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Directoire Clocks

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
Jaeguer Le coultre Atmos table clock
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Jaeguer Le coultre Atmos table clock Atmos Model Directory Style Origin Switzerland Circa 1970 Excellent condition. minimal natural wear due to its age Works correctly Materials Gild...
Category

1970s Swiss Vintage Directoire Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Directoire Gilt-Bronze Marble Mounted Chariot Clock, Late 19th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
A very fine and delicate directoire style gilt-bronze marble mounted chariot clock. Exquisite bronze work depicting a winged charioteer guiding a pair of...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Directoire Clocks

Materials

Marble, Bronze

French Directoire Marble Athenian Clock with Eagle Heads Early 19th century
Located in NICE, FR
Directoire portico clock decorated with two Athenian with eagle heads and feet. The three gilded bronze hats are decorated with flowers. The white Carrara marble Medicis vase sits a...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Clocks

Materials

Carrara Marble, Ormolu

French Directoire Pendule Clock with Swans and Putti Paris 1790/1800
Located in Münster, DE
France Directoire Mantle Clock, around 1790/1800, figural depiction of two putti with swans, bronze, fire-gilded and dark patinated, on white enamel dial inscribed "Sauvage à Paris",...
Category

1790s French Antique Directoire Clocks

Materials

Bronze

French Directoire Marble Pillar Mantel Clock
Located in Norwich, GB
A Directoire Ormolu with black marble French pillar clock, three and a half inch enamel dial with Roman numerals signed ‘Viven Fils a Epernay’ with...
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1790s French Antique Directoire Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

Very Fine Directoire Style French Gilt Bronze and Marble Mantel Clock
Located in Atlanta, GA
A very fine French Directoire style gilt bronze and marble (Rosso Levanto) Mantel Clock. 19th Century. movement stamped 1075. Measures: height 16 1/2" x width 18" x depth 5 1/2" C...
Category

1860s French Antique Directoire Clocks

Materials

Marble, Bronze

French Directoire Pendule, Black Marble, Firegilded Bronze, circa 1800
Located in Greven, DE
Antique portal clock France marble, bronze, enamel Directoire around 1800 Dimensions: H x W x D: 46 x 28 x 14 cm Description: Antique portal c...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Clocks

Materials

Belgian Black Marble, Bronze

Antique Directoire Style Verre Églomisé Glass Barometer
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Antique Directoire style verre églomisé glass barometer, 19th century. Barometer is not functional it is purely decorative.
Category

19th Century French Antique Directoire Clocks

Materials

Glass, Wood

19th Century French Comtoise Clock Movement
Located in Denton, TX
A great industrial accent for a tabletop or bookshelf the combination of brass and steel gears and a bronze bell. This movement is in non working condition and is used for decorative...
Category

19th Century French Antique Directoire Clocks

Materials

Brass, Bronze, Steel, Iron

Napoleon III Striking Porcelain Mantel Clock, the Flawless Beauty of Porcelain
Located in Warsaw, PL
Porcelain gives us perfect beauty, naked and extremely luxurious. Not all materials can bring pure beauty but no less strong before times. Thanks to its hard and sturdy construction,...
Category

18th Century French Antique Directoire Clocks

Materials

Marble, Gold Plate

Portico Clock, Directoire Period
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Portico clock in chiseled and gilt bronze composed of a rectangular base in white marble. Architecture with two columns topped by griffins holding the di...
Category

1790s European Antique Directoire Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Directoire Gilt and Patinated Bronze Mantel Clock
Located in Kittery Point, ME
The oval base raised on toupie feet, centered with a panel of hunting dogs with hunting trophies on each side, the case supported by a landscaped scenery of water and rocks and surmo...
Category

Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Early 19th Century French Directoire Gilt Bronze and Marble Clock by Deverberie
By Deverberrie
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
This is a classic Directoire period clock by the famous clock maker Deverberie. The drum-shaped clock is surmounted by an ormolu basket of flowers with festoons of foliage and flower...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Clocks

Materials

Marble, Bronze

Ormolu and Patinated Bronze French Directoire Striking Clock, c1790
Located in valatie, NY
This graceful gilt bronze striking clock is from France’s Directoire period. The clocks white enameled face has black Roman numerals and is framed with ...
Category

Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Clocks

Materials

Bronze

19th Century French Skeleton Clock of Ormolu and Marble from Directoire Period
Located in London, GB
A symbolic skeleton clock from the French Directoire period. A rectangular Carrara marble plinth with bronze toupie feet with knurled decoration supports an ormolu 'arc-de-ciel', wi...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Clocks

Materials

Carrara Marble, Ormolu, Bronze

Early 19th Century Sèvres Neoclassical Ormolu and Bisque Porcelain Clock
Located in Essex, MA
Period early 19th century Directoire clock attributed to Sèvres. Beautifully sculpted biscuit porcelain in white and Wedgwood blue jasper ware col...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Clocks

Materials

Ormolu

Late 18th Century French Marble and Gilt Bronze Clock
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A fine example of a late 18th century Directoir marble and gilt bronze clock after a model by Deverberie. The dial is signed a Paris but the maker is not known. The clock sits on...
Category

Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Clocks

Materials

Marble, Bronze

1795 Clock Time Period Directory has l Ouroboros in Bronze Two-Colour
By Louis Jacques Vaillant
Located in Paris, FR
Clock Time Period skated and golden bronze, or moulu, Directory has l yet, allegory has l Ouroboros, decoration of winged griffons, urn , stars, caduceus...
Category

1790s French Antique Directoire Clocks

Materials

Bronze

Pinwheel Portico Clock
Located in Stamford, CT
A French Empire pinwheel portico clock with figured amboyna wood. Signed Rieussec, Horlogier du Roi.
Category

19th Century French Antique Directoire Clocks

Materials

Amboyna

18th Century French Directoire Ormolu and Enamel Clock by Deverberie
Located in Essex, MA
Period French marble and ormolu mantel clock with sunburst or sun king motif original works. Gilding in great condition. Neoclassical form with enamel embellishments in great conditi...
Category

Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Clocks

Materials

Marble, Ormolu

French Directoire Period Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Mantel Clock Signed Maniere
Located in London, GB
French Directoire period ormolu and patinated bronze mantel clock signed Maniere a Paris. A magnificent antique French Directoire mantel clock in patinated bronze and finest ormolu signed Maniere a Paris for Charles-Guillaume Maniere who was working in the Rue...
Category

Early 1800s French Antique Directoire Clocks

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

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Located in Potters Bar, GB
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Renaissance Style Gilt Bronze and Enamel Mantel Clock
Located in London, GB
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Jaeger LeCoultre, Atmos Clock, Nickel Plated, Manufactured 1950
Located in Greven, DE
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Atmos Jaeger Le Coultre Fireplace Clock Cal. 528
Located in Berlin, DE
Brass, gold-plated; crystal glass, etc. Reference 5800. Cal. 528/1 . Atmos V, gold-plated. Arabic numerals and indexes on white lacquered dial. Measures: Watch 22.5 x 18 x 13....
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Late 20th Century Directoire Clocks

Materials

Brass

Gilded and Lapis Lazuli Mantel Clock by Jaeger Le Coultre
Located in Norwich, GB
JAEGER LE COULTRE Jaeger Le Coultre gilt table clock with Lapis Lazuli dial, Roman numerals signed ‘Jaeger Le Coultre’ and original gilded hands. Rectangular, stepped brass case s...
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1970s French Vintage Directoire Clocks

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Brass

Jaeger LeCoultre, Silver Atmos Clock, Original Nickel Plated, Swiss, 1973
Located in Greven, DE
Silver Atmos table clock with smoky grey dial Switzerland Nickel-plated brass Year of manufacture 1973 Dimensions: H x W x D: 22 x 18 x 13.5 cm Description: We are offering an Atm...
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1970s Swiss Vintage Directoire Clocks

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Brass

Previously Available Items
Important Directoire Period Clock in the Return from Egypt Style
Located in Paris, FR
Majestic Directoire period clock in white and black marble adorned with gilt and patinated bronzes. In the "Return from Egypt" style, it is composed ...
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1790s French Antique Directoire Clocks

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Marble, Bronze

Rare Directoire Well Clock from the Late 18th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
A rare Directoire well clock from the late 18th century. The base is a cylinder in solid griotte red marble. Original mechanism without modification, silk thread suspension, hour...
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1790s European Antique Directoire Clocks

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Bronze

Directoire Clock, Dial Signed Frissard Rouen, 19th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Clock in gilt bronze and antique bronze in the shape of a vase with swan neck handles. Palmettes and foliage decoration, Directoire period. Original thread movement, dial signed Fris...
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1820s French Antique Directoire Clocks

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Bronze

Directoire Clock, France, 1830
Located in Greding, DE
Mahogany-veneered Directoire portal clock, standing on a rectangular base. Four columns with gilt bases and capitals support the clockwork, which is house...
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1830s French Antique Directoire Clocks

Materials

Brass

Directoire Clock, France, 1830
Directoire Clock, France, 1830
H 21.66 in W 11.82 in D 7.09 in
Rare Pendulum Clock "Africa" Engraved Gilded Bronze, Early 19th Century, Paris
Located in Sofia, BG
Pendulum "Africa" early 19th century, Directoire-Consulat period "Africa" exceptional pendulum engraved bronze, patinated or gilded; the cover decorated with a huntress symbolizing ...
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1860s French Antique Directoire Clocks

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Bronze

Period French Ormolu Director Pegasus Clock, circa 1795
By Thiéry Paris 1
Located in Essex, MA
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Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Clocks

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Bronze, Ormolu

French Directoire Wall Clock with Original Movement
Located in New York, NY
This circa 1800 wall-mounted clock has the original, working, movement and is signed by Honoré Pons of Paris, who would later be sent to Bordeaux by Napol...
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Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Clocks

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Ormolu

19th Century French Portico Clock
Located in Bournemouth, GB
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19th Century French Antique Directoire Clocks

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Brass

19th Century French Portico Clock
19th Century French Portico Clock
H 18.51 in W 9.65 in D 5.52 in

Directoire clocks for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Directoire clocks 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.

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