French Provincial Bookshelf
Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Bookcases
Oak
Mid-20th Century Italian French Provincial Bookcases
Bamboo
Vintage 1940s French French Provincial Cabinets
Glass, Wood, Paint
20th Century French French Provincial Planters, Cachepots and Jardinières
Pottery
Early 20th Century French French Provincial Figurative Sculptures
Iron
Mid-20th Century French French Provincial Pitchers
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Antique 19th Century French Pottery
Pottery
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Concrete
Mid-20th Century Belgian French Provincial Garden Ornaments
Concrete
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Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Wardrobes and Armoires
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Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Desks and Writing Tables
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Antique 1890s French French Provincial Sideboards
Oak
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Vintage 1960s French French Provincial Bookcases
Wood
Antique 19th Century French French Provincial Cupboards
Glass, Pine
Antique 18th Century French French Provincial Cupboards
Pine
Antique Early 1900s French French Provincial Shelves
Brass
French Provincial Bookshelf For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a French Provincial Bookshelf?
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.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022To know if your French furniture is provincial, examine its decorative flourishes. Provincial furniture often showed off a white painted finish with gold gilt accents. Many pieces feature carvings depicting mythological subjects or floral motifs. On 1stDibs, find a collection of expertly vetted French provincial furniture.