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.
Antique Braquenie French Tapestry
Located in Los Gatos, CA
Title: Mid-19th Century French Tapestry by Braquenié & Cie, Signed, Wool and Silk Hunting Scene Description: An exceptional mid-19th century French tapestry by the renowned text...
Wool, Silk
$995Sale Price|87% Off
Via Como, 'Floreal' Rug Size 6x9 Hand Knotted Wool Carpet Ca. 2000 One of a kind
Located in Long Island, NY
Via Como - 'Floreal' Rug - Size 6' x 9' Material: 100% Wool Introducing Via Como, the pinnacle of ultra high-end hand-knotted rugs. Renowned for their unrivaled artistry and exclus...
Wool
$2,295Sale Price|78% Off
VIA COMO 'Campo Di Fiori' Rug 6x9 ft Carpet Wool Silk Hand Knotted One of a Kind
Located in Long Island, NY
Via Como -'Campo di Fiori' Rug - Size 6' x 9' Material: 85% Wool - 15% Silk.
Wool, Silk
VIA COMO'Mille Foliage' Carpet Hand Knotted Wool & Silk Rug 8'2" x 8'2" ft Round
Located in Long Island, NY
'Mille Folliage' Round Rug - Size 8'2"" x 8'2" Material: 85% Wool 15% Silk Introducing Via Como, the pinnacle of ultra high-end hand-knotted rugs. Renowned for their unrivaled arti...
Wool, Silk
Via Como, 'Joie de vivre' Fine Hand Knotted Rug Carpet Wool and Silk 8'x8' feet
Located in Long Island, NY
Via Como - 'Joie de vivre' Rug - Size 8' x 8' Material:Â 80% Wool - 20% Silk Introducing Via Como, the pinnacle of ultra high-end hand-knotted rugs. Renowned for their unrivaled art...
Wool, Silk
VIA COMO 'Sgrizzoli Art Deco' Carpet Hand Knotted Wool & Silk Rug 8'x8' ft RARE
Located in Long Island, NY
Via Como - 'Sgrizzoli Art Deco' Rug - Size 8' x 8' Material: 100% Wool Introducing Via Como, the pinnacle of ultra high-end hand-knotted rugs. Renowned for their unrivaled artistry ...
Wool
VIA COMO 'Bergeraques' Fine Hand Knotted Wool & Silk Rug 8'x8' ft One of a Kind
Located in Long Island, NY
'Bergeraque' Rug - Size 8' x 8' Material: 80% Wool - 20% Silk Introducing Via Como, the pinnacle of ultra high-end hand-knotted rugs. Renowned for their unrivaled artistry and exclu...
Wool, Silk
VIA COMO 'Carla' Carpet Hand Knotted Wool & Silk Rug 8'2" x 8'2" ft Round OAK
Located in Long Island, NY
Via Como - 'Carla' Rug - Size 8'2"" x 8'2" Material: 85% Wool 15% Silk Introducing Via Como, the pinnacle of ultra high-end hand-knotted rugs. Renowned for their unrivaled artistry ...
Wool, Silk
VIA COMO 'Germaire' Fine Hand Knotted Wool & Silk Rug 8'x8' ft One of a Kind
Located in Long Island, NY
'Germaire' Rug - Size 8' x 8' Material: 80% Wool - 20% Silk Introducing Via Como, the pinnacle of ultra high-end hand-knotted rugs. Renowned for their unrivaled artistry and exclusi...
Wool, Silk
Modern French Abstract Blue and Charcoal Wool and Silk Rug 9'2''x12'1''
By Amara Rugs
Located in Torrance, CA
This hand-knotted wool and silk rug is a striking fusion of modern artistry and luxurious craftsmanship. Featuring an abstract pattern in shades of deep charcoal, and blue, the rug e...
Wool, Silk
VIA COMO 'Rotondier' Rug Carpet Wool Silk Hand Knotted 7' x 7' ft RARE Round
Located in Long Island, NY
'Rotondier' Rug - Size 7' x 7' Material: 100% Wool Introducing Via Como, the pinnacle of ultra high-end hand-knotted rugs. Renowned for their unrivaled artistry and exclusivity, Vi...
Wool
VIA COMO 'Carree' Fine Hand Knotted Wool & Silk Rug 8'x8' ft One of a Kind RARE
Located in Long Island, NY
'Carree' Rug - Size 8' x 8'. Material: 80% Wool - 20% Silk Introducing Via Como, the pinnacle of ultra high-end hand-knotted rugs. Renowned for their unrivaled artistry and exclusi...
Wool, Silk
$2,295Sale Price|78% Off
VIA COMO Foglie Rug 6x9 ft Hand Knotted Wool Silk Carpet One of a Kind RARE 2000
Located in Long Island, NY
Via Como - 'Foglie' Rug - Size 6' x 9' Material: 85% Wool - 15% Silk.
Wool, Silk
$56,627Sale Price|20% Off
W 173.23 in L 153.55 in
Rare Antique Aubusson Rug Burgundy Carpet, Large Wool Tapestry Livingroom Rug
Located in Wembley, GB
Featuring intricately woven motifs and emblems on a mixture of Burgundy Beige backgrounds through the centre. A highly detailed layered border then encloses the handmade carpet. This...
Wool, Cotton, Organic Material
$8,163
W 96.07 in L 124.02 in
Modern Design Silk Rug Contemporary Fine Art Hand Knotted Room Size Area Carpet
Located in Lohr, Bavaria, DE
A beautiful contemporary design carpet, hand knotted using finest Chinese mulberry silk (60%) and highland wool (40%). Collection: "OCEAN" / Djoharian Design Measures: 8 x 10.4 ft...
Wool, Silk
$11,561
W 96.07 in L 120.08 in
Sultanabad Skull Rug Hand-Knotted Memento Mori Wool Carpet in Saffron, 8 x 10 FT
Located in Lohr, Bavaria, DE
A contemporary hand-knotted area rug that conceals a memento mori within a classical Sultanabad composition. At first glance the saffron-gold field reads as a traditional Persian-sty...
Wool
19th Century Uzbek Bukhara Suzani Textile, Embroidered Wall Tapestry
Located in Dallas, TX
78197 Rare 19th Century Antique Uzbek Bukhara Suzani Tapestry, 03'07 x 05'00. Behold the Mid-19th Century Antique Uzbek Bukhara Suzani Tapestry, a rare and resplendent treasure that ...
Cotton, Silk
$8,163
W 66.93 in L 94.49 in
Green field Tibetan Snow Leopard Modern Rug Hand Knotted Wool and Silk Fine Art
Located in Lohr, Bavaria, DE
Green field Tibetan Snow Leopard Modern Rug Hand Knotted Wool and Silk Fine Art A beautiful contemporary design carpet, made to order, hand knotted using finest Chinese mulberry sil...
Wool, Silk
$1,579Sale Price|20% Off
W 48.04 in L 73.23 in
Vintage Aubusson Style Rug French Needlepoint Rug, Handwoven Tapestry Carpet
Located in Wembley, GB
Handmade carpet with muted pink green and beige colorways, this stunning Aubusson rug reveals a large floral central medallion and foliate scrolling through the centre and border. Th...
Wool, Cotton, Organic Material
One-of-a-kind Hand Knotted Wool Mogul Beige Area Rug
Located in Norwalk, CT
With understated palettes and allover designs, the rugs in the Mogul Collection will bring timeless sophistication to any room. Influenced by a spectrum of Turkish, Indian, and Persi...
Wool
One-of-a-Kind Hand Knotted Wool Mogul Brown Area Rug
Located in Norwalk, CT
With understated palettes and allover designs, the rugs in the Mogul Collection will bring timeless sophistication to any room. Influenced by a spectrum of Turkish, Indian, and Persi...
Wool
$35,000
W 43 in L 60 in
Late 19th Century Uzbekistan Shakhrisyabz Suzani Textile, Embroidered Tapestry
Located in Dallas, TX
78199 Rare Late 19th Century Antique Uzbek Shakhrisyabz Suzani Tapestry, 03'07 x 05'00. Behold the majestic splendor of this Early 19th Century Antique Uzbek Shakhrisyabz Suzani Tape...
Cotton, Silk
One-of-a-kind Hand Knotted Wool Mogul Brown Area Rug
Located in Norwalk, CT
With understated palettes and allover designs, the rugs in the Mogul Collection will bring timeless sophistication to any room. Influenced by a spectrum of Turkish, Indian, and Persi...
Wool
$2,776Sale Price|20% Off
W 71.26 in L 75.2 in
Handmade Carpet, Square Chinese Rug Art Deco Rug, Antique Rug Wool Carpet
Located in Wembley, GB
This fine wool rug was woven by hand in the 1930s in China. The central design features an abstract swirl pattern made up of blue, pink and orange accent colours that contrast elegantly with the orange background. This has then been framed by a repeat pattern yellow and orange border. This fine oriental rug combines simple colours with a symmetrical, elegant medallion design to create a sophisticated surface that can add impeccable style and grace to any environment. The raw materials used are of the finest quality, with only the best hand-spun silk and cotton dyed with organic dyeing techniques and delicately woven on looms to create this elegant piece. Constructed with a traditional hand-knotting technique used for generations due to the durable rugs the technique produces. Place this piece in a cosy classic interior or a sophisticated modern style for an instant uplift. This fine wool rug can be used as a bedroom rug, living room rug or entranceway rug. This piece is in excellent condition, clean and ready for use in any home or office environment. Handmade Carpet, Square Chinese Rug Art Deco Rug, Antique Rug...
Wool, Cotton, Natural Fiber, Organic Material
$1,742Sale Price|20% Off
W 35.83 in L 59.85 in
Decorative Handmade Carpet Needlepoint Rug Traditional Beige Tapestry Rug
Located in Wembley, GB
This highly decorative needlepoint rug was woven by hand in the early 21st century. The design has been intricately woven with sophistication. Featuring a bold central medallion that has been decorated with beautiful flowers and scroll details. This has then been framed by an elegant floral border that encloses the high-class medallion. This fine handwoven carpet is a modern rug woven with fine organic materials including hand-spun wool and cotton. Organically died with vegetable dyeing techniques that have been used for generations. This traditional Aubusson style needlepoint rug is in excellent condition and is ready for use in any home. Our team source only the finest interior accessories, with years of experience, let our team help you find the perfect accent pieces for your home interior. Our inventory includes a range of modern rugs, vintage rugs and antique rugs. With a huge range of colours and sizes available now. Decorative handmade carpet needlepoint rug Traditional beige Tapestry...
Wool, Cotton, Natural Fiber, Organic Material
Contemporary Decorative Handknotted Rug with a Floral Design
Located in New York, NY
This is beautiful handknotted rug with an allover, decorative floral design. It has a transitional element to it as it would work in a variety of interiors. It is very finely knotted...
Wool
French Country Khotan Style Runner, Farmhouse Hallway Runner
Located in Dallas, TX
80218 French country Khotan style runner, farmhouse hallway runner 02'10 x 09'07. Romantic and understated, this French Country Khotan style runner offers the warm nostalgia of an authentic antique Khotan rug with the polish and poise of a chic modern floor covering. Elaborate X patterns set in a straight repete of hexagons create the static yet whimsical design for this new French style rug...
Wool