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.
Charcoal Drawing of Risen Jesus, French Provincial, 20th Century
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
French, early 20th century (if not prior) charcoal and chalk drawing of a risen Jesus Christ. Beautiful in its monochromatic palette, the work highlights the gathering of fabric in h...
Glass, Wood, Paper
French Vintage Framed Charcoal Study of a Young Male
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
French vintage 20th century charcoal and chalk drawing of a crouched nude male figure in prayer. Beautiful in its monochromatic palette, the work highlights the youthful muscularity,...
Glass, Wood, Paper
Pair of Framed French Hot Air Balloon Lithographs, after 18th Century Prints
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Transport yourself to the wonder and romance of early flight with this pair of hand-colored antique engravings, each depicting the world’s first hot air balloon ascents in 18th-centu...
Wire
French Vintage Charcoal Sketch of Woman, 20th Century, Framed Art
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
French vintage 20th century charcoal and chalk sketch/study of a statuesque woman in loose-fitting dress (like a dressing gown); out of context she could easily be mistaken for a fig...
Gold
Set of Two Ornithological Engravings – Early 20th Century - France
Located in SOTTEVILLE-LÈS-ROUEN, FR
A stunning set of two early 20th-century ornithological plates, depicting the male Senegal oriole and the Cape starling. These birds are illustrated with remarkable precision and ele...
Milk Glass, Paper
Pastel Portrait of a Young Woman, Probably French, Circa 1780
Located in Atlanta, GA
Continental Pastel Portrait of a Young Woman, Probably French, Circa 1780 A finely rendered portrait of a young woman, Continental school, probably French, provisionally dated circa...
Canvas, Giltwood, Paper
Pair of Antique Watercolors of Iris and Tulips, 52x40 cm, Excellent
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Nice pair of watercolors with flowers: iris and tulips. For Your home, everyhere. ST/455.
Paper
Surrealist Landscape Drawing with Tree and Sunset, Signed Mid-Century Modern Ink
Located in Miami, FL
Surrealist Landscape Drawing with Tree and Sunset, Signed Mid-Century Modern Ink and Watercolor., Mid-Century Surreal Landscape with Gnarled Tree and Red Sun, Signed Ink and Watercol...
Paint, Paper
Tall Impressionist Portrait Drawing of a Frenchman, Signed
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Tall portrait painting on paper of a French man. The young man is wearing a long sleeve red and a white stripe shirt. His sleeves are pulled up to his elbows, and a red belt cinches ...
Paint, Paper
Map of Moscow Engraved map of Moscow from 1805 Frères Courtener
Located in Madrid, ES
Map of Moscow Engraved map of Moscow from 1805, published by the Frères Courtener bookstore. The Frenchman François Courtener arrived in Moscow in the 1770s and ran a bookstore and ...
Parchment Paper
19th Century Pencil Drawing of a Figure on a Path with a Windmill Beyond
Located in Wiscasset, ME
Nicely executed landscape pencil drawing from the, 19th century. Most likely French school. It is expertly matted and framed. There is a signature and date in the lower right, but th...
Paper
Attr. Constantine Of Aix, Animated Landscape With Roman Soldiers, 18th/19th Cent
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Rocky landscape animated by Roman soldiers in armor: pen and ink wash drawing, gouache or watercolor, in a gilded wooden frame from the Louis XVI period Drawing attributed to Jean A...
Paper
Late 19th Pastel Portrait Young Spanish Woman by Bernard Perot
Located in Marseille, FR
Late 19th pastel portrait young Spanish woman with fan by Bernard Perot drawing.
Paste
$2,574
H 22.05 in W 29.93 in D 0.99 in
Japanese Black and White Paper Print of Antique 18th Century Screen
Located in Brescia, IT
Early 20th century pair of Japanese black and white paper prints of drawings of 18th Century Japanese screens. This is one piece of the ...
Paper
$1,995
H 24.5 in W 46 in D 1.5 in
18th Century French Aubusson Gouache Tapestry Design in Giltwood Frame
Located in Dallas, TX
Delicately rendered in a soft Rococo palette, this antique Aubusson gouache presents a charming pastoral fête galante. Crafted in France circa 1760, the composition was conceived as ...
Giltwood, Paper
Male Nude Study in Pencil 1940s
Located in Tilburg, NL
Nude Study in Pencil, Europe, 1940s. Beautiful and well drawn study with a male nude kneeling. Wonderful atmosphere and very elegant. At the underside of the paper there are also a few other drawings of...
Paper
Early 20th Century Blueprint by John Alden
By John G. Alden
Located in Norwell, MA
Early 20th century blueprint by John Alden of a General Seafoods Corp. trawler dated 2/24/37. Hull Lines are shown from bow, profile and bottom views. Nicely framed. Scale: 1/4 inch ...
$4,675
H 28.5 in W 22 in D 1 in
Pair of Italian Academic Charcoal Drawings of Male Nude Figures from 1880
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This pair of Italian academic charcoal drawings captures the grace and disciplined form of classical male nudes. One portrays an artist's model, his pose reflective and studied, whil...
Paper, Wood
Set of 12 Antique Hand-Painted Botanical Prints, 18th Century
Located in Viterbo, VT
Set of watercolor hand-painted botanical prints most likely created in the mid to late 1700s. Some of the descriptions are written in Latin and Greek and accompany absolutely stunnin...
Pine, Paper
Mid-century charcoal on paper framed male nude study
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a mid 20th century charcoal on paper male nude study. This drawing is presented in a handmade Italian frame with cream and black mat boards. The charcoal drawing is a male nu...
Paper
Selection of 1930s Academic Study Drawings of Male Nudes
Located in Atlanta, GA
Selection of 1930's Academic Study Drawings of Male Nudes, hand drawn by Carl De Zeeuw, American, circa 1930's. The price noted below is for EACH dra...
Paper
$1,685Sale Price|20% Off
H 33.86 in W 23.63 in D 0.56 in
Study of a female nude, Italian futurist charcoal drawing
Located in Milano, IT
A remarkable futurist charcoal drawing on paper depicting a twisting female nude with her arms raised above her head. The work stands out for the plastic force of its lines and the i...
Wood, Paper
$1,076
H 28.35 in W 19.69 in D 0.79 in
Neoclassical Greek Sculpture Drawing in Charcoal, Early 20th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Drawing Greek sculpture academy made in charcoal at the beginning of the 20th century, at the Spanish academy in Rome. Depicting a Greek sculpture.
Paper
$990
H 24.25 in W 36.25 in D 1.25 in
18th Century French Aubusson Gouache Cartoon of Goats in Landscape
Located in Dallas, TX
Decorate a wall with this charming antique Aubusson tapestry cartoon, crafted in France circa 1780. Protected behind glass and presented in a wide molded frame with gilt trim, the ha...
Giltwood, Paper
French Vintage Pen Sketch of Youthful Boy, 20th Century, Signed
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
French vintage pen and ink drawing on paper of a youthful boy with gamine features such as a pronounced upper lip, arched brows, and a dense row of eyelashes. The vanilla tone of the...
Glass, Wood, Paper
Framed French Etchings, a Pair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of French etchings in nice wood gold frame. We have other similar set in our listing so collect them all.
Glass, Wood, Paper
French Etchings Framed, a Pair
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of French etchings in nice wood gold frame. We have other similar set in our listing so collect them all. Art: measures: 12.5" x 9".
Glass, Wood, Paper
Six French 19th Century Architectural Engravings
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Set of six French late 19th century architectural engravings. These unusual and highly decorative engravings are of architectural drawings fo...
Paper
Set of Three 18th Century French Provincial Pastel Portraits of Women
Located in Doylestown, PA
Three enchanting 18th century French oil-pastel portraits of women, two with their pets. All by the same hand, though the artist is unknown. In early frames behind period wavy glass.
Paper
Pair of French Monochromatic Prints 'Etchings'
Located in Montreal, Quebec
Pair of French monochromatic prints (Etchings) A beautiful pair of Prints (etchings) of a French farm yard including various farm animals such as rams, sheep and cows. Gold frames ...
Wood, Paper
Sold
H 24.5 in W 20.75 in D 2 in
Impressionist Painting of Yellow Roses by C. Dore, French, circa 1870
Located in St Annes, Lancashire
Fabulous painting or drawing of yellow roses. Signed C.Dore bottom right. Water color on paper Presented in a distressed 18th century giltwood frame The measurement given...
Paper
Pair of 18th Century French Folk Art Pastel Portraits
Located in Buisson, FR
Nice pair of pastel portraits, France, circa 1750. Weathered, small losses and old repairs.Small cracks in the paper.
Signed Jouve Drawing
By Paul Jouve
Located in Miami, FL
Elephant designed By Paul JOUVE in black frame. Drawing : 9 1/4"H,7 1/2"L Frame: 17"H, 15"L Have a look on our large collection of Paul JOUVE gravures: Images 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10...