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.
1970s Baker French Style One Drawer Leather Top Pull Out Trays Cabriole Legs
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Transport yourself back to the sleek and sophisticated 1970s with this exquisite leather top gaming table. The ultra rare table exudes an air of luxury and refinement. Outstanding de...
Leather, Wood
Baker Furniture French Style Burl Walnut Game Table
Located in Pasadena, TX
This is a walnut game table by Baker Furniture. The top has a burl walnut with walnut inlay. The top slides over to expose a storage space for game pieces. The leaves are held togeth...
Walnut, Burl
Pierre Deux Game Table Flip Top Leather
By Pierre Deux
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 ...
Leather, Mahogany
Empire Games Table French Inlay Console Tables
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Gorgeous games or chess table in the French Empire manner In itself can function as a demi lune console table Intricate marquetry inlay on all surfaces Bought from a dealer on Marche...
Wood
French Polished Antique Flip-Top Game Table
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Light finish with unique wood grain throughout. Rectangular hinged top extending into a square table top. Curvaceous pedestal body studded with gold wood beads in a heart shape, endi...
Wood
Antique French Games Table Backgammon Inlay Card 1880
Located in Potters Bar, GB
French mahogany games table in the Empire manner This games table stands upon cabriole legs with metal toes and mounts Circa 1880 Bought from a dealer on Marche Biron at Paris antiqu...
Mahogany
Antique French Elegant Leather Top Game Table with 4 Drawers
Located in Hopewell, NJ
This elegant French leather-top game table reflects the refined craftsmanship and understated luxury of 19th-century design. The rectangular surface is dressed in a richly patinated ...
Leather, Walnut
French 19Th. C. Louis XV Style Inlaid & Ebonized Wood Game Table, Table a Jeux
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Just in, this is a French Louis XV Style Inlaid and Ebonized Wood Game Table or as we say in French, Table a Jeux. The top of this charming antique table has an inlaid game board. On...
Wood
Mid Century Style Leather Top Game Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
A Mid-Century Modern style leather top square game table. The gilt-tooled leather top is ready for play, with pivoting hinged drawers on ...
Leather, Wood
$1,850
H 16.88 in W 41.88 in D 27.88 in
Baker Sheraton Style Mahogany Oval Cocktail Table With Pull Out Trays
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Baker Furniture well figured mahogany oval cocktail table with satinwood inlay, two conforming pull out trays and the whole resting on four tapering legs with brass caps and casters....
Brass
$3,450
H 29 in W 34 in D 34 in
Vintage Game Table With Leather Top by Baker Furniture "Collectors Edition"
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Introducing the Vintage Game Table With Leather Top by Baker Furniture "Collectors Edition" - a timeless masterpiece that seamlessly combin...
Leather, Wood
$3,900
H 29.75 in W 36 in D 16 in
Philadelphia Hepplewhite Hollow Front Flip Top Game Table, c. 1790-1810
Located in Kenilworth, IL
Hepplewhite hollow front flip top game table with gated leg. The solid figured mahogany top is mounted to a conforming brick laid apron veneered in figured mahogany, and the borders ...
Mahogany, Holly
Regency Mahogany Games Table with Satinwood Inlay
Located in Kastrup, DK
Elegant Regency-period games table from England, circa 1810-1815. Crafted from mahogany, the apron is decorated with fine line inlay in satinwood and maple, while the tapered legs a...
Felt, Mahogany, Maple, Satinwood
$2,595
H 28.25 in W 32 in D 24 in
Baker Furniture Historic Charleston Collection Federal Mahogany Game Table
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous Federal or Hepplewhite style game table or tea table By Baker Furniture, "Historic Charleston Collection" USA, Circa 1980s Mahogany, with inlaid satinwood marquetry. M...
Mahogany, Satinwood
Antique French 19th Game Table, Chess, Backgammon & Cards
Located in Senonches, Centre-Val de Loire
Antique 19th game table or side table, perfect in a living room or office. The table can be divided in three ways: the first with a chess board, the second with a read leather board ...
Walnut
Neoclassical Italian Walnut Inlay Tripod Chess Games or Side Table
Located in Carimate, Como
A beautiful Italian round walnut side table with great details and frames shaped in Victorian, Napoleon III, Louis XV style with chessboard on the top and the tripod feet legs. A ver...
Wood
$3,500
H 30 in W 36 in D 17 in
Antique American Empire Card/ Games Table in West Indies Mahogany with Pedestal
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
An American Empire games or card table with cylinder column resting on quatre-form base terminating with turned feet on casters. Swivel-top opens to a square with storage compartment for games. American, circa 1835. Measurements: 36" long x 17" deep x 30" high (Open: 36" square) Every home could use at least one card or games tables. Not only do they contribute aesthetically to a home's interior, but they are immensely practical and function well as a side table, end table, lamp table, and/or as a small breakfast table. Because of their narrow depth, game tables are useful in hallways, behind a sofa in a living room or as a small serving table...
Mahogany
Early 19th Century Flip-Top Game Table with Inlaid Chessboard
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Early 19th Century Flip-Top Game Table with Inlaid Chessboard Refined early 19th-century game table, designed for chess and card games, exemplifying the understated elegance and fin...
Cherry, Maple, Walnut
$3,000
H 28.5 in W 35.5 in D 17 in
Antique Sheraton Mahogany Inlaid Octagonal Flip Top Game Card Tea Console Table
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique Sheraton period card or game table, circa 1790-1820. Made from mahogany with crotch mahogany veneer, featuring an inlaid flip top octagonal demilune top supported by square ...
Mahogany
Vintage Burlwood Game Table by Hekman, Cabriole Legs, USA, Circa 1970s
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Vintage Burlwood marquetry top game table with cabriole legs by Hekman Furniture Company,
Burl
Sold
H 28.5 in W 27.75 in D 27.75 in
Vintage Italian Painted Game or Square Kitchen Table, Circa 1950's
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
This beautiful wooden table from Italy is perfect functioning as a game table or as a kitchen table in a formal or informal home setting. The light wood table has a beautiful warm gl...
Wood
19th C. French Game Table w/ Embossed Leather Top
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th C. French Provincial wooden game table with a square top and four drawers. It features an embossed leather top that has been constructed from 19th C. Spanish embossed leather...
Leather, Walnut
Sold
H 30.25 in W 33.25 in D 33.25 in
Mid-Century French Provincial Style Hand Hewn Walnut Game Table W/ Leather Top
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a hand hewn carved walnut game table with French styling. It has an embossed black leather top. The table has a single drawer with Masonic inspired brass pull. The curved leg...
Brass
Sold
H 26.5 in W 33.5 in D 26 in
18th Century French Provincial Oak Games Table with Tooled Leather Top
Located in Middleburg, VA
A charming and authentic French Provincial games table crafted in the late 18th century, circa 1780, in the Provence region of France. This delightful piece showcases the rustic eleg...
Metal, Iron
Sold
H 28.75 in W 32.5 in D 32.5 in
Karges French Provincial Louis XV Carved Walnut Breakfast Table or Game Table
Located in South Bend, IN
A gorgeous French Provincial Louis XV style breakfast table or game table By Karges USA, Circa 1960s Beautiful walnut parquetry top, with carved solid walnut cabriole legs. Measu...
Walnut
Sold
H 29.5 in W 36 in D 36 in
Fantastic Leather Top French Country Games Table in Original Green Paint
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a gorgeous original green paint decorated table for games or just occassioanl use. The table features a brass nail head trimmed leather top with embossed leaf edges and drawe...
Leather, Walnut
Carved Oak French Style Backgammon Table
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A very well made and decorative carved Oak Game Table with a reversible silver embossed leather top that lifts to reveal a colored leather inlaid Backgammon board. The table frame wi...
Leather, Oak
French Provincial Tric Trac Games Table or Writing Desk Console
Located in Sherborne, GB
A 19th Century Fruitwood inlaid writing desk / console with Tric Trac games table within. The detachable top with baize for cards, and leather surface to the reverse. The playing sur...
Fruitwood
Provincial Game Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
This small corner triangular fold-over hinged top game table opens to a square form table. In a hand-finished, distressed, and antiqued painted finish and raised on slender cabriole ...
Wood
French Country Parquetry Game Table
Located in Southampton, NJ
French country style parquetry game table with custom fitted glass insert top ( not shown). Of heirloom quality attributed to Baker Furniture, the table boasts striking wood grains &...
Mahogany, Satinwood, Walnut
Sold
H 29.5 in W 36 in D 24 in
Henredon Country French Oak Parquetry Extension Flip Top Game Table Console Desk
By Henredon
Located in Dayton, OH
A lovely French Country swivel top game / dining table by Henredon. Part of the Four Centuries Collection, circa 1970s. Features a rectangular frame made from oak with parquetry to...
Oak
Handcarved French Provincial Square Game Table
Located in Malibu, CA
French provincial square card or game table in creamy white finish. Hand carved with decorative apron & carved cabriole legs.
Hardwood