Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
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
Early 19th Century Blue Italian Bedside Table
Located in Albignasego, IT
Antique blue bedside table
Nice bedside table with a door and a drawer. Entirely built of walnut wood, at the beginning of the 19th century and entirely decorated in teal blue, warm ...
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Nutwood
18th Century French Directoire Satinwood Mahogany Marble Top Commode
Located in Essex, MA
Beautiful Directoire or Late Louis XVI Commode or Chest of Drawers. Satinwood panels and drawer fronts. Original hardware. Original White Marble Top with Bronze Gallery. Toupe Fe...
Category
18th Century French Antique Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Pair of French Directoire Chest of Drawers / Side Tables
Located in Westport, CT
A beautiful pair of Directoire chests in solid walnut and comprised of three drawers with brass angular handles and shield-shaped escutcheons,...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Walnut
Late 18th Century French Directoire Commode
Located in Charlottesville, VA
One of the prettiest commodes we have had. Beautiful walnut with burl panels
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Wood
Fine Quality French Bronze Mounted Marble Top Three Drawer Commode Dresser
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a beautiful commode in the Directoire style or Louis XVI style. The commode features kingwood and walnut in contrasting hues and beautiful bronze. The piece features a beauti...
Category
1930s French Vintage Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Quintessential Signed Maison Jansen Bronze Mounted Marble Top Commode Dresser
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a quintessential signed Maison Jansen bronze mounted marble top commode or dresser. The look, design and overal proportions make this easily the prettiest commode online toda...
Category
1950s French Vintage Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Antique French Burl Elmwood Consulat Style Commode, Circa 1880
Located in Dallas, TX
The Consulat style is a subset of the Directoire period, coinciding with the initial consolidation of power by Napoleon Bonaparte (roughly 1799-1804). Both historically and culturall...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Metal
Grande Bureau Italiano in Noce Con Cassetti e Abattant 1750 Circa
Located in Milan, IT
Ribalta Antica Italiana della metà del secolo XVIII di origine trentina, la regione a nord vicina all' Austria. Lastronata in legno di noce, decorato con filettature geometriche in ...
Category
Mid-18th Century Italian Antique Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Cherry, Maple, Walnut
18th Century Directoire Commode, Mahogany, Walnut and Sycamore
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
18th Century Directoire Commode, Mahogany, Walnut and Sycamore with Original hardware. has CHAPNIS stamped. Piece is gorgeous and pr...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Mahogany, Sycamore, Walnut
Pair of Neoclassical Demilune Commodes
Located in Greenwich, CT
A very fine pair of early 19th Century Northern European neoclassical demilune commodes, the original shaped marble tops over two brass molded doors, the cabinet interior with one dr...
Category
Early 19th Century Scandinavian Antique Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble
Gorgeous Solid Cherry Signed Francesco Molon Marble Top Butlers Commode Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a gorgeous butler's commode with a dropdown desk with cubbies. The commode is made of figured cherry with beautiful brass hardware and a great ma...
Category
1990s Italian Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble
Pair of Bespoke Walnut & Tulipwood Chests of Drawers
Located in Uppingham, GB
Two Drawer Chest of Drawers.
Modern design two drawer chest with simple lines, matching 'Stripey' Walnut Grained tops, Two finely Beaded drawers resting on slender tapering legs.
Mad...
Category
2010s British Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Tulipwood, Walnut
White Marble Top Mahogany Maison Jansen Style Directoire Commode
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
For customers that require professional insured delivery we are proud to have teamed up with a nationwide professional delivery company that will assist with coordinating your delive...
Category
1940s European Vintage Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Carrara Marble
Signed Maison Jansen Mahogany Louis XVI Directoire Marble Top Commode Dresser
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a fantastic signed Maison Jansen 9 drawer marble top dresser or commode. The piece features superb cast bronze and brass ormolu and a white carara marble top. The mahogany ca...
Category
1950s French Vintage Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Brass
19th Century mahogany and brass tall chest of drawers
Located in Debenham, Suffolk
19th century directoire influenced mahogany tall chest of drawers, circa 1890.
Fine quality tall chest in the directoire style. Fitted with 6 drawers of equal proportions and detail...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
19th Century French Directoire Cherry Wood Commode
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century French Directoire Cherry Wood Commode exudes the understated elegance for which the style is world renowned! Crafted from old growth seasoned cherry wood to produce a r...
Category
1890s French Antique Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
19th Century French Directoire Commode or Chest of Drawers
Located in Winter Park, FL
An early 19th Century French Directoire Period commode made of solid cherry wood with yellow pine as a secondary wood. Unusual form with serpentine sides. Rounded fluted front corner...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
Antique French Directoire Neoclassical Mahogany Commode with Marble Top
Located in Dallas, TX
Antique French Directoire Neoclassical Mahogany Commode with Marble Top represents a revival of the classic style revived in this form a...
Category
Early 20th Century French Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Brass
A French Directoire Gilt Bronze Mounted Commode with Marble Top, 19th Century
Located in ARMADALE, VIC
A French Directoire Gilt Bronze Mounted Parquetry Commode With Marble Top, 19th Century
Provenance: Private Australian Collection Acquired in 1...
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
Fine Quality 19th Century Bronze Mounted Directoire Jansen Style Marble Commode
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a spectacular Maison Jansen style French-made Directoire commode in very good condition with its original finish and superbly cast bronze mounts. The commode has a gorgeous s...
Category
1880s French Antique Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Italian antique Directory style Chest of drawers in solid wood, mid 1700s
Located in MIlano, IT
Italian antique Directory style Chest of drawers in solid wood, mid 1700s
Chest of drawers with rectangular top in solid wood of different shades. On the front it has 3 drawers, all ...
Category
Mid-18th Century Italian Antique Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
Late 18th Century French Directoire Chest
Located in Bradenton, FL
Late 18th century French Directoire or Louis XVI Chest. Three drawers across top, two large drawers under, for a total of five drawers.
inset brass fluted columns ,the sides ...
Category
18th Century French Antique Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
French Directoire Louis XVI Demilune Shape Marble Top Marble Top Console Table
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
For customers that require professional insured delivery we are proud to have teamed up with a nationwide professional delivery company that will assist with coordinating your delive...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Carrara Marble, Brass
French Directoire style 4 Drawer Chest in cherry and a white-cream finish
Located in Landivy, FR
This 4 drawer chest is a handmade reproduction of the French Directoire style at the end of the 18th century. This period is remarkable for its straight, classical and timeless lines...
Category
2010s French Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
French Directoire Style Light Blue Painted Marble Top Dresser Semanie
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
For customers that require professional insured delivery we are proud to have teamed up with a nationwide professional delivery company that will assist with coordinating your delive...
Category
1960s Unknown Vintage Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Carrara Marble
Ebonized Baker French Directoire Gilded Commode Console Cabinet
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
For customers that require professional insured delivery we are proud to have teamed up with a nationwide professional delivery company that will assist with coordinating your delive...
Category
1960s American Vintage Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Mahogany
French Directoire Mahogany & Marble Top Commode
Located in London, GB
A French mahogany, three drawer Directoire commode, with brass mounts and inlay and a shaped variegated pale grey marble top.
Category
1790s French Antique Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble
Pair Directoire Bronze Mounted Figural Marble Top Kingwood Nightstands Commodes
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
For customers that require professional insured delivery we are proud to have teamed up with a nationwide professional delivery company that will assist with coordinating your delive...
Category
1940s French Vintage Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French Directoire Style 19th Century Walnut Commode with Grey Marble Top
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Directoire style walnut commode from the 19th century, with three drawers, grey marble top, brass accents and fluted posts. Created in France during the 19th century, this w...
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Brass
Pair Louis XVI Directoire Style Marble Top Commode Nightstands
Located in Pasadena, TX
Pair Louis XVI Directoire style marble top commode nightstands
Elegant nightstands from Spain in ribbon mahogany on four tapered legs. Featuring double doors with a single drawer....
Category
Late 19th Century Spanish Antique Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble
Directoire Style Ebonized Chest of Drawers
Located in Austin, TX
Chest of drawers, French, made of mahogany that has been ebonized and finished with a lustrous French polish. This piece has three dovetailed drawers and gilt brass handles. The clea...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
Directoire Mahogany And Brass Mounted Commode
Located in Essex, MA
With a rectangular white marble top with rounded corners over a conforming case with three smaller top drawers over two long drawers each with brass moldings...
Category
1790s French Antique Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Brass
19th Century French Directoire Style Stripped Chiffoniere
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century French Directoire Style Chiffoniere was crafted from solid sycamore, and features a lovely soft visual effect thanks to our proprietary stripping process. With six full ...
Category
1870s French Antique Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
19th Century French Directoire Mahogany Commode
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century French Directoire mahogany Commode exudes the understated elegance for which the style is world renowned! Crafted from exotic mahogany imported from the Americas during ...
Category
1890s French Antique Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
Signed Maison Jansen Directoire Bronze Mounted 3 Drawer Mahogany Commode
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a fantastic, entirely original, stamped Maison Jansen commode in very good condition for its age. This 1940-50s era features gorgeous bronze ormolu and a beautiful slab of va...
Category
1940s French Vintage Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French Directoire Heavily Brass Inlaid Ebonized Commode Circa 1940 Jansen
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
For customers that require professional insured delivery we are proud to have teamed up with a nationwide professional delivery company that will assist with coordinating your delive...
Category
1940s French Vintage Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
Early 20th Century Mahogany Directoire Style Chest of Drawers
Located in Dusseldorf, DE
French commode in the Directoire style. Circa 1st half of the 20th century.
Three-bay mahogany veneered corpus with slightly overhanging top plate, sloping pilasters and brass profiled skirting board...
Category
20th Century French Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Mahogany
Directoire Fruitwood Commode
Located in Essex, MA
With original bowed St Anne marble top over two conforming drawers with round brass handles, lower conforming shelf and ending on turned feet. From the estate of William Hodgins...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Fruitwood
French Directoire Style Painted Commode
Located in Westwood, NJ
A French Directoire-style commode with an antiqued whitewash finish. This beautiful piece has four drawers with ring pulls, the top drawer is keyed. ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Wood
Directoire Style Marble Top Chest of Drawers
Located in New York, NY
Vintage Directoire style marble-top chest with four pull-out drawers.
Category
1950s French Vintage Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble, Brass
Beautiful Pair of 19th Century Directoire Walnut Commodes
Located in Houston, TX
An exceptionally stylish pair of early 19th Century three drawer chest of drawers with good use of matching walnut to fronts. Having original marbles on top. The drawers having eboni...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble
19th Century Italian Neoclassical Walnut Chest
Located in Atlanta, GA
19th Century Italian Neoclassical five drawer chest or commode styled in the manner of Directoire. The burled wood top and paneled sides have a beautifully detailed inset inlay surro...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
19th Century Cherrywood Directoire Chest of Drawers
Located in Dusseldorf, DE
A 19th century classicist cherry wood chest of drawers in the Directoire style.
Solid cherry wood and veneered with ribbon inlays on the drawer fronts.
Corpus with panels on the ...
Category
19th Century European Antique Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Cherry
18th Century Italian Drop Front Bureau Burl Walnut Marquetry Cabinet
Located in Milan, IT
An Italian bureau with flap dating back to the second half of 18th century. A slightly curved front, three deep drawers and a fall-front opening to reveal an interior with two small drawers, compartments one small door and hiding secrets, see pictures below.
This antique secrétaire is fully decorated with veneered and warm flame burl walnut, decorated by cherry inlays...
Category
1770s Italian Antique Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Cherry, Walnut, Burl
Directoire Style Blood Tomato Red Lacquer Super Heavy Solid Brass Pulls Dresser
By Maslow Freen
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Outstanding quality directoire style painted dresser with very heavy solid brass hardware. Six deep drawers dresser with a narrow door compartment in the m...
Category
20th Century American Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Oak
French Paint Decorated Directoire Petite Commode Jewelry Chest by Lewis Mittman
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Lewis Mittman 3-drawer petite commode with a distressed finish and ebonized accents.
Category
20th Century American Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Wood
Pair of French Provencal Directoire Style Commodes
Located in Kilmarnock, VA
Stylish pair of 1950's Italian fruitwood chests made in the French Provencal Directoire style. Nice clean construction, hand printed paper lined drawers highly detailed cast hardware...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Fruitwood
Vintage French Ebonized Marble-Top Commode in the Directoire Manner
Located in New York, NY
Vintage French ebonized marble-top commode in the Directoire manner.
Category
20th Century French Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Marble
Elegant Country Directoire Commode
Located in Greenwich, CT
Fine French walnut, ebonized fruitwood and brass-mounted neoclassical commode, the simple top over three drawers, having elegant hip molding between the first and second, all with eb...
Category
1790s French Antique Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Brass
French 1900s Directoire Style Walnut Three-Drawer Commode with Banding
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Directoire style walnut commode from the early 20th century, with three drawers, banding and tapered legs. Born in France during the early years of the 20th century, this Di...
Category
Early 20th Century French Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Walnut
Large Italian Bureau 18th Century Inlayed Walnut Chest of Drawers with Flap
Located in Milan, IT
An Italian monumental sized bureau with flap dating back to the second half of 18th century. Three deep drawers and a fall-front opening to reveal a fitted interior with six small dr...
Category
1770s Italian Antique Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Cherry, Maple, Walnut
Custom Black Lacquer Commodes or Chests Gunmetal Hardware in Any Dimension
Located in Chicago, IL
Handmade Classic style chest of drawers or commodes with gunmetal hardware. These dressers are handmade to the highest standards in the Old Plank workshop and can be customized in size, finish and hardware. The finish on this particular pair is black lacquer. Price listed is for the pair of commodes...
Category
2010s American Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Nickel
Directoire-Style Commode with Marble Top
Located in New York, NY
Directoire- style commode with marble top on tapered legs.
Category
20th Century French Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Carrara Marble
Ebonized Mahogany Directoire Style Nightstand
Located in Chicago, IL
Custom-made in our Old Plank workshop, this authentic French Directoire style nightstand can be produced in any size or finish. Note the original brass hardware and correct trim.
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Mahogany
French Directoire Two-Drawer Walnut Commode with Banded Inlay from Provence
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Provençale Directoire period two-drawer commode with banded inlay from the late 18th century. This French two-drawer commode was born in ...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Walnut
French Consulat Mahogany Period Commode with Paw Feet and Fossil Marble Top
Located in Pembroke, MA
French Consulat period mahogany commode with three-drawers, ebonized griffin feet and pilasters, and black fossil marble top. Gilt bronze escutcheons i...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Swedish Late 18th Century Gustavian Period Commode / Chest of Drawers
Located in New York, NY
An elegant and sober late 18th century/very early 19th century Swedish dresser or chest of drawers of good proportion and handsome appearance. Late Gustavian pieces are reminiscent o...
Category
Late 18th Century Swedish Antique Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Mid-19th Century Commode
Located in Paris, FR
Commode with three drawers, decorated with antique-inspired images: swags over a reclining draped female holding a cup.
Repatinated.
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Commodes and Chests of Drawers
Materials
Wood
Directoire commodes and chests of drawers for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Directoire commodes and chests of drawers for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage commodes and chests of drawers created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets, tables, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Directoire commodes and chests of drawers made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Italy pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original commodes and chests of drawers, popular names associated with this style include Maison Jansen, Baker Furniture Company, Henredon, and Lewis Mittman. 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 commodes and chests of drawers differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,036 and tops out at $32,000 while the average work can sell for $5,800.
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