Antique French Provincial Furniture: A Study in Simplicity

Of all of the French periods, the Provincial period is the one that most embraced the "country" aspect. While most of the antique furniture on the market today is from large cities such as Paris, you can find many pieces, mostly of the Provincial period in villages across France, passed down for generations.

The Parlor
Possibly the simplest way to study Provincial furniture is to look into different rooms and identify and describe the pieces found there. The parlor was often the most displayed room of the home, thus it was the most beautifully decorated. The Provincial period saw the rise of comfort in the home, and one of the most explicit examples are the sofas of the era. This large, plushly stuffed affairs usually sat on carved legs and came with a variety of fabric upholstery. Most of the time pastel colors (especially yellows, blues, and pinks) were used, usually with a floral pattern. To offset these colors and patterns, the rest of the furniture in the room was usual very simple and minimal, made with dark woods and lightly carved. Other pieces could include end or middle tables, or a display case, usually converted from an antique armoire.

The Dining Room
The defining feature of every dining room is, of course, the table and chairs. Everything else is an accessory. Dining room tables of this period were usually rectangular and featured either a marble or parquet top. We begin to see a use of lighter woods, a transition from the very dark stains of previous periods. Chairs were usually small affairs, without arm rests. The seats and back rests were fitted with padding and upholstered with fabrics, usually embroidered. Other furniture in the room could include a buffet, usually ornately carved, or a display cabinet with glass panels. Both pieces would generally be made of the same color wood as the table and carved.

The Bedroom
Wood is again prevalent when it comes to French Provincial bedroom furniture. Many pieces featured parquet moldings in a lighter wood. Most bedrooms in this era featured many pieces; a headboard and footboard, dressers, end tables, and a mirror. Sometimes an armoire would be observed. Most of these pieces were very simple, with only a bit of carving fluted legs. Some bedroom sets include mirrors, which are very large and usually curved in design.

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