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.
Pair French Directoire Bronze and Marble Neo-Classical Figural Candelabra
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This amazing pair of Louis XVI / Directoire period candelabra are of the finest quality. The figures are modeled as Roman Vestal Virgins issuing three scrolling acanthus leaf candle ...
Carrara Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
Pair of Candelabras "Aux Sphinges", Directoire Period
Located in Peyraud, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
A pair of Directoire period gilt and patinated bronze and black and white marble candelabras. They present a decoration of winged sphinxes in patinated bronze carrying on their heads...
Marble, Bronze
France, vers 1800 - paire de candélabres à trois lumières en marbre et bronze do
Located in PARIS, FR
France, vers 1800 - paire de candélabres à trois lumières en marbre et bronze doré Paire de candélabres Bronze doré, patiné et marbre Dimensions : H. 51 (cm.) Belle paire de candél...
Belgian Black Marble, Carrara Marble, Ormolu
"Retour d'Égypte" French bronze and gilded candelabra 18/19 th
By Claude Galle
Located in Berlin, DE
Candelabra, Pair of Candelabra, Candlesticks, Candle Holders, Girandoles, Table Candelabra , Style & Era: Empire Style, French Empire, Egyptian Revival, Neo-Classical, Antiquity, 1...
Gold Plate, Bronze
Pair of Late 18th Century Gilt Bronze and Marble Candelabra
Located in Peyraud, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Pair of gilded and sculpted bronze candelabra with four branches each. The branches curve to form trumpets and foliated scrollwork on one end and sockets on the other end. The socket...
Marble, Bronze
Pair Directoire Ormolu & Bronze Figural Candelabras
Located in New York, NY
Fine Pair Directoire Period Ormolu and Bronze candelabras with dark patinated cast bronze Neoclassical figures wearing draped robes, each holding a gil...
Bronze, Ormolu
18th Century Pair of Directoire Candelabra With Bronze Sphinx
Located in Phoenix, AZ
18th Century Pair of Directoire Candelabra With Bronze Griffins Beautiful pair purchased in France. Age appropriate wear, see detailed photos or message us with questions.
Bronze
Pair of Large Candelabra-Candlesticks in Gilded Wood, France Directoire Period
Located in Paris, FR
Two large candelabra-candlesticksdecorated with lion claw and cherub heads on the on the visible side . They are turned wood and are decorated, engraved and gilded only on one side ...
Gold Leaf
Pair French Bronze Candelabras Maiden Regency Classical Gilt
Located in Potters Bar, GB
You are viewing a gorgeous pair of French gilt and bronze candelabras in the Regency manner Great look to this pair which at just under three feet tall are a good size - 73 CM The ma...
Bronze
$1,200 / set
H 7.75 in W 5.5 in D 2.75 in
Pair of French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Gilded Bronze Candelabra
Located in Hudson, NY
This lovely small pair of two-light candelabra are made in gilded bronze and were made in France around the turn of the century. Cast as a satyr holding up sinuous candle arms termin...
Marble, Bronze
$18,835 / set
H 28.35 in W 18.51 in D 13.78 in
Pair of Chinese Porcelain and French Chinoiserie Style Gilt Bronze Candelabra
Located in London, GB
Pair of Chinese porcelain and French Chinoiserie style gilt bronze candelabra Chinese and French, 19th Century Height 72cm, width 47cm, depth 35cm This superb pair of candelabra...
Ormolu, Bronze
$16,800Sale Price|30% Off
H 28.35 in Dm 13.78 in
Amazing Pair of French 19th Century Bronze and Gilt Bronze Candelabras
Located in Rome, IT
A fine pair of French 19th century bronze and gilt bronze candelabras, each with a dark bronze delicious dancing putto figures and parrots holding aloft three scrolled candle-branche...
Bronze
$19,200Sale Price|20% Off
H 28.35 in Dm 13.78 in
Amazing Pair of French 19th Century Bronze and Gilt Bronze Candelabras
Located in Rome, IT
A fine pair of French 19th century bronze and gilt bronze candelabras, each with a dark bronze delicious dancing putto figures and parrots holding aloft three scrolled candle-branche...
Bronze
$3,450 / set
H 20 in W 9 in D 5 in
19th Century Pair of Gilded & Patinated Bronze Two Light Candelabra
Located in Hudson, NY
This lovely pair of candelabra, crafted in both gilded and patinated bronze, are 19th century French. Cast as female figures in Egyptian headdress and classical robes standing upon R...
Marble, Bronze
Pair Antique French 19th Century Gilt Bronze Louis XV Style Candelabra
Located in New York, NY
A fine pair of antique French 19th century Louis XV style five light gilt bronze candelabra Beautiful antique French five light gilt bronze hand chiselled pair of Louis XV style can...
Bronze
$8,192
H 39.38 in Dm 9.85 in
Huge Antique French Empire Bronze Figural Candelabra with Classical Females
Located in Nottingham, GB
A magnificent pair of antique French Empire style bronze candelabra, each modelled as an elegant classical female figure holding aloft an elaborate six-light candle branch. The figu...
Marble, Bronze
$1,950Sale Price / set|54% Off
H 13 in W 6 in D 6 in
19th century Charles 'X' French Gilt and Patinated Bronze Candlestick, Pair
Located in Savannah, GA
Features include superb detail with gold gilding and bronze patination. They are intricately sculpted with fanciful designs, acanthus leaves and grape clusters with three claw feet r...
Bronze
$27,416 / set
H 18.31 in W 10.63 in D 5.52 in
Pair of Late 18th Century Louis XVI Ormolu and White Marble Candelabra
Located in Worpswede / Bremen, DE
A fine pair of Louis XVI white marble and gilt bronze candelabra in the form of atheniennes. The rams-headed tripod has a snake entwined through the stem, the central ovoid form whit...
Marble, Ormolu
Louis XV Style Pair of Candelabra Ormolu Bronze
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Whimsical pair of candelabra 6 lights and on the top you have a cabochon to extinguish the candles on this time. This is very rare to have it generally all the cabochon was lost by t...
Bronze
A Fine Pair of Empire Ormolu & Patinated Bronze Candelabra
Located in Sheffield, MA
Each with a female figure, one entitled “L’Esperance”, and the other “La Marmote”
Important Pair of English George III Period Candelabra by Lafount
Located in Steyning, West sussex
An important pair of English George III period cut-glass and brass-mounted two-light candelabra by Lafount, the candelabra supported by cut square bases with lemon squeezer inset below, the candle branches and central shepherd’s crook of ribbed section and of typical scrolling form, the branches supporting van dyke drip pans and thistle shaped candle nozzles, all draped with round double pointed spangles and finial drops, the mounts stamped LAFOUNT PATENT. For similar pair of candelabra see plate 66, page 122; The English Glass Chandelier by Martin Mortimer (The Corning Museum of Glass) MOSES LAFOUNT Pleasant Row, Pentonville, in the county of Middlesex, lustre maker. On 19TH December 1796, Moses Lafount and Alexander Thomas and James Cox...
Ormolu
Empire Period Candelabras.
Located in Montreal, QC
Pair of gilt and patinated bronze Empire period candelabras.
Bronze
$6,149
H 27.96 in Dm 5.91 in
Pair of French Empire Style Gilt Bronze and Patinated Bronze Figural Candelabra
Located in Nottingham, GB
An exceptional pair of French Empire style gilt bronze and patinated bronze candelabra, modelled in the grand Neoclassical tradition of the early 19th century. Each candelabrum feat...
Bronze
Pair of Directoire Style Gilt Bronze and Tole Painted Candelabra Lamps
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This handsome pair of lamps feature Classical motifs including swags, tassels, and acanthus leaves. The gilt bronze is accented by Wedgwood jasperware style hand painted designs, and...
Crystal, Bronze
Pair of Late 18th Century Gilt Bronze and Marble Candelabra
Located in Peyraud, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Pair of gilded and sculpted bronze candelabra with four branches each. The branches curve to form trumpets and foliated scrollwork on one end and sockets on the other end. The socket...
Marble, Bronze
Pair of Gilt Bronze Candelabra, Possibly Vienna, circa 1800
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
A pair of gilt bronze candelabra, possibly Vienna, circa 1800. The top detachable and they could also be used as candlesticks.
Pair of Directoire Gilt Bronze and Marble Candelabra, circa 1800
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
A pair of Directoire gilt bronze and marble candelabra, possibly German from, circa 1800.
Marble, Bronze