Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
1960s American French Provincial Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Brass
1970s American French Provincial Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Brass
Mid-20th Century French French Provincial Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Walnut
Mid-20th Century French Louis XV Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Wood, Paint
1940s French French Provincial Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Glass, Wood, Paint
1940s French French Provincial Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Brass, Wire
1960s American French Provincial Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Brass
1960s American Louis XV Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Brass
Mid-20th Century French French Provincial Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Brass
Mid-20th Century French French Provincial Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Brass
Mid-20th Century English French Provincial Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Fruitwood
Mid-20th Century Regency Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Walnut
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Early 20th Century Victorian Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Metal, Iron, Wrought Iron
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Glass, Teak
Late 19th Century English Chippendale Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Metal, Brass
1960s American Georgian Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Brass
20th Century Hollywood Regency Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Mirror
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Brass
1950s American Georgian Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Brass
Mid-20th Century French French Provincial Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Brass
Early 20th Century French Louis XV Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Wood
1960s American Georgian Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Brass
Mid-18th Century Danish Baroque Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Oak
2010s British Louis XVI Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Wood
Mid-20th Century American Neoclassical Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Wood
1950s American Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Wood
Mid-20th Century Danish Mid-Century Modern Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Teak
1970s American Georgian Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Brass
Recent Sales
Late 20th Century American French Provincial Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Brass
1960s American French Provincial Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Brass
Mid-20th Century French Provincial Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Leather, Maple
Mid-20th Century Italian French Provincial Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Metal
1970s American French Provincial Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Brass
Late 20th Century American French Provincial Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Brass
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Walnut
1930s Italian French Provincial Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Walnut
1970s American French Provincial Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Brass
1950s French French Provincial Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Leather, Walnut
Late 20th Century North American French Provincial Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Brass, Steel
1960s American French Provincial Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Brass
1960s American French Provincial Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Brass
20th Century American French Provincial Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Hardwood
Mid-20th Century Italian French Provincial Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Brass
20th Century Unknown Rococo Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Brass, Steel
Mid-20th Century American Chinese Chippendale Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk
Brass
Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Vintage French Provincial Secretary Desk?
A Close Look at 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.
Finding the Right storage-case-pieces for You
Of all the antique and vintage case pieces and storage cabinets that have become popular in modern interiors over the years, dressers, credenzas and cabinets have long been home staples, perfect for routine storage or protection of personal items.
In the mid-19th century, cabinetmakers would mimic styles originating in the Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI eras for their dressers, bookshelves and other structures, and, later, simpler, streamlined wood designs allowed these “case pieces” or “case goods” — any furnishing that is unupholstered and has some semblance of a storage component — to blend into the background of any interior.
Mid-century modern furniture enthusiasts will cite the tall modular wall units crafted in teak and other sought-after woods of the era by the likes of George Nelson, Poul Cadovius and Finn Juhl. For these highly customizable furnishings, designers of the day delivered an alternative to big, heavy bookcases by considering the use of space — and, in particular, walls — in new and innovative ways. Mid-century modern credenzas, which, long and low, evolved from tables that were built as early as the 14th century in Italy, typically have no legs or very short legs and have grown in popularity as an alluring storage option over time.
Although the name immediately invokes images of clothing, dressers were initially created in Europe for a much different purpose. This furnishing was initially a flat-surfaced, low-profile side table equipped with a few drawers — a common fixture used to dress and prepare meats in English kitchens throughout the Tudor period. The drawers served as perfect utensil storage. It wasn’t until the design made its way to North America that it became enlarged and equipped with enough space to hold clothing and cosmetics. The very history of storage case pieces is a testament to their versatility and well-earned place in any room.
In the spirit of positioning your case goods center stage, decluttering can now be design-minded.
A contemporary case piece with open shelving and painted wood details can prove functional as a storage unit as easily as it can a room divider. Whether you’re seeking a playful sideboard made of colored glass and metals, an antique Italian hand-carved storage cabinet or a glass-door vitrine to store and show off your collectibles, there are options for you on 1stDibs.