French Civil Code

Materials coming from the demolition of a building, those assembled to build a new one, are movable until they are employed by the workman in a construction.

The word “movable”, used alone in the provisions of the law or of man, without any other addition or designation, does not include cash, gems, active debts, books, medals, instruments of science, arts and crafts, body linen, crews, weapons, grain, wine, hay and other commodities; it also does not include what is the subject of trade.

The words “furniture” include only furniture intended for the use and decoration of flats, such as tapestries, beds, seats, mirrors, clocks, tables, porcelain and other objects of this nature. Paintings and statues that form part of a flat’s furniture are also included, but not collections of paintings that may be in galleries or private rooms. The same applies to porcelain: only those that form part of a flat’s decoration are…

The expression “movable property”, that of “furniture or household effects”, generally includes anything that is deemed to be movable according to the rules set out above. The sale or gift of a furnished house includes only the furnishings.

The sale or gift of a house, with all that is in it, does not include cash, nor active debts and other rights, the titles to which may be deposited in the house; all other chattel effects are included.