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 French Provincial Triangular Corner Chair, Beech Frame, 1900s
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Stunning and elegant Antique French Provincial triangular corner chair. Striking Dutch design from the 1900s. Origina hand-craftedl patinated beech frame with original rush seat. Thi...
Rush, Beech
19th Century Antique French Bobbin Rush Corner Chair in Carved Oak
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Antique 19th c. French Bobbin rush corner chair. French rush-seat corner chair, Coin du Feu. 19th Century French Provincial-style carved oak armchair with open backs and rush seat....
Rush, Oak
19th Century Antique French Bobbin Rush Corner Chair in Carved Oak
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Antique 19th c. French Bobbin Rush Corner Chair. French rush-seat corner chair, Coin du Feu. 19th Century French Provincial-style carved oak armchair with open backs and rush seat. A...
Rush, Oak
Diminutive Antique French 19th Century Walnut Bobbin Corner Chair with Rush Seat
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Charming bobbin-form corner chair in walnut with woven seat in red, green, and natural rush (ca. late 19th Century, France). Slight slant to one of the legs (normal, given the handma...
Rush, Walnut
Pair of French Provincial gilded Wood Corner Chairs, circa 1900
Located in Miami, FL
A charming pair of French Provincial gilded wood corner chairs. Beautifully carved walnut frames and new upholtered seats, sturdy and strong and in good antique condition. Stylish, eye-catching chairs would make a fabulous addition to any eclectic interior.
Walnut
Antique Rural Dutch Carved Corner Bobbin Chair with New Rush Nr2
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
Very charming oak Bobbin chair that fits perfect in a corner. The rush of the seat is new and therefore it is still a bit green but that will soon fade. This chair was made in the ...
Rush, Oak
$8,000Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 43 in W 34 in D 24 in
Pair of Vintage Modern Tulip Back Parlor Arm Chairs
Located in North York, ON
Pair of vintage Modern Tulip Back Parlor arm chairs. This rare mid-century modern design has been restored and reupholstered in unique textured velvet material. Featuring 3 tulip ped...
Fabric, Velvet, Wood
English Oak Bobbin Corner Chair
Located in Faversham, GB
A superb oversized Victorian bobbin corner chair in oak with a freshly upholstered calico seat cushion. The double railed ladder back rest with si...
Calico, Oak
$395
H 27 in W 16.5 in D 16.5 in
Early 20th Century Cottage Style Bobbin Corner Chairs with Rush Seating
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Corner chair by Stefanus Collé from the 1920s features cottage style bobbin turnings and carved wood frame with original rush seating. Decorative spindles create characteristic verti...
Rush, Wood
$69,100 / set
H 23.63 in W 26.78 in D 28.35 in
Pierre Jeanneret PJ-SI-60-A Pair of Lounge Chairs / Authentic Mid-Century Modern
Located in Zürich, CH
The visible nonchalance here celebrates the lightness and the joy of life. It’s not about representation or impressing others. It demonstrates the Indian lifestyle, much more casual ...
Cane, Teak
$2,318 / set
H 28.55 in W 16.34 in D 16.15 in
Typical Dutch Pair Antique Rush-Seat Oak Corner Bobbin Side Knitting Chairs 1900
Located in Ijzendijke, NL
Pair of Antique Dutch Corner Knitting Chairs – Turned Oak & Rush Seat – ca. 1900 A beautiful matching pair of vintage Dutch corner chairs, each with unique character and slight diff...
Cane, Wood, Oak
$3,250 / set
H 36.5 in W 24.75 in D 20.5 in
Pair of Antique Swedish Monk's Corner Chairs in Oak, Circa Early 20th Century
Located in Peabody, MA
Pair of rustic Swedish munkstolar, or monk’s chairs, ca. 1910-1920. Their three legged design has its origins in the medieval monasteries of Northern Europe where it was considered a...
Oak
$2,025Sale Price|55% Off
H 33.5 in W 26.5 in D 26.5 in
18th Century Chippendale Corner Chair with Marquetry Inlay
Located in Savannah, GA
This outstanding 18th century Chippendale walnut corner chair features intricate marquetry inlay in a delicate floral motif. Even the back of the top rail, splats and the back of the...
Walnut
$5,451
H 31.11 in W 33.86 in D 25.6 in
Guillerme et Chambron Oak Tricoteuse Corner Chair, France, 1960s
By Guillerme et Chambron, Votre Maison
Located in Lewes, East Sussex
A rare Guillerme et Chambron Tricoteuse lounge chair, oak, fabric, France, 1960s. Edition Votre Maison. Newly reupholstered in Rose Uniacke textured linen. Wood frame in very good...
Oak
$2,650Sale Price|20% Off
H 29.53 in W 16.93 in D 16.93 in
Antique 20th Century Set of two brown French Arts & Crafts Bobbin Corner Chairs
Located in Casteren, NL
Discover a set of antique Bobbin chairs that captures the essence of mid-19th century France. These corner chairs, each with its own unique chara...
Rush, Beech
Carved Walnut Art Nouveau French Corner Chair
By J. Horner
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Very fine carved walnut French Art Nouveau corner lounge chair.
Upholstery, Walnut
$24,850Sale Price / set|29% Off
H 58.5 in W 32.5 in D 29 in
Pair of Italian 19th Century Renaissance Style Carved Figural Throne Armchairs
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine and palatial pair of Italian 19th century renaissance style carved walnut figural throne armchairs. The intricately carved Baroque frames with the backrests depicting a pair o...
Velvet, Walnut
$1,685
H 31 in W 27.5 in D 26 in
Antique French Carved Oak Corner Arm Chair Renaissance Louis XIV style
Located in Shreveport, LA
Antique French carved oak corner arm chair Renaissance Louis XIV style ~Direct from France~ ~Beautiful carving throughout this versatile antique Fren...
Oak
Sold
H 25.6 in W 16.54 in D 16.54 in
Rare Antique French Provincial Carved Oak Bobbin Rush Corner Chair, France 1910s
Located in Beograd, RS
In this listing you will find a French Bobbin Rush Corner chair made in the beginning of 20th century. This French Provincial-style carved oak armchair features open backs and rus...
Rush, Oak
Early 1900's French Bobbin Corner Chair
Located in LYON, FR
Early 1900’s French Bobbin Corner chair. Oak frame with handwoven sea grass seat. Classic bobbin turned legs that have been painstakingly stripped, sanded and waxed (my hands may nev...
Seagrass, Oak
Pair of 1940s French Bobbin Corner Chairs
Located in London, GB
Pair of 1940s French bobbin corner chairs. Wonderful turned oak 'coin de feu' chairs with rush seats and a varnished finish. In excellent, solid condition with very light wear. Hei...
Oak
20th Century French Oak Bobbin Corner Chair
Located in Petworth,West Sussex, GB
A charming early 20th-century French provincial bobbin wood corner chair. It features beautifully turned oak frames with the original striped rush seats. Sourced from the south of Fr...
Oak
Sold
H 33.08 in W 24.41 in D 16.54 in
French Provincial Hand Crafted Bobbin Turned Armchair, Mid-20th Century
Located in Odense, DK
A beautiful French Provincial armchair / desk chair in stained oak with a fine rustic seagrass seat. Classic bobbin turned body and in an overall fine vintage condition. Made in the ...
Oak, Seagrass
Sold
H 26.78 in W 17.33 in D 17.33 in
French Antique Provincial Hand Crafted Bobbin Corner Chair, Mid-19th Century
Located in Odense, DK
A fine French Provincial corner chair in stained oak with a handmade cane seat. Classic bobbin turned legs and in a overall fine vintage condition. Made in the 19th century. Lovely ...
Cane, Oak
Sold
H 25.6 in W 16.15 in D 16.15 in
Multicolored seat Bobbin corner chair, France, early 20th century
Located in Lyon, FR
Nice multicolored seat corner chair, also called Bobbin chair, made in France between the second half of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. Bobbin chairs were c...
Straw, Wood
Sold
H 25.6 in W 16.54 in D 16.54 in
Pair of Bobbin corner chairs, wood and straw, France, early 20th century
Located in Lyon, FR
Nice pair of two corner chairs, also called Bobbin chairs, made in France between the second half of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. They were common pieces ...
Straw, Wood
Sold
H 25.6 in W 15.75 in D 15.75 in
Pair of Bobbin corner chairs, wood and straw, France, early 20th century
Located in Lyon, FR
Nice pair of two corner chairs, also called Bobbin chairs, made in France between the second half of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. They were common pieces ...
Straw, Wood
19th Century French Pair of Bobbin Corner Chairs
Located in Petworth,West Sussex, GB
A charming pair of late 19th century French provincial bobbin wood corner chairs. Beautifully turned oak frames with the original striped rush seats. Sourced from the south of France...
Rush, Oak
A pair of French Bobbin Corner chairs
Located in LYON, FR
Pair of early French 20th century corner chair in coil-turned oak with rush seat. Excellent condition, completely original, no repairs or old modifications. Sourced in Lyon France. ...
Seagrass, Oak
French Bobbin Corner Chair
Located in LYON, FR
A French Provincial corner chair in stained oak with a handwoven seagrass seat. Classic bobbin turned legs in excellent original condition. Made in the late 19th century. Sourced in...
Seagrass, Oak