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 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 of Sophisticated Gilt Bronze Candlesticks, Directoire circa 1795
Located in Knivsta, SE
A pair of sophisticated and elegant gilt bronze Candlesticks, Probably made in Paris, France. Directoire circa 1795. Beautifully decorated with leaves. Wear consistent with age an...
Gold Plate, Bronze
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 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
Pair of Candelabras "Aux Sphinges", Directoire Period
Located in Paris, FR
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
Pair of Late 18th Century Gilt Bronze and Marble Candelabra
Located in Paris, FR
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
$980Sale Price|30% Off
Antique French Bouillotte Directoire 3 Light Pierced Tole Candelabra Lamp
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique French Neoclassical Bouillotte / Directoire / Hot Water Bottle silver plate three light table lamp, featuring a pierced / reticulated base wit...
Metal
Pair of Gilt and Patinated Bronze Candlesticks. Directoire, Late 18th Century
Located in Knivsta, SE
A Pair of Gilt and Dark-Patinated Bronze Candlesticks – French Directoire, Late 18th Century An exquisite pair of French gilt and dark-patinated bronze candlesticks, crafted during ...
Bronze
Antique Brass Candlesticks 18th century - Baroque
By France"
Located in DELFT, NL
Franco-Flemish, so Dutch or French Baroque period 18th century brass Candlesticks. Each with an octagonal base supporting baluster stems and candle cups. (Each candle cup has a hol...
Brass
Pair Of Silver Candlesticks – Antwerp, 1792 – Late Louis XVI / Directoire Style
Located in Bilzen, BE
Pair of Silver Candlesticks – Antwerp, 1792 – Late Louis XVI / Directoire Style Elegant pair of antique solid silver candlesticks, hallmarked in Antwerp, 1792, during the early years...
Silver
Pair Louis XVI Ormolu Bronze Horse Handled Urn Candlesticks
Located in New York, NY
Pair Louis XVI Ormolu Bronze Horse Handled Urn Candlesticks. French Empire-Directoire Period patinated urn form candlesticks with ormolu mounts, Ottoman influenced horsehead handles...
Marble, Ormolu
Directoire Antique French Candlesticks
By France"
Located in DELFT, NL
French Directoire Period brass Candlesticks. The detachable socles set within urn shaped holders, baluster-shaped stems, terminating on circular bases. Some rubbing and wear.
Brass
$1,372Sale Price / set|24% Off
Pair of French Directoire Candlesticks Made in the 1790s
Located in Stockholm, SE
A pair of French candlesticks in a wonderful condition. White marble mounted with bronze ornaments. The quality of the castings and chiseling is high. the design is romantic and beau...
Marble, Bronze
$4,400Sale Price / set|20% Off
18th Century Pair of Directoire Candelabra With Bronze Griffins
Located in Scottsdale, 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
$1,424Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 10.25 in Dm 4.125 in
Pair, French Empire Gilt Bronze Crane Motif Candlesticks Circa 1815
Located in Atlanta, GA
French, circa 1815. This exquisite pair of French Empire gilt bronze candlesticks, crafted circa 1815, embodies the opulence and grandeur of the Empire style. Each candlestick feat...
Bronze
Pair French Parrot Candelabras Porcelain Bird Candlesticks
Located in Potters Bar, GB
Quirky pair of French porcelain parrot candelabras Birds stand perched on the porcelain branch Also features ormolu fixtures original Very bright and colourful, would add energy to a...
Ormolu
$24,538
H 18.12 in W 5.52 in D 5.52 in
A Pair of Charles X Gilt-Bronze Reversible Cassolettes / Candlesticks
Located in Brighton, West Sussex
A Pair of Charles X Gilt-Bronze Reversible Cassolettes / Candlesticks Each with pierced dome lid surmounted by a butterfly finial. The lids reversible, the undersides fitted with c...
Bronze
Pair 18th Century French Gilt Bronze and Marble Figural Candelabra
Located in New York, US
Our monumental pair of 18th century candelabra of French origin depict Roman neoclassical male and female holding cornucopia, finely carved from white marble, with four light ormolu bronze candleholders of foliate design with fruits, nuts and grape bunches. Provenance: Arne Schlesch & José Juárez...
Marble, Bronze
Pair of French Ormolu Figural Candelabra, 19th Century
Located in Cypress, CA
Exquisite pair of French Louis XV style gilt bronze five-light figural candelabra, 19th century. Five foliage-inspired candleholders are conjoined by intricate gilt bronze scrollin...
Bronze
Pair of French Empire Style Gilt Bronze Candlesticks
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine pair of French Empire gilt bronze candlesticks. With intricate raised decoration in the form of geometric and foliate patterns. The middle of each candlestick is fluted and ...
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
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
$1,950Sale 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
$1,824Sale Price|20% Off
H 12.21 in W 5.12 in D 4.53 in
Pair of Gilded Bronze Candlesticks from French Restauration Era
Located in 263-0031, JP
A pair of candlesticks in chiselled fire-gilt bronze from the French Empire or early Restauration Era. The pair, exemplifying the neoclassical iconography so popular in the Napoleoni...
Bronze
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”
A Pair of Elegant Silver Candlesticks – Directoire, Late 18th Century
Located in Knivsta, SE
A Pair of Elegant Silver Candlesticks – Directoire, Late 18th Century A pair of classic and characteristic candlesticks in hallmarked silver from Central Europe, dating from the la...
Silver
Mid 19th Century Candlestick - Swans - Ormolu Gilt Bronze
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
Refined French ormolu bronze candlestick, mid 19th century, finely detailed and beautifully cast. The base is formed by three sculpted swans, their long necks rising gracefully to su...
Bronze, Ormolu
Sold
H 20.08 in W 7.88 in D 7.09 in
Pair of 19th Century French Corinthian Column Gilt Bronze Candlesticks
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Pair of 19th Century French Corinthian column gilt bronze candlesticks. With tripod-shaped feet on paws and acanthus sheathed and fluted pillars. Ci...
Bronze
Sold
H 8.27 in Dm 4.53 in
Pair of Candlesticks in gilded and darkpatinated bronze. Directoire circa 1795
Located in Knivsta, SE
A pair of very sophisticated Candlesticks in gilded and darkpatinated bronze. Probably made in Paris, France during the Directoire, circa 1795. Wear consistent with age and use.
Bronze
Pair of Sophisticated Gilt Bronze Candlesticks, Directoire circa 1795
Located in Knivsta, SE
A pair of sophisticated and elegant gilt bronze Candlesticks, Probably made in Paris, France. Directoire circa 1795. Wear consistent with age and use.
Bronze
Louis XVI Antique French Candlesticks - 18th century
By France"
Located in DELFT, NL
French Louis XVI Period brass Candlesticks. The detachable socles set within urn shaped holders, raised on tapering stop-fluted stems, terminating on circular bases. Some rubbing an...
Brass
Sold
H 7.88 in Dm 4.14 in
A Pair of Candlesticks in Gilt Bronze, 19th Century, in the style of Directoire
Located in Knivsta, SE
A Pair of Elegant and Ornate Gilt Bronze Candlesticks from the 19th Century. In the style of Directoire. Wear consistent with age and use
Bronze
Sold
H 10.63 in W 5.31 in D 5.31 in
Pair of French Brass Directoire Period Antique Candlesticks, Early 19th Century
Located in Shippensburg, PA
A good pair of Directoire period brass candlesticks circa the first quarter of the 19th century, they exhibit separately formed candle wells that remove from the stem over a ring-tur...
Brass
Antique French Bouillotte Directoire 2 Light Tole Candelabra Parlor Lamp
Located in Dayton, OH
Antique French Neoclassical Bouillotte / Directoire / Hot Water Bottle silver plate three light table lamp, featuring a fluted column with round dish ...
Metal
Pair of French Directoire Candlesticks, circa 1790
Located in Knivsta, SE
A pair of rare and beautiful French Directoire candlesticks in gilt bronze from the late 18th century. In very good antique condition. Marked in the lower part of the foot with "13...
Gold Plate, Bronze
Sold
H 10.63 in W 5.31 in D 5.31 in
Pair of French Brass Directoire Period Antique Candlesticks, Early 19th Century
Located in Shippensburg, PA
A good pair of Directoire period brass candlesticks circa the first quarter of the 19th century, they exhibit separately formed candle wells that remove from the stem over a ring-tur...
Brass
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