Rife with shapely silhouettes and punctuated by distressed finishes that evoke an air of tumble-down elegance, French Provincial style furniture speaks to the romantic in all of us. If you’ve been wondering what French provincial furniture is, read on! We’re spotlighting the iconic style and giving you the lowdown on the contemporary furniture makers who specialized in it.
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What is French Provincial Furniture?
Technically speaking, most French Provincial furniture is Louis XV or Louis XVI furniture. French provincial dressers, chairs and tables showcase either the curvy cabriole legs associated with Louis XV style, or the tapered and fluted legs associated with Louis XVI style. What sets these pieces apart from standard French furniture is their primitive nature. Historically, French Provincial furniture was designed to furnish a countryside home as opposed to a city apartment or palace. As a result, it forgoes elaborate decoration. It features modest construction and simple finishes. Typically, French Provincial furniture does not feature heavy embellishment like ormolu.
What Makers Specialized in French Provincial Furniture?
In the mid 20th century, makers like Thomasville, John Widdicomb, and Baker Furniture Company all produced in the French Provincial style. While the movement was relatively quiet in comparison to the era’s modernism trend, the majority of makers released lines of furniture influenced by French, Italian, and Spanish provincial styles. These lines of furniture were often extensive, including everything from French provincial dressers to French provincial dining tables.
If you’re in the market for French Provincial-style furniture, try seeking out designs from Drexel’s “Touraine” line. Ethan Allen’s “Brittany” line and Thomasville’s “Tableau” line are also worth hunting down. While many of these pieces showcase new paint, many still showcase their original maple and oak finishes.
Design by Alexandra Rae Design / Photo by Eric Roth
