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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
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).
Category

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

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

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

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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

H 9 in W 7.25 in D 2 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

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Wood

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

Pair of Louis XVI Style Doors

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

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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

H 108 in W 62.2 in D 2 in
Italian 18th Century Door
Located in Atlanta, GA
A wonderful door in painted wood from Venice, Italy. Not only wonderful as a door, but perfect to build into cabinetry or use as a headboard. Fabulous patina.
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18th Century Italian Antique Directoire Doors and Gates

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Italian 18th Century Door
Italian 18th Century Door

Italian 18th Century Door

H 91.25 in W 40.63 in D 3 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

H 114 in W 65 in D 2.75 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...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Directoire Doors and Gates

Materials

Metal, Brass

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

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

H 1.66 in Dm 5.32 in
Late 19th Century French Pine Doors, Set of 2
Located in Dusseldorf, DE
A pair of French doors from around 1900, solid pine frame construction with 3 panels each. Dimensions: 238 cm high, 75.5 cm wide, 4.5 cm deep Also very suitable for installation as...
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Late 19th Century French Antique Directoire Doors and Gates

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Pine

Late 19th Century French Pine Doors, Set of 2
Late 19th Century French Pine Doors, Set of 2

Late 19th Century French Pine Doors, Set of 2

H 93.71 in W 29.73 in D 1.78 in
Set of Two Circular Push-Pull Door Handles in Brass, Mid-20th Century, France
Located in London, GB
Circular push-pull door handles in brass, with hammered texture. Mid-20th century. Found in France. Each handle is made up of two separate pieces with hammered texture; each face tr...
Category

Mid-20th Century French Directoire Doors and Gates

Materials

Metal, Brass

Set of Two Circular Push-Pull Door Handles in Brass, Mid-20th Century, France
Set of Two Circular Push-Pull Door Handles in Brass, Mid-20th Century, France

Set of Two Circular Push-Pull Door Handles in Brass, Mid-20th Century, France

H 1.66 in Dm 5.32 in
Pair of Large Antique French Door Shutters from a Chateau, 19th Century
Located in Dallas, TX
These monumental arched antique door shutters were salvaged from a 19th century French chateau. They would have been on the ground floor, attached...
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Late 19th Century French Antique Directoire Doors and Gates

Materials

Iron

Pair of Large Antique French Door Shutters from a Chateau, 19th Century
Pair of Large Antique French Door Shutters from a Chateau, 19th Century

Pair of Large Antique French Door Shutters from a Chateau, 19th Century

H 136.5 in W 85 in D 1.38 in
10 ft+ Tall French Pair of Glass Paneled Wood Doors from the Early 20th C.
Located in Atlanta, GA
This is a pair of over-sized French doors from the early 20th century. These antique French doors are substantial, standing at a height of more than 10 feet! Each door has 18 glass panels, framed by vertically slatted wood at the upper and lower portions of the door. The doors have old paint and patina, slightly differing in colors on each door. These massive antique French glass panel doors...
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Early 20th Century French Directoire Doors and Gates

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10 ft+ Tall French Pair of Glass Paneled Wood Doors from the Early 20th C.
10 ft+ Tall French Pair of Glass Paneled Wood Doors from the Early 20th C.

10 ft+ Tall French Pair of Glass Paneled Wood Doors from the Early 20th C.

H 131.5 in W 48 in D 1.5 in
Wrought Iron Gate, French
Located in Brussels, BE
Wrought iron gate, French.
Category

Mid-20th Century French Directoire Doors and Gates

Materials

Wrought Iron

Wrought Iron Gate, French
Wrought Iron Gate, French

Wrought Iron Gate, French

H 69.69 in W 84.26 in D 1.58 in
Pair of Midcentury Door Handles of Hammered Brass and Blackened Copper, Italy
Located in London, GB
Pair of Italian midcentury door handles of hammered brass and blackened copper. Handcrafted pieces with a hammered pattern to the brass and deep gre...
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Mid-20th Century Italian Directoire Doors and Gates

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Copper, Brass

Pair of Midcentury Door Handles of Hammered Brass and Blackened Copper, Italy
Pair of Midcentury Door Handles of Hammered Brass and Blackened Copper, Italy

Pair of Midcentury Door Handles of Hammered Brass and Blackened Copper, Italy

H 8.67 in W 3.94 in D 2.37 in
Previously Available Items
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Located in West Palm Beach, FL
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18th Century French Antique Directoire Doors and Gates

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

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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
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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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