French Provincial Ottomans and Poufs
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.
1960s Italian Vintage French Provincial Ottomans and Poufs
Rattan
1970s Vintage French Provincial Ottomans and Poufs
Cotton, Damask
Early 20th Century French Provincial Ottomans and Poufs
Mahogany
Late 20th Century American French Provincial Ottomans and Poufs
Upholstery, Wood
1960s Unknown Vintage French Provincial Ottomans and Poufs
Brass
1970s French Vintage French Provincial Ottomans and Poufs
Rattan
1960s Italian Vintage French Provincial Ottomans and Poufs
Rattan
1940s French Vintage French Provincial Ottomans and Poufs
Upholstery, Giltwood
1940s American Vintage French Provincial Ottomans and Poufs
Bamboo, Wicker, Rattan
Late 20th Century French Provincial Ottomans and Poufs
Cotton
21st Century and Contemporary South African French Provincial Ottomans and Poufs
Zebra Hide
21st Century and Contemporary French Provincial Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Oak
1860s English Antique French Provincial Ottomans and Poufs
Leather, Oak
2010s American French Provincial Ottomans and Poufs
Wool, Wenge
2010s British French Provincial Ottomans and Poufs
Alpaca, Oak
2010s British French Provincial Ottomans and Poufs
Alpaca, Oak
1970s Philippine Vintage French Provincial Ottomans and Poufs
Wicker, Rattan
2010s British French Provincial Ottomans and Poufs
Sheepskin, Walnut
1980s Vintage French Provincial Ottomans and Poufs
Cotton
Mid-20th Century Italian French Provincial Ottomans and Poufs
Bamboo, Wicker, Rattan
19th Century French Antique French Provincial Ottomans and Poufs
Oak
1970s Vintage French Provincial Ottomans and Poufs
Cotton, Wood
Early 1900s French Antique French Provincial Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Wood
Late 20th Century French Provincial Ottomans and Poufs
Fabric, Hardwood
Mid-20th Century French Provincial Ottomans and Poufs
Wood, Leather
1980s American Vintage French Provincial Ottomans and Poufs
Cotton, Mahogany
1980s Vintage French Provincial Ottomans and Poufs
Velvet, Cotton
1980s Vintage French Provincial Ottomans and Poufs
Linen
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Ottomans and Poufs
Velvet, Poplar
Early 20th Century French Provincial Ottomans and Poufs
Upholstery, Walnut
1980s Vintage French Provincial Ottomans and Poufs
Upholstery, Walnut
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Ottomans and Poufs
Upholstery, Walnut