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Directoire Mantel Clocks

DIRECTOIRE STYLE

Formed in the wake of the Jacobin Reign of Terror’s bloody guillotine, the Directoire was established to lead France into order through the leadership of a five-member council of directors. It was brief, lasting only from 1795 to 1799, ending with Napoléon Bonaparte’s coup d’état, and was economically tumultuous. Yet it was an essential bridge between the era of Louis XVI and the elaborate Empire style that followed, with Directoire furniture and decorative arts shaped by a royal passion for classical design and an enthusiasm for postrevolutionary France.

Much of the country’s furniture production had halted during the French Revolution when the furniture guilds system was abolished, but during the Directoire period, the cabinetmakers restarted their businesses, such as François-Honoré-Georges and Jacob-Desmalter who established a new workshop called Jacob-Frères. Pieces made in walnut, elm, mahogany and other inexpensive materials incorporated influences ranging from Egypt to Pompeii, with popular forms including the curule armchair based on an ancient Roman design. The aesthetics of the transitional style were more austere than during the monarchy, with court cabinetmaker Jean-Baptiste Sené, for instance, reimagining his workshop’s neoclassical-style furniture with ungilded surfaces and a reduction of ornamentation.

Symbols referencing the revolutionary tenets of liberty, equality and fraternity were frequently carved into Directoire furnishings, such as the Phrygian cap, clasped hands and the fasces, which is an image of a bound bundle of sticks adopted from the Roman Republic, where it was seen as an emblem of strength through unity.

Elements of the French Directoire style continued through Empire style. Designers Charles Percier and Pierre-François-Léonard Fontaine are credited today as major proponents of both movements. The classically inspired furniture design is represented in pieces such as the boat-shaped daybed and the klismos chair, which endured in French interiors as well as in styles abroad, including American Directoire.

Find a collection of antique ​​Directoire chairs, tables, daybeds, decorative objects and other furniture on 1stDibs.

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Style: Directoire
French Directoire Pendule Clock with Swans and Putti Paris 1790/1800
Located in Münster, DE
France Directoire Mantle Clock, around 1790/1800, figural depiction of two putti with swans, bronze, fire-gilded and dark patinated, on white enamel dial inscribed "Sauvage à Paris",...
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1790s French Antique Directoire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

French Directoire Marble Pillar Mantel Clock
Located in Norwich, GB
A Directoire Ormolu with black marble French pillar clock, three and a half inch enamel dial with Roman numerals signed ‘Viven Fils a Epernay’ with...
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1790s French Antique Directoire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

Directoire Gilt-Bronze Marble Mounted Chariot Clock, Late 19th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
A very fine and delicate directoire style gilt-bronze marble mounted chariot clock. Exquisite bronze work depicting a winged charioteer guiding a pair of...
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Late 19th Century French Antique Directoire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Marble, Bronze

French Directoire Pendule, Black Marble, Firegilded Bronze, circa 1800
Located in Greven, DE
Antique portal clock France marble, bronze, enamel Directoire around 1800 Dimensions: H x W x D: 46 x 28 x 14 cm Description: Antique portal c...
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Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Belgian Black Marble, Bronze

Very Fine Directoire Style French Gilt Bronze and Marble Mantel Clock
Located in Atlanta, GA
A very fine French Directoire style gilt bronze and marble (Rosso Levanto) Mantel Clock. 19th Century. movement stamped 1075. Measures: height 16 1/2" x width 18" x depth 5 1/2" C...
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1860s French Antique Directoire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Early 19th Century Sèvres Neoclassical Ormolu and Bisque Porcelain Clock
Located in Essex, MA
Period early 19th century Directoire clock attributed to Sèvres. Beautifully sculpted biscuit porcelain in white and Wedgwood blue jasper ware col...
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Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

Napoleon III Striking Porcelain Mantel Clock, the Flawless Beauty of Porcelain
Located in Warsaw, PL
Porcelain gives us perfect beauty, naked and extremely luxurious. Not all materials can bring pure beauty but no less strong before times. Thanks to its hard and sturdy construction,...
Category

18th Century French Antique Directoire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Marble, Gold Plate

Directoire Gilt and Patinated Bronze Mantel Clock
Located in Kittery Point, ME
The oval base raised on toupie feet, centered with a panel of hunting dogs with hunting trophies on each side, the case supported by a landscaped scenery of water and rocks and surmo...
Category

Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Late 18th Century French Marble and Gilt Bronze Clock
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A fine example of a late 18th century Directoir marble and gilt bronze clock after a model by Deverberie. The dial is signed a Paris but the maker is not known. The clock sits on...
Category

Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Early 19th Century French Directoire Gilt Bronze and Marble Clock by Deverberie
By Deverberrie
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
This is a classic Directoire period clock by the famous clock maker Deverberie. The drum-shaped clock is surmounted by an ormolu basket of flowers with festoons of foliage and flower...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Ormolu and Patinated Bronze French Directoire Striking Clock, c1790
Located in valatie, NY
This graceful gilt bronze striking clock is from France’s Directoire period. The clocks white enameled face has black Roman numerals and is framed with ...
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Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

French Directoire Period Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Mantel Clock Signed Maniere
Located in London, GB
French Directoire period ormolu and patinated bronze mantel clock signed Maniere a Paris. A magnificent antique French Directoire mantel clock in patinated bronze and finest ormolu signed Maniere a Paris for Charles-Guillaume Maniere who was working in the Rue...
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Early 1800s French Antique Directoire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

18th Century French Directoire Ormolu and Enamel Clock by Deverberie
Located in Essex, MA
Period French marble and ormolu mantel clock with sunburst or sun king motif original works. Gilding in great condition. Neoclassical form with enamel embellishments in great conditi...
Category

Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

19th Century French Skeleton Clock of Ormolu and Marble from Directoire Period
Located in London, GB
A symbolic skeleton clock from the French Directoire period. A rectangular Carrara marble plinth with bronze toupie feet with knurled decoration supports an ormolu 'arc-de-ciel', wi...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Carrara Marble, Ormolu, Bronze

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French Empire Clock Mantel Gilded Spinx Marble 1880
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Gorgeous French Empire mantel clock in marble and gilt Piece is surmounted - very high Empire - by the gilded sphinx Classic Egyptian style with specicmen marble supports and Egyptia...
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1880s Antique Directoire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Marble

Renaissance Style Gilt Bronze and Enamel Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
Renaissance style gilt bronze and enamel mantel clock French, late 19th century Measures: Height 53cm, width 28cm, depth 23cm This exquisite mantel clock is crafted in the idios...
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Late 19th Century French Antique Directoire Mantel Clocks

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Ormolu, Bronze, Enamel

19th Century Turquoise Sèvres Style Jeweled Porcelain and Ormolu Clock Set
Located in New York, NY
A high quality gilt bronze and Turquoise Sèvres style jeweled Porcelain clock set. The clock surmounted by a covered urn and flanked by lion masks on each side, en suite with a pair of painted turquoise porcelain vases...
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Late 19th Century French Antique Directoire Mantel Clocks

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Ormolu, Bronze

19th Century French Sevres Style Mantel Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
An unusual and very good quality 19th century French Sèvres style porcelain and gilded ormolu mantel clock. Having a domed top with a painte...
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19th Century French Antique Directoire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

19th Century Louis XVI Style Ormolu Bronze Clock with Sèvres Porcelain
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A fine quality Louis XVI style bronze ormolu mantel clock. The case is made of gilt brass and bronze ormolu casted ornaments, Roman numerals in white enameled cartouches. On top of t...
Category

1880s French Antique Directoire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Antique Clock Garniture with Sèvres Style Porcelain and Ormolu
Located in London, GB
This fantastic porcelain clock garniture contains three vases, one of which has been mounted with a ormolu clock dial with jewels surrounding it. The vases are decorated in the style of the Sèvres Porcelain manufacturers, with cartouches to the front and back. The panels on the front depict ladies and putti in a landscape, while the reverse sides depict riverbanks. The vases are set on ormolu bases with canted angles, and feature twin ormolu handles which take the form of masks. The central vase is surmounted by an ormolu putti...
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19th Century French Antique Directoire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

19th Century Sevres Style Gilded Ormolu Mantel Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A wonderful French 19th century gilded ormolu mantel clock, having a putti mounted to the top holding garlands of flowers, draping down the case, Rams heads and urns of flowers. The ...
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Late 19th Century French Antique Directoire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

French 19th-20th Century Régence Style Gilt-Bronze Mounted Longcase Clock
By Julien Le Roy, Charles Cressent
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fine French 19th-20th century Régence style gilt bronze mounted tulipwood parquetry regulator longcase clock, after the 18th century model by Julien Le Roy (French, 1686-1759) and ...
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Early 1900s French Antique Directoire Mantel Clocks

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Enamel, Bronze, Ormolu

Art Deco Marble Mantel Clock, France
Located in Praha, CZ
- Antique Mantel clock with 2 side garniture - the clock case is from red marble with the boy at the top playing flute,made from a iron alloy - The Clock is in good working conditi...
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1930s French Vintage Directoire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Marble, Iron

Art Deco Marble Mantel Clock, France
Art Deco Marble Mantel Clock, France
H 11.03 in W 14.97 in D 4.34 in
Antique French Ormolu and Sevres Porcelain Clock
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A lovely early antique French ormolu clock by Louis Japy, part of the great Japy clockmaking dynasty. It is of Louis XVI design and mounte...
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19th Century French Antique Directoire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

Very Large Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze Mantel Clock by Beurdeley
Located in London, GB
Very large Louis XV style gilt bronze mantel clock by Beurdeley French, circa 1880 Measures: Height 102cm, width 48cm, depth 29cm This very large mantel clock...
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Late 19th Century French Antique Directoire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Ormolu, Bronze

Charles X Pendule, France around 1830
Located in Greding, DE
Portal clock on rectangular stepped base in mahogany veneer with small squeeze feet and fire-gilded applications in the form of rose festoons. The stepped...
Category

1830s French Antique Directoire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Charles X Pendule, France around 1830
Charles X Pendule, France around 1830
H 21.26 in W 11.23 in D 6.5 in
Previously Available Items
Important Directoire Period Clock in the Return from Egypt Style
Located in Paris, FR
Majestic Directoire period clock in white and black marble adorned with gilt and patinated bronzes. In the "Return from Egypt" style, it is composed ...
Category

1790s French Antique Directoire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Directoire Clock, Dial Signed Frissard Rouen, 19th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Clock in gilt bronze and antique bronze in the shape of a vase with swan neck handles. Palmettes and foliage decoration, Directoire period. Original thread movement, dial signed Fris...
Category

1820s French Antique Directoire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Rare Pendulum Clock "Africa" Engraved Gilded Bronze, Early 19th Century, Paris
Located in Sofia, BG
Pendulum "Africa" early 19th century, Directoire-Consulat period "Africa" exceptional pendulum engraved bronze, patinated or gilded; the cover decorated with a huntress symbolizing ...
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1860s French Antique Directoire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Period French Ormolu Director Pegasus Clock, circa 1795
By Thiéry Paris 1
Located in Essex, MA
Period French ormolu Director clock with rare Pegasus motif Neoclassical late 18th century form. Egyptian form columns, Pegasus in clouds, form Mono...
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Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Mantel Clocks

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Directoire mantel clocks for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Directoire mantel clocks for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 19th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage mantel clocks created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Directoire mantel clocks made in a specific country, there are Europe, and France pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original mantel clocks, popular names associated with this style include Jean-Simon Deverberie, C. Maniere, and Deverberrie. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for mantel clocks differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $2,781 and tops out at $14,866 while the average work can sell for $8,362.

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