Directoire Table Clocks and Desk 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.
to
6
3
3
202
153
83
70
52
45
25
25
24
23
21
12
12
10
7
5
4
1
6
4
3
2
2
3
3
6
5
Height
to
Width
to
6
6
6
1
1
Style: Directoire
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 Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Brass, Bronze, Steel, Iron
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 Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
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 Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Carrara Marble, Ormolu, Bronze
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 Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Bronze
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 Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
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 Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Bronze
Related Items
19th Century Louis XVI Style Ormolu Bronze Clock with Sèvres Porcelain
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A fine quality Louis XVI style bronze ormolu mantel clock. The case is made of gilt brass and bronze ormolu casted ornaments, Roman numerals in white enameled cartouches. On top of t...
Category
1880s French Antique Directoire Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
H 16.15 in W 13.39 in D 5.12 in
French 19th Century Mantle Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A very good quality French late 19th century gilded ormolu and champleve enamel mantel (fireplace) clock. Having urns and a cherub above the eight day clock that chimes...
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Enamel, Ormolu
19th Century Sevres Style Gilded Ormolu Mantel Clock
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A wonderful French 19th century gilded ormolu mantel clock, having a putti mounted to the top holding garlands of flowers, draping down the case, Rams heads and urns of flowers. The ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Directoire Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French Rosewood and Satinwood Portico Clock
Located in Alessandria, Piemonte
Antique and elegant French clock, with bronze details and fine inlaid wood, perfectly working. Perfect in a studio room. It's the typical clock of European noble houses...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Directoire Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Wood
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 Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Bronze
19th Century Aesthetic Movement Mantle Clock
Located in Ross, CA
Aesthetic movement mantle clock made in France in the late 19th century. The face is blue and white hand painted enamel centered over blue and white porcelain. The round case which i...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Directoire Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Porcelain
Antique Clock Garniture with Sèvres Style Porcelain and Ormolu
Located in London, GB
This fantastic porcelain clock garniture contains three vases, one of which has been mounted with a ormolu clock dial with jewels surrounding it. The vases are decorated in the style of the Sèvres Porcelain manufacturers, with cartouches to the front and back. The panels on the front depict ladies and putti in a landscape, while the reverse sides depict riverbanks. The vases are set on ormolu bases with canted angles, and feature twin ormolu handles which take the form of masks. The central vase is surmounted by an ormolu putti...
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
19th Century Turquoise Sèvres Style Jeweled Porcelain and Ormolu Clock Set
Located in New York, NY
A high quality gilt bronze and Turquoise Sèvres style jeweled Porcelain clock set. The clock surmounted by a covered urn and flanked by lion masks on each side, en suite with a pair of painted turquoise porcelain vases...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Directoire Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
19th Century French Cathedral Clock
Located in High Point, NC
19th century beautifully hand crafter cathedral clock in gilt bronze. This is a magnificent example of 19th century French craftsmanship. There are many beautiful details to this p...
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Bronze
Sevres Porcelain and Ormolu Antique French Clock by Miroy Frères
Located in Belper, Derbyshire
A superb early antique French ormolu and Sèvres style porcelain clock. It is made of exquisite ormolu (finely gilded bronze) mounted with very finely painted Sèvres style porcelain, ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Ormolu
French 19th Century Empire Portico Clock
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This elegant period Empire ormolu-mounted white marble portico clock, circa 1830, is from France. The floral-and-foliate ormolu-mounted frieze sits above four Doric columns with gilt...
Category
1830s French Antique Directoire Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Marble
19th Century French Comtoise Grandfather Clock
By Méchineau
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th century Country French comtoise, or grandfather clock, with polychrome painted pine case and embossed brass pendulum. Original seven day Morbier...
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Brass, Enamel
Previously Available Items
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 Gilded bronze and its columns are painted with green enamel.
white dial with roman numerals
Jaeger-LeCoultre (French pronunciation: /jɛgɛʁ ləkultʁ/) is a luxury watch manufacture based in Le Sentier, Switzerland, founded in the first half of the 19th century. The brand is the author of hundreds of inventions and more than a thousand calibres, including the smallest watch...
Category
1970s Swiss Vintage Directoire Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
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...
Category
1790s European Antique Directoire Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
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...
Category
1830s French Antique Directoire Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Brass
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 ...
Category
1860s French Antique Directoire Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Bronze
H 18.12 in W 14.57 in L 18.12 in
Period French Ormolu Director Pegasus Clock, circa 1795
By Thiéry Paris 1
Located in Essex, MA
Period French ormolu Director clock with rare Pegasus motif
Neoclassical late 18th century form. Egyptian form columns, Pegasus in clouds, form Mono...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Directoire table clocks and desk clocks for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Directoire table clocks and desk clocks for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 19th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage table clocks and desk clocks created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Directoire table clocks and desk clocks made in a specific country, there are Europe, and France pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original table clocks and desk clocks, popular names associated with this style include Jean-Simon Deverberie, and Louis Jacques Vaillant. 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 table clocks and desk clocks differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $900 and tops out at $24,855 while the average work can sell for $6,800.