Question 1

What is French furniture called?

Accepted Answer

French furniture is usually just called French furniture in English. In French, someone might say "les meubles français," which translates directly to "French furniture." However, there are names for furniture styles inspired by the furniture produced in France. French Provincial is the name for pieces made in or inspired by craftsmen from the Loire Valley or in Lyon. Furniture produced in this style often shows off scalloped carvings and curving cabriole legs. French royal furniture is the general term for furnishings made for the monarchs of France or inspired by these pieces. An example is Louis XVI furniture, which often includes clean lines and carved details such as scrolls and acanthus flourishes that were inspired by ancient Greece and Rome. Find a wide variety of French furniture on 1stDibs.

Question 2

What are some French furniture styles?

Accepted Answer

Some popular French furniture styles of the 19th century include Directoire, Empire and Restoration. The Regency style popular from 1715 to 1730 is also well known. Many styles share their names with the monarchs who ruled during the period. Examples include the Louis XIV, Louis XV and Louis XVI styles. On 1stDibs, find a wide range of French furniture.

Question 3

What is 1920s furniture called?

Accepted Answer

What 1920s furniture is called depends on its style. However, the most prominent design style of the decade was Art Deco. The term alone conjures visions of the Roaring Twenties, Machine Age metropolises, vast ocean liners, sleek typography and Prohibition-era hedonism. The iconic movement made an indelible mark on all fields of design throughout the 1920s and ’30s, celebrating society’s growing industrialization with refined elegance and stunning craftsmanship. Art Deco furniture often featured bold geometric lines, floral forms, shimmering mirrored finishes, sleek metal accents, and the use of expensive materials such as shagreen or marble as well as exotic woods such as mahogany, ebony and zebra wood. On 1stDibs, find a diverse assortment of Art Deco furniture.

Question 4

What is 1950s furniture called?

Accepted Answer

1950s furniture is called vintage furniture. Some pieces produced during this period may be considered mid-century modern based on their characteristics. Mid-century modern design refers to the variety of modernism that rose to prominence in the 1940s and ’50s. It displays many of the characteristics of the earlier versions of modernism, including simple forms and a focus on functionality. Other traits common in mid-century modern furniture include unadorned silhouettes, clean lines and mixed materials, emphasizing wood, wool, steel and plastic. On 1stDibs, explore a large collection of 1950s furniture.

Question 5

What is ’70s furniture called?

Accepted Answer

What ’70s furniture is called depends on its style. Generally, pieces from this decade can be called vintage furniture. However, pieces with certain stylistic characteristics have other names. For example, some 1970s furniture is mid-century modern. The style, which emerged primarily in the years following World War II, was developed in an energetic, optimistic spirit by creators who believed that good design was an essential part of good living. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of 1970s furniture.

Question 6

What is 1970s furniture called?

Accepted Answer

What 1970s furniture is called varies. Generally, you may see pieces produced during the decade classified as "vintage" or "retro" furniture. During the 1970s, some makers continued to produce furniture that boasted the characteristics of mid-century modern works. The disco era yielded furnishings with organic, often rounded shapes, unadorned silhouettes, clean lines and a mix of materials. The showy leather furniture of the 1970s, which was both sexy and comfortable, is seeing a resurgence in today’s homes. Shop a wide variety of vintage 1970s furniture on 1stDibs.

Question 7

What do you call furniture from the 1960s?

Accepted Answer

Furniture from the 1960s is often called mid-century modern. This style emphasizes the importance of good design that looks attractive and performs its function well. Notable mid-century modern designers include Eero Saarinen, George Nelson, Florence Knoll and Charles and Ray Eames. On 1stDibs, shop a selection of mid-century modern furniture.

Question 8

How do you identify 1800s furniture?

Accepted Answer

To identify 1800s furniture, first check to see if your piece bears any maker's marks. Should you locate any, researching them using trusted online resources can help you determine the maker and age of your furniture. To determine if unmarked pieces date back to the 19th century, look for tool marks and variations in their carvings and ornamentation. Since 19th-century furniture was handmade, you should expect to find these signs of hand craftsmanship. A piece that shows no marks or inconsistencies in details is likely a contemporary machine-made reproduction. Familiarizing yourself with the characteristics of Rococo, Chippendale, Gothic Revival, neoclassical and other 19th-century styles can also be helpful. If you struggle to make an identification, consider consulting a certified appraiser or knowledgeable antique dealer. On 1stDibs, find a range of 19th-century furniture.

Question 9

How do you identify 1930s furniture?

Accepted Answer

To identify 1930s furniture, first see if you can spot a maker's mark in hidden areas, such as the back, base, inside of drawers or under tabletops and seats. Trusted online resources can help you determine who produced your furniture based on these markings, and from there, you can research more to get a rough idea of how old your item is. A piece's characteristics can also be helpful when dating furniture. Many items made during the 1930s are examples of Art Deco furniture. Art Deco furniture is characterized by geometric patterns and luxurious materials, such as shagreen, marble, mother of pearl, mirrored glass, exotic animal hides and rare woods like mahogany, ebony and zebra wood. A certified appraiser or experienced antique dealer can provide an expert opinion on when your piece was likely made. On 1stDibs, explore a range of 1930s furniture.

Question 10

How do I know if my French furniture is provincial?

Accepted Answer

To 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.

Question 11

What is the 1950s furniture style called?

Accepted Answer

The best-known 1950s furniture style is called mid-century modern. Organically shaped, clean-lined and elegantly simple are three phrases that describe vintage mid-century modern furniture. The style emerged primarily in the years following World War II through creators who believed that good design was an essential part of good living. Mid-century modern designers combined natural and human-made materials, such as teak, rosewood and oak woods as well as steel, fiberglass and molded plywood. Some well-known mid-century modern designers include Charles and Ray Eames, Eero Saarinen, Milo Baughman, Florence Knoll, Harry Bertoia, Isamu Noguchi and George Nelson. On 1stDibs, shop a large selection of mid-century modern furniture.

Question 12

What is 1960s-style furniture called?

Accepted Answer

Generally, 1960s-style furniture is called mid-century modern. The style, which emerged primarily in the years following World War II, is characterized by pieces that were conceived and made in an energetic, optimistic spirit by creators who believed that good design was an essential part of good living. Some of the most notable furniture designers of the time include Charles and Ray Eames, Arne Jacobsen, Eero Saarinen and Hans J. Wegner. On 1stDibs, shop a variety of mid-century modern furniture.

Question 13

What was the term in French furniture for a writing desk that often featured a drop-down writing surface?

Accepted Answer

In French, the term for a writing desk that often featured a drop-down writing surface is secretaire. This type of desk is called a secretary desk in English. Simply put, a secretary desk is a multifunctional piece of furniture with a hinged writing surface that folds open or drops down. When the leaf is folded out, small inner storage compartments, which are called pigeonholes, cubbies, recesses or drawers, are revealed. On 1stDibs, shop antique secretary desks from some of the world's top sellers.

French 40s Furniture

Mid-20th Century French Vanities

French Mirrored Vanity Table 1920s-40s

Antique 1830s French Louis Philippe Wall Mirrors

Circa 1830s-40s French Louis Philippe Period Gilt Wood Mirror

Vintage 1940s French Mid-Century Modern Vases

grey marble vase French 40 s

Vintage 1940s French Art Deco Wardrobes and Armoires

French Art Déco Wardrobe Early 40s

Vintage 1940s French Dining Room Chairs

Set of Four French 40 s Chairs

Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Side Tables

Side Table by Charles Dudouyt, France, 1930s/40s

Vintage 1940s French Side Chairs

Pair of French 40 s Ash arm chairs

Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Convex Mirrors

Jean Besnard Convex Mirror, France, c. 1930-40 s

Early 20th Century French Commodes and Chests of Drawers

Mirrored 1920s-40s Chest of Drawers, France

Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Side Tables

Pair of Oak Marble Nightstands, France, 1930-40 s

Vintage 1930s French Vases

French ceramic vase with glaze in blue, green, and brown shades. 1930s/40s.

Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Cabinets

Cabinet / Chest Attributed to Charles Dudouyt, France, 1930s/40s

Early 20th Century French Wall Mirrors

Handsome Rectangular Curved Corner Venetian Mirror, 1930/40s, France

Vintage 1940s French Mid-Century Modern Armchairs

French 40’s Oak Chair with Original Brown Leather Seat, France, c. 1940

Vintage 1930s French Vases

French Ceramist, Unique Vase in Glazed Ceramics, 1930s/40s

Vintage 1940s French Side Tables

Seductive French 40 s Two-Tier Aged Mirror End/Side Table

Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Cabinets

Superb Cabinet / Chest Attributed to Charles Dudouyt, France, 1930s/40s

Vintage 1940s French Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Small chair from the 40´s

Vintage 1930s French Paintings

Probably French Artist, Oil on Plate, Black Scottie, circa 1930s-40s

Vintage 1940s French Armchairs

Original Pair-French 40 s Wrought Iron Fauteuils att to René Prou

Mid-20th Century French Art Deco Cabinets

Very Rare Charles Dudouyt Tall Boy Chest / Cabinet, France, 1930s/40s

Vintage 1930s French Industrial Models and Miniatures

1930s/ 40s Articulated Wooden Hands, Artist Model, Drawing Tool, France

Vintage 1930s French Vases

Limoges, France. Pair of large Art Deco porcelain vases. 1930s/40s

Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Vases

Lucien Brisdoux, France, Art Deco Vase in Glazed Stoneware, 1930/40s

Mid-20th Century French Hollywood Regency Table Lamps

Colette Gueden Style French Plaster 40 s Boudoir Horses Head Table Lamp

Early 20th Century French Art Deco Sideboards

French 1930/40 s Art Deco Sideboard in Black Lacquer with Mirrored Compartments

Vintage 1940s French Hollywood Regency Wall Lights and Sconces

Pair 40s French Regency Emerald Green Crystal Floral Wall Sconces Maison Bagues

Vintage 1940s French Hollywood Regency Flush Mount

Pair French 40s Regency Crystal Floral 5 Light Ceiling Flush Mounts style Bagues

Vintage 1940s French Mid-Century Modern Wall Lights and Sconces

Large Perzel wall lamp from the 40 s in glass and brass signed French art deco

Vintage 1940s French Art Deco Table Lamps

Art déco ceramic table lamp jean besnard style 40 s

Vintage 1940s French Mid-Century Modern Decorative Boxes

Ceruse oak box from the 40 s, bronze bas-relief with antelope decoration - H193

Vintage 1930s French Art Deco Ceramics

Rare Large Art Deco Ceramic Bowl from the 30/40 s Robert Meynard, G400

Vintage 1940s French Wall Lights and Sconces

Pair of Modernist Art Deco Sconces 40 s Glass and Brass Jacques Quinet, F336

Vintage 1930s French Mid-Century Modern Chairs

Set of 4 vintage Thonet chairs from the 1920/40s restored with a woollen cloth

Vintage 1940s French Decorative Boxes

Line Vautrin s LA COURBE EST LE SYMBOLE DE LA FEMME powder box from the 40s

Vintage 1930s French Vanities

French 1930 s / 40 s Glass and Mirror Vanity

Vintage 1940s French Console Tables

French 40 s Iron Cosole

Vintage 1940s French End Tables

French 40 s Lacquered Table

Vintage 1940s French Sideboards

French 40 s Lacquered Cabinet / Sideboard

Vintage 1940s French Sideboards