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Directoire Doors and Gates

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
Portal of the Directoire Period
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Directoire period wrought iron gate with two panels, divided into two sections by a horizontal band. The upper part is composed of vertical rods ending in spearheads. They rest on a ...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Doors and Gates

Materials

Wrought Iron

Portal of the Directoire Period
Portal of the Directoire Period

Portal of the Directoire Period

$18,763
Mid-20th Century French Gates
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Mid-20th century French Director style iron gates. There are 5 gates connected to each other.
Category

Mid-20th Century French Directoire Doors and Gates

Materials

Iron

Mid-20th Century French Gates
Mid-20th Century French Gates

Mid-20th Century French Gates

$5,440 Sale Price / set
20% Off
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Early 20th Century "Basket of Flowers" Doorstop
Located in Charleston, SC
Early 20th century "Basket of Flowers" doorstop.  
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Early 20th Century Directoire Doors and Gates

Early 20th Century "Basket of Flowers" Doorstop
Early 20th Century "Basket of Flowers" Doorstop

Early 20th Century "Basket of Flowers" Doorstop

$500
H 9 in W 7.25 in D 2 in
Set of 2 Aluminum Palais Door Handles by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Set of 2 Aluminum Palais Door Handles by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 13 x D 8 x H 2 cm Materials: Aluminum Palais lever handle in aluminium. Each handle i...
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2010s Australian Directoire Doors and Gates

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Set of 2 Aluminum Palais Door Handles by Henry Wilson
Set of 2 Aluminum Palais Door Handles by Henry Wilson

Set of 2 Aluminum Palais Door Handles by Henry Wilson

$1,333 / set
H 0.79 in W 5.12 in D 3.15 in
Pair of Louis XVI Style Doors
Located in Sheffield, MA
Pair of tall painted doors with original hardware. Will need new glass. Other doors available but not with glass panel. Doors can work well in Swedish Gustavian style decor
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19th Century French Antique Directoire Doors and Gates

Materials

Wood

Pair of Louis XVI Style Doors
Pair of Louis XVI Style Doors

Pair of Louis XVI Style Doors

$2,660 Sale Price / set
30% Off
H 88.5 in W 24 in D 2.5 in
An exceptional period pair of Arts & Crafts hand hammered & wrought iron gates
By Charles Robert Ashbee
Located in London, GB
An exceptional pair of Arts and Crafts hand-hammered and hand-wrought iron gates with scrolling floral decoration to the top with some of the widest tight scroll work decoration I ha...
Category

1890s English Antique Directoire Doors and Gates

Materials

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An exceptional period pair of Arts & Crafts hand hammered & wrought iron gates
An exceptional period pair of Arts & Crafts hand hammered & wrought iron gates

An exceptional period pair of Arts & Crafts hand hammered & wrought iron gates

$30,199 / set
H 108 in W 62.2 in D 2 in
Pair of Massive Antique Arch Form Doors
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A pair of antique doors with arched and paneled design with remnants of old green and other encrusted paint. The doors do have some old hinges an...
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19th Century Antique Directoire Doors and Gates

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Pair of Massive Antique Arch Form Doors
Pair of Massive Antique Arch Form Doors

Pair of Massive Antique Arch Form Doors

$8,000 / set
H 114 in W 65 in D 2.75 in
Brass Door Knocker with the Head of the Goddess Pamona, circa 1900
Located in London, GB
A Victorian brass "Pamona" door Knocker, circa 1900. With mounting bolts to attach to door. Pomona the goddess of fruitful abundance in ancient Roman religion and myth. Pomona ...
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Late 19th Century English Antique Directoire Doors and Gates

Materials

Brass

Brass Door Knocker with the Head of the Goddess Pamona, circa 1900
Brass Door Knocker with the Head of the Goddess Pamona, circa 1900

Brass Door Knocker with the Head of the Goddess Pamona, circa 1900

$540 Sale Price
30% Off
H 7.5 in W 5.5 in D 2 in
Circular Push-Pull Door Handle in Bronze, Mid-20th Century, France
Located in London, GB
Circular push-pull door handle in bronze (or brass), mid-20th century, France. A very simple elegant handle, made up of two separate pieces - each side with a slightly concave dish ...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Directoire Doors and Gates

Materials

Bronze

Circular Push-Pull Door Handle in Bronze, Mid-20th Century, France
Circular Push-Pull Door Handle in Bronze, Mid-20th Century, France

Circular Push-Pull Door Handle in Bronze, Mid-20th Century, France

$1,342
H 2.17 in Dm 5.32 in
Two Sets Mid-Size Circular Door Handles in Bronze, Mid-20th Century, France
Located in London, GB
Two mid-size circular push-and-pull door handles in bronze, mid-20th century, France. Two simple handles, each made up of two lightly contoured round plates, held by a connecting bo...
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Mid-20th Century French Directoire Doors and Gates

Materials

Metal, Bronze

Two Sets Mid-Size Circular Door Handles in Bronze, Mid-20th Century, France
Two Sets Mid-Size Circular Door Handles in Bronze, Mid-20th Century, France

Two Sets Mid-Size Circular Door Handles in Bronze, Mid-20th Century, France

$1,610 / set
H 2.21 in Dm 3.94 in
Circular Push-Pull Door Handle in Brass, Mid-20th Century, France
Located in London, GB
Circular push-pull door handle in brass, with hammered texture. Mid-20th century. Found in France. The handle is made up of two separate pieces with hammered texture; each trimmed w...
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Mid-20th Century French Directoire Doors and Gates

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Circular Push-Pull Door Handle in Brass, Mid-20th Century, France
Circular Push-Pull Door Handle in Brass, Mid-20th Century, France

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$1,100
H 1.66 in Dm 5.32 in
Collection of large version of Arne Jacobsen Solid Brass Door Handles
By Arne Jacobsen
Located in Copenhagen, DK
ARNE JACOBSEN - SCANDINAVIAN MODERN The iconic Arne Jacobson door handles, large model 111 mm, in solid brass. The handles were designed for the Royal SAS ...
Category

Mid-20th Century European Directoire Doors and Gates

Materials

Brass

Collection of large version of Arne Jacobsen Solid Brass Door Handles
Collection of large version of Arne Jacobsen Solid Brass Door Handles

Collection of large version of Arne Jacobsen Solid Brass Door Handles

$566 / item
H 1.58 in W 7.88 in D 1.97 in
Early 20th Century French Painted Oak Double Door
Located in Dusseldorf, DE
Tall French double door from the 1st half of the 20th century. Made of oak and painted. Unrestored condition. Double door in frame construction ...
Category

Early 20th Century French Directoire Doors and Gates

Materials

Oak

Early 20th Century French Painted Oak Double Door
Early 20th Century French Painted Oak Double Door

Early 20th Century French Painted Oak Double Door

$1,652
H 112.21 in W 55.12 in D 1.38 in
Large Lanterns for Gate Post or Wall Bracket, Late 19th or Early 20th Century
Located in Mombuey, Zamora
These lanterns of large dimensions were made by hand by a master craftsman for the door of some Italian villa throughout the 19th century or Early 20th Century Nothing common. This decorative pair of...
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19th Century Italian Antique Directoire Doors and Gates

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Iron

Large Lanterns for Gate Post or Wall Bracket, Late 19th or Early 20th Century
Large Lanterns for Gate Post or Wall Bracket, Late 19th or Early 20th Century

Large Lanterns for Gate Post or Wall Bracket, Late 19th or Early 20th Century

$7,458 Sale Price / set
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H 40.16 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
Previously Available Items
Pair of Late 18th Century French Chateau Doors
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Pair of late 18th Century French Directoire period chateau internal double doors and frames. (Dimensions are for each door).
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18th Century French Antique Directoire Doors and Gates

Materials

Wood

Pair of Late 18th Century French Chateau Doors
Pair of Late 18th Century French Chateau Doors

Pair of Late 18th Century French Chateau Doors

H 110.24 in W 63 in D 3.94 in
Antique Late 18th Century French Entrance Door
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Beautiful and rare painted oak guest house entrance door with charming wrought iron grill with leaf decor and scrolls, original doorknob, circa 1790.  
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18th Century French Antique Directoire Doors and Gates

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Wrought Iron

Antique Late 18th Century French Entrance Door
Antique Late 18th Century French Entrance Door

Antique Late 18th Century French Entrance Door

H 82.5 in W 33 in D 2 in
Antique French Doors in Original Paint
Located in Chicago, IL
Beautiful pair of antique French doors from a chateau just outside of Clermont-Ferrand in France’s Auvergne region and they remain in their original paint. Use as a screen, headboard or re-install as functional doors like we did, to create a back hall closet...
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1830s French Antique Directoire Doors and Gates

Antique French Doors in Original Paint
Antique French Doors in Original Paint

Antique French Doors in Original Paint

H 99 in W 57.25 in D 2 in
Pair Directoire Painted Doors
Located in New Orleans, LA
Pair Directoire painted doors
Category

18th Century and Earlier French Antique Directoire Doors and Gates

Materials

Wood

Pair Directoire Painted Doors
Pair Directoire Painted Doors

Pair Directoire Painted Doors

H 101.5 in W 29 in D 1.5 in
Pair of Period Directoire Doors from France, Oak and Iron, Circa 1800
Located in Dallas, TX
This is a pair of antique French doors from the Directoire period (1790s to Early 1800s). The wood is most likely poplar. The doors have magnificent, hand forged ironwork on the interior side. The locking system, called cremone, has two round knobs which are attached to vertical rods: one moves the rod upward, while the other sends it down into the rings attached to the doors' frames. The thick iron hinges are attached with large C and S scroll decorative strapping. The exterior sides of the doors have raised wooden diamond point decoration on the bottom panel, typical of the Directoire period. The middle panel is adorned with a raised horizontal diamond point. The top rectangular panel is offset by a raised Directoire panel...
Category

Early 1800s French Antique Directoire Doors and Gates

Materials

Poplar

Pair of Period Directoire Doors from France, Oak and Iron, Circa 1800
Pair of Period Directoire Doors from France, Oak and Iron, Circa 1800

Pair of Period Directoire Doors from France, Oak and Iron, Circa 1800

H 93.4 in W 50.7 in

Directoire doors and gates for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Directoire doors and gates for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage doors and gates created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include building and garden elements and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with iron, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Directoire doors and gates made in a specific country, there are Europe, and France pieces for sale on 1stDibs. 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 doors and gates differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $6,800 and tops out at $17,642 while the average work can sell for $12,221.

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