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French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

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
Period: Mid-20th Century
Baker Furniture French Louis XV Pink Lacquered Writing Desk, Newly Refinished
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional French Provincial Louis XV style writing desk By Baker Furniture USA, Circa 1960s Pink lacquered cherry wood, with original brass hardware. Measures: 50.5"W x 23.5...
Category

1960s American Vintage French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Mid Century Country French Provincial Mirrored Vanity Desk Console Credenza 72"
Located in Dayton, OH
Mid century French Provincial vanity desk or credenza featuring serpentine form with antiqued mirrored top, four drawers and one cabinet...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mirror, Hardwood

Baker Furniture French Provincial Louis XV Cherry Writing Desk, Newly Refinished
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional French Provincial Louis XV style writing desk By Baker Furniture USA, Circa 1960s Carved cherry wood, with original brass hardware. Measures: 46"W x 23"D x 30"H. ...
Category

1960s American Vintage French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Henredon French Provincial Louis XV Oak Writing Desk
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional French Provincial Louis XV style writing desk By Henredon USA, Circa 1960s Carved oak, with original brass hardware. Measures: 40"W x 24"D x 29.5"H. Ver...
Category

1960s American Vintage French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

French Marble Top Console Table Bar or Desk
Located in Atlanta, GA
Elegant French Provincial style marble top console table, France, circa 1950s. This piece is a versatile size and can be used as a console table, bar, media table, stand, desk, or va...
Category

1950s French Vintage French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Marble, Metal

French Provincial Writing Desk 1930s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Early 20th century painted French Provincial style desk. The desk stands on four cabriole legs that end in rams head feet. The piece is beautifully pain...
Category

1930s French Vintage French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Paint

1960s Italian Dal Vera Bamboo Rattan Brass French Riviera Organic Writing Desk
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern writing table or desk in bamboo and wicker rattan with 2 side drawers with typical brass handles from renowned Dal Vera manufacturer. The o...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Antique Country French Oak Secretary
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique Country French Oak Secretary is a superb example of this most efficient form of cabinetry. Combining a chest of drawers with a desk, it works in ...
Category

Mid-20th Century French French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Mid-Century Bamboo, Wood and Rattan Writing Table Desk with Drawers, Italy 1970s
Located in Carimate, Como
Beautiful 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern bamboo and wicker desk with three drawers, a large one and two small ones, finished on 4 sides making it perfect as stand alone or against ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bamboo, Wicker, Rattan

French Provencial Style Desk, C. 1930’s
Located in Los Angeles, CA
French Provencal style desk standing on four cabriole legs with rams head feet. The desk has five drawers for plenty of storage. Originally cast hardwar...
Category

1930s French Vintage French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Early 20th Century Walnut & Leather Secretary Desk
Located in Miami, FL
The early 20th century French secretaire was made of walnut. Called secretaire en abbatant by the French, in reference to the sloping-front drop-down desk surface, this particular e...
Category

Mid-20th Century French French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Baker French Provincial Cherry Marquetry Inlay Console Table Desk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Baker French Provincial Cherry Marquetry Inlay Console Table Desk. Item features shapely saber legs, marquetry inlaid top, solid wood construct...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Cherry

Vintage French Provincial Style Vanity Desk with Mirror & Ottoman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Original Vintage Condition Materials: Painted Wood Dimensions: 31"H x 43.50"W x 19"D Ottoman: 18.25"H x 27"W x 16.50"D
Category

1960s American Vintage French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Baker Furniture French Provincial Louis XV Cherry Slant Front Secretary Desk
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous petite French Provincial Louis XV style slant front writing desk or secretary desk USA, circa 1960s Beautiful cherry wood, with or...
Category

1960s American Vintage French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Related Items
French Mid-Century Style Parchment Covered Vanity/ Desk, Jean-Michel Frank Style
Located in New York, NY
Elegant and Sober French Mid-Century Modern Style parchment covered vanity / desk / console with a lacquered steel frame and utilizing squares of light parchment covering wood. the a...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary French French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

P.E.L. Tubular Steel Writing Desk and Chair, United Kingdom 1930s
By PEL
Located in Hellouw, NL
Charming P.E.L. Tubular Steel Writing Desk and Chair from the United Kingdom, the 1930s. This set is probably designed by Serge Chermayeff (1900–1996)...
Category

1930s British Vintage French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Chrome, Steel

Antique French Console Table or Ladies Small Writing Desk, Restored circa 1800s
Located in Chicago, IL
Petite console Table or ladies Writing Desk, made in France during the late 1800s from solid Mahogany. Beautifully restored, both structurally and cosmetically and ready for the next...
Category

1880s French Antique French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

White Lacquer Console or Desk
Located in Stamford, CT
White lacquered desk, two drawers with brass ring pulls. Clearance height 23.5. Desk or console finished on all sides.
Category

1990s French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

White Lacquer Console or Desk
White Lacquer Console or Desk
H 29 in W 47.25 in D 22.5 in
French Louis XV Style Desk or Writing Table by Baker
Located in Hopewell, NJ
A fabulous Louis XV style desk which boasts elegant cabriole legs, four drawers, the left being a double height drawer, with wonderful oak grain and charming carved details. The desk...
Category

1980s American Vintage French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

French Louis XV Baker Furniture Louis XV Secretary Desk Collector's Edition
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a rare item from Baker furniture. It's a French Louis XV style secretary desk in walnut with a mesh grill set for the doors. The desk measures 89 tal...
Category

1990s American French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Gorgeous French Louis XV Style Ebonized Writing Executive Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a gorgeous superb quality desk. The desk features incredible bronze ormolu and mounts and a rich leather top. The desk Measures 43.5 wide x 27 deep x 30 tall. Dates to the 19...
Category

1970s French Vintage French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Bronze

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 and Writing Tables

Materials

Fruitwood

French Louis XV Style Distressed Painted Desk Writing Table
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
For customers that require professional insured delivery we are proud to have teamed up with a nationwide professional delivery company that will assist with coordinating your deliv...
Category

1990s Unknown French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Mahogany

Midcentury Writing Desk or Console Table from Up Zavody, 1960s
Located in Żory, PL
Mid-century writing desk which can also be used as a console table. Manufactured by UP Zavody Bučovice in former Czechoslovakia during the 1960s. Features two drawers and black glass...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Glass, Wood

Baker Furniture French Provincial Louis XV Walnut Writing Desk
Located in Charleston, SC
Here’s a beautiful French style writing desk with a banded top and three drawers; the central drawer can be locked. This piece sits atop curv...
Category

Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

French Provincial Desk
Located in Westwood, NJ
French Provincial carved beach and walnut bureau plat or writing table with a slightly antiqued and distressed finish, serpentine molded edge top, th...
Category

21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

French Provincial Desk
French Provincial Desk
H 31 in W 76 in D 30 in
Previously Available Items
Vintage French Provincial Style Vanity Desk with Mirror & Ottoman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Original Vintage Condition Materials: Painted Wood Dimensions: 31"H x 43.50"W x 19"D Ottoman: 18.25"H x 27"W x 16.50"D
Category

1960s American Vintage French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Baker Furniture French Provincial Louis XV Cherry Slant Front Secretary Desk
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous petite French Provincial Louis XV style slant front writing desk or secretary desk USA, circa 1960s Beautiful cherry wood, with or...
Category

1960s American Vintage French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

French Provincial Ebonized Gallery Desk, ca. 1900
Located in New York, NY
French Provincial ebonized galleried writing table or desk, with spindle gallery top on rectangular writing surface (30" H) above one long drawer, on four turned tapering legs conjoi...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Italian Mahogany and Burl Inlaid Marquetry Petite Slant Front Secretary Desk
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Italian petite slant front writing desk or secretary desk Italy, circa Mid-20th century Mahogany and burl wood, with beautiful mar...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

Character Rich Carved Walnut Vintage Writing Desk
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Wonderful aged natural color walnut desk with character rich patina having rustic design, two drawers with ring brasses, tapered legs and simple decorative carving. The visible pegs ...
Category

1940s French Vintage French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Walnut

Chippy Paint Decorated French Country Louis XV Writing Desk, circa 1950
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
For customers that require professional insured delivery we are proud to have teamed up with a nationwide professional delivery company that will assist with coordinating your delivery needs! They offer a reasonable flat-rate fee for delivery and set up to the ground floor of your home. They deliver to the vast majority of the lower 48 states. They offer a flat rate for most of our items with exclusions for the largest or most complex items such as breakfronts or crystal chandeliers or other items of greater complexity. For those items please ask for a shipping quote prior to purchase as these rates are different from our stated pricing. For those items please ask for a shipping quote prior to purchase. Most deliveries to the East Coast will be 295.00, to the mid-west and Southern mid-west 395.00. To the areas west of Kansas 495.00 and the farthest points to the West coast will be 595.00. Again, some areas we can't cover, however we can deliver to most of the lower 48 states so please inquire to be sure! Delivery times range from as fast as 1-4 weeks for the east coast to 5-9 weeks to the farthest areas of the west coast, sometimes longer and sometimes even shorter. If it is a time sensitive purchase, we may be able to accommodate you for a higher price. It is our goal to please each and every one of our customers with the highest standard of service possible. You must realize and accept that we are shipping antique, vintage and quality used furnishings to your home. We cannot control traffic, weather, and acts of God. There will be times when additional patience will be necessary. This is a fantastic solid pine chippy painted...
Category

1950s Unknown Vintage French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Pine

Vintage Italian Provincial French Country Sunburst Inlay Executive Writing Desk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Italian Provincial French Country Sunburst Inlay Executive writing desk. Item features a sunburst top, pencil inlay throughout, whit...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood

Baker Furniture French Provincial Carved Oak Leather Top Desk, circa 1960s
Located in South Bend, IN
An exceptional French Provincial style desk. By Baker Furniture, "Milling Road" Collection. USA, Circa 1960s Carved oak, with inset embossed green leather top, and original ...
Category

Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

French Pine Antique Writing Desk
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique pine writing desk / table. Good condition, some minor wear from age and use; see photos for details.
Category

1930s French Vintage French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Pine

French Pine Antique Writing Desk
French Pine Antique Writing Desk
H 31 in W 51 in D 29 in
French Maple & Leather Top Bureau De Dame Ladies Secretary Writing Desk Library
Located in Dayton, OH
A magnificent 20th century French Provincial Bureau De Dame. Burea de Dame translates to ladies office. A writing desk that is often petite ye...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Leather, Maple

Sligh Vintage French Country Provincial Green Painted Brown Leather Writing Desk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Sligh vintage French Country Provincial green painted brown leather top writing desk. Item features brown tooled leather top, distressed finish, finished back, original stamp, 4 dove...
Category

Mid-20th Century North American French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Wood, Leather

Baker Furniture French Provincial Louis XV Cherry Wood Writing Desk, Refinished
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Provincial Louis XV style writing desk By Baker Furniture USA, Circa 1960s Cherry wood, with original brass hardware. Middle drawer locks, and key is inclu...
Category

Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables

Materials

Brass

French Provincial desks and writing tables for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique French Provincial desks and writing tables 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 and writing tables created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include tables, case pieces and storage cabinets, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used French Provincial desks and writing tables 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 and writing tables, popular names associated with this style include Baker Furniture Company, Camard, Dal Vera, and Dos Gallos Studio. 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 and writing tables differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $675 and tops out at $30,579 while the average work can sell for $3,051.

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