French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
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.
1990s Chinese French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool
1990s Chinese French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool
Mid-20th Century Italian French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Bamboo, Wicker, Rattan
Late 19th Century French Antique French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Linen
Mid-19th Century French Antique French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Marble
Early 20th Century French French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Walnut
1990s Chinese French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool
19th Century French Antique French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Steel
Early 20th Century French French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Pine, Paint
20th Century French French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Paper
Late 19th Century French Antique French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool, Silk
1980s American Vintage French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Cane, Walnut
Late 20th Century American French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass
Mid-20th Century French French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Walnut
Early 1900s Antique French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Bentwood
19th Century Antique French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary French French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Paper
Late 20th Century American French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood, Paint
Early 20th Century Italian French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Wire
1860s Antique French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Oak
20th Century Italian French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Oak, Rush
Early 19th Century French Antique French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Cherry
20th Century American French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass
Early 1900s Italian Antique French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Upholstery, Wood
1970s Vintage French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Oak
1960s American Vintage French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass
Early 20th Century American French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Mahogany
2010s French French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Linen
21st Century and Contemporary American French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Paper
Early 20th Century French French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Mirror, Oak
Late 19th Century French Antique French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Metal, Zinc
19th Century French Antique French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Wool, Cotton, Velvet
1970s Vintage French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Burl
1950s French Vintage French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Wrought Iron
1950s American Vintage French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass
19th Century French Antique French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Marble
Mid-20th Century French French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Moldovan French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Ash
19th Century French Antique French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Parchment Paper
2010s French French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Linen
1920s French Vintage French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Iron
Late 20th Century French French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Paper
20th Century French French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Marble
1960s American Vintage French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Cherry
20th Century French French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Marble
19th Century French Antique French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass
19th Century French Antique French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Bronze
1870s Antique French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Marble
Mid-20th Century French French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Marble
19th Century Antique French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Fabric, Walnut
Late 19th Century French Antique French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass, Copper
1960s French Vintage French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Cherry
Mid-20th Century French French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood
Early 20th Century French French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Marble
1960s American Vintage French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Brass
Mid-20th Century French French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood
Early 20th Century French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary North American French Provincial More Furniture and Collectibles
Metallic Thread