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.
$2,850
Miniature Walnut Commode
Located in Greenwich, CT
Early 19th Century walnut commode, the inlaid top with cookie corners over turned and fluted legs flanking three inlaid drawers and standing on turned turnip feet, French or Italian ...
Ebony, Fruitwood, Walnut, Pine
Directoire Diminutive Walnut Secrétaire à Abattant and a Similar Diminutive
Located in Buchanan, MI
A 19th century Directoire diminutive walnut Secrétaire a' Abattant and a similar diminutive five-drawer chest. Great small drinks table or jewelry chest. Great attention paid to deta...
Walnut
$509Sale Price|20% Off
Magnificent Gilt Bronze Ring Holder, Period: Art Deco, Marie-Antoinette Effigy
Located in CRÉTEIL, FR
Magnificent ring sizer, old jewelry holder in gilded bronze, effigy of Marie Antoinette. Face-to-face, hairbrush, ring sizer, perfume sprayer are among the essential accessories resting on dressing tables of all eras. Period: 20th century circa: 1930 Measures: ø: 18cm The ring has become a piece of jewelry that we wear every day. We change it, we adapt it according to our activities. Do you know the history of this precious jewel? The first rings date back to prehistoric times and were discovered around 21,000 BC. They are fine mammoth ivory rings...
Bronze
Sune Bäckström - Art Deco - Bronze Lidded Box, Sweden, 1930
Located in Stockholm, SE
A refined bronze lidded box designed by Sune Bäckström, Sweden, 1930. The piece reflects the early development of Scandinavian modernism, where clarity of form and material quality t...
Bronze
$3,500
H 2.37 in W 6.7 in D 6.7 in
Bronze and Slag Glass Tiffany Jewelry Box, Art Deco Period, United States
Located in Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires
Bronze and slag glass Tiffany jewelry box. Art Deco period. United States circa 1900. Signed in the back "Tiffany Studios New York 821".
Bronze
Miniature 19th Century Victorian Figured Mahogany Chest of Drawers
Located in Morristown, NJ
19th c. Charming antique miniature chest of drawers. The chest has a marble top. The case is figured mahogany, with four stacked drawers, the ...
Marble, Brass
$733Sale Price|20% Off
H 10.24 in W 8.27 in D 8.27 in
Stunning Faux Books Walnut & Satinwood Smoking Pipe Rack Holder with Drawers
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer this lovely Walnut & Satinwood Faux books pipe rack with internal drawers A very good looking and decorative piece, its designed to hold three pipes in t...
Satinwood, Walnut
Walnut and Metal Small Chest, 17th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Small rectangular ark with a flat lid, with a lock of golden metal worked (crown on two facing lions, located on a garland of great size, and all around a symmetrical composition wit...
Metal
$863Sale Price|49% Off
H 6.7 in W 17.72 in D 9.06 in
19th Century French Walnut and Brass Writing Boxe
Located in LEGNY, FR
Beautiful walnut desktop box which opens into a writing slope. Decorated on the outside with 2 decorative inlaid tunbridge ware bands. Box opens out to a beige fabric writing slo...
Brass
17th Century Figured Walnut and Seaweed Marquetry Lace Box
Located in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
A fine and extremely rare figured walnut and seaweed marquetry 'lace box', circa.... let’s break it down - Seaweed marquetry first appeared in Englis...
Walnut
$1,495
H 1.75 in W 2.5 in D 1.5 in
French Silver-Mounted Marie Antoinette Jasperware Snuff Box, 19th Century
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
French Silver-Mounted Marie Antoinette Jasperware Snuff Box, 19th Century A 19th-century French silver-mounted jasperware snuff or patch box with a relief portrait of Marie Antoinet...
Sterling Silver
$3,363
H 9 in W 13.25 in D 7.5 in
A Fine Art Deco Period Marquetry and Parquetry Jewellery Casket, French c 1920
Located in Lymington, Hampshire
A Fine Art Deco Period Marquetry and Parquetry Jewellery Casket, Probably French c.1920 This fine jewellery box is of casket form, the interior containing a series of lift-out trays...
Wood, Sycamore
$475,629
H 16.15 in W 28.35 in D 20.48 in
Magnificent and large ormolu and hardstone Regency period ebonized wooden casket
Located in London, GB
Magnificent and large ormolu and hardstone mounted ebonized wooden casket English, 19th Century Height 41cm, width 72cm, depth 52cm Exceptionally fine and richly adorned, this beautiful piece is a large, ebonized wooden casket or coffer, mounted with extensive ormolu decorations, and inlaid on front and back with Florentine pietra dura hardstone panels. It was made in English in the early 19th century during the regency period, using a host of stylistic influences, and amalgamating various outstanding decorative techniques. The front and reverse are set with hardstone panels, depicting flowers, fruits and insects in the corners. It is attributed to Robert Hume Jr., of Hume & Son, leading English makers of the Regency period, engaged for a time as interior designers for the wealthy 10th Duke of...
Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Ormolu
$3,548
H 1.11 in W 3.55 in D 1.74 in
Art Nouveau Sterling Silver Cigarette Case Enamel and Hand-Painted Miniature
By Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Ladies' handbag cigarette case with an oval section in 925/1000 gilded silver with translucent enamel on a guilloché and a monochrome, hand-painted miniature of a landscape, in the E...
Sterling Silver, Enamel, Gold Plate
$272Sale Price|20% Off
H 2.25 in W 5 in D 4 in
T K Bronze Denmark Bronze Cigarette Box Art Deco or Art Nouveau
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, an antique bronze cigarette box, likely dating from the early 20th century Art Deco or Art Nouveau period. and Finish: It is crafted from bronze and features a distinct green patina, a common oxidized finish for vintage bronze items. The box design is reminiscent of Scandinavian or Danish makers from the 1920s or 1930s, such as Just Andersen or Aedel Malm...
Bronze
$150
H 1.5 in W 4 in D 3.5 in
Vintage Middle Eastern Persian Khatam Trinket Box with Miniature Art Painting
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Middle Eastern Khatam Art Painting Miniature on hexagonal shape trinket box. Hand painted, lacquered wooden Moorish micro mosaic marquetry inlaid tobacco or trinket Box. Handcrafted vintage marquetry Indo Persian wood inlay micro mosaic with miniature hand painted scene. Finely handcrafted khatam Persian hand painted micro mosaic inlaid wooden box...
Fruitwood
$3,745
H 3.15 in W 4.45 in D 2.96 in
Art Deco Lidded Bronze Box by GAB Guldsmedsaktiebolaget, Sweden, 1930s
By Sune Bäckström, Just Andersen, GAB Guldsmedsaktiebolaget
Located in Malmö, SE
A beautiful lidded bronze box with amazing patina. Art Deco / Swedish Grace. Made by GAB Guldsmedsaktiebolaget, Sweden, 1930s. Good condition, but with scratches and wear to the ...
Bronze
$1,036Sale Price|20% Off
H 3.55 in W 5.12 in D 3.55 in
Antique 19th Century French Art Nouveau Pierced Gilt Bronze Jewelry Box
Located in Firenze, IT
This lavish French Art Nouveau period (1880-1910) jewelry box is entirely chiseled, hammered and pierced with flowers and leaf patterns. This late 19th – early 20th century rectangul...
Bronze
Sold
H 9.65 in W 12.21 in D 8.67 in
Charming Miniature Table in Mahogany and Carrara Marble, France Directoire 1790s
Located in Knivsta, SE
Charming Miniature Table. Made of mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni) with a top of mahogany inlayed with Carrara marble along with Brass details. Made in France during the late 1790s, du...
Carrara Marble, Brass
Porcelain Box, 20th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Porcelain box, 20th century. Important porcelain box, gilt brass mounting, rich decoration, 20th century. Measures: H: 17 cm, W: 34 cm, D: 22 cm Ref 3123.
Porcelain
Large French Gold Snuffbox
Located in Peyraud, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Large rectangular snuffbox with angled corners sides. The hinged lid is embellished with a guilloche pattern with alternating parallel and horizontal strips of matt and shiny gold. I...
Gold
Sold
H 9.75 in W 13.75 in D 7.5 in
Early 19th Century Italian Walnut Parquetry Miniature Commode or Jewelry Chest
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
This charming directoire inspired miniature commode features a parquetry top centering an inlaid bird motif above three long drawers and square tapering pointed legs.
Brass
Sold
H 5.5 in W 8 in D 4 in
French Directoire Period Thuya Wood Tea Box with Lemonwood Inlay and Bronze Feet
Located in Fayetteville, AR
An exceptional piece from the Directoire period, this French tea caddy is constructed of burled thuya wood. Fine lines of lemon wood inlay add definit...
Bronze
Dome-Top French Storage Chest
Located in Nantucket, MA
A blue painted and decorated wooden dome-top chest with yellow and gold border and bail handle and decorative escutcheon and double latches. The interior ...
Paint, Wood
Sold
H 10 in W 15.5 in D 9.5 in
19th Century Napoleon Faux Painted Box with Exceptional Interior Colors
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century Napoleon faux painted box with exceptional interior colors. Great for jewelry or watch storage or as decorative display case, circa 1820.