antique French Provincial Furniture
Bronze
1920s French Vintage French Provincial Furniture
Ceramic
Early 1900s French Antique French Provincial Furniture
Wood
Early 1900s French Antique French Provincial Furniture
Chestnut
Early 1900s French Antique French Provincial Furniture
Oak
Early 1900s French Antique French Provincial Furniture
Oak
Early 1900s European Antique French Provincial Furniture
Iron
Early 1900s French Antique French Provincial Furniture
Faience
Early 1900s French Antique French Provincial Furniture
Wool
1920s French Vintage French Provincial Furniture
Metal
1920s American Vintage French Provincial Furniture
Upholstery, Wood
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Furniture
Faience
Early 20th Century French Provincial Furniture
Rush, Walnut
Early 20th Century European French Provincial Furniture
Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century French Provincial Furniture
Mahogany
Early 1900s Danish Antique French Provincial Furniture
Aluminum
Early 1900s French Antique French Provincial Furniture
Crystal, Bronze
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Furniture
Upholstery, Velvet, Mahogany
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Furniture
Velvet, Cane, Walnut
1920s French Vintage French Provincial Furniture
Silver Plate