Dixie Provincial
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Night Stands
Brass
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Walnut
Mid-20th Century Unknown French Provincial Side Tables
Laminate, Hardwood, Paint
People Also Browsed
Late 20th Century American French Provincial Dining Room Chairs
Rush, Walnut, Paint
Late 20th Century American Modern Bedroom Sets
Maple
2010s Danish Club Chairs
Sheepskin, Beech, Oak, Walnut
Early 20th Century Dutch Arts and Crafts Night Stands
Marble
Vintage 1970s Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Wood
Antique 19th Century French Louis Philippe Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Marble, Bronze
20th Century American French Provincial Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Chestnut
Vintage 1960s American Louis XVI Armchairs
Cane
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Cabinets
Brass
Early 20th Century Chinoiserie Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Wood
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Chairs
Maple
Late 20th Century American Louis XV Wall Mirrors
Mirror, Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Chinese Chinese Export Cabinets
Brass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Console Tables
Brass
20th Century French Provincial Desks
Brass
20th Century British Sideboards
Metal
Recent Sales
Vintage 1970s American French Provincial Night Stands
Wood
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Beds and Bed Frames
Maple
Mid-20th Century French Provincial Beds and Bed Frames
Cane, Hardwood
Mid-20th Century American French Provincial Dressers
Walnut
Vintage 1970s American French Provincial Dressers
Brass
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.