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Directoire Folk Art

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
Early 19th Century Floral Painted Cupboard Wardrobe
Located in Vo', Veneto
Antique Painted Wardrobe Measurements: H. 185 cm – W. 148 (167 to the frames) cm – D. 55 (63 to the frames) cm Period: circa 1810 Origin: Tyrol Wood: Fir Description: Tyrolean pain...
Category

Early 1800s Austrian Antique Directoire Folk Art

Materials

Fir

Early 19th Century Floral Painted Cupboard Wardrobe
Early 19th Century Floral Painted Cupboard Wardrobe

Early 19th Century Floral Painted Cupboard Wardrobe

Centre Table Commemorating the Paris Treaty and the USA Independence, Dated 1886
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A very interesting centre table commemorating the Paris Treaty between the original thirteen states of the United States of America and Great Britain ending the American Revolution o...
Category

Late 19th Century American Antique Directoire Folk Art

Materials

Bone, Wood

Centre Table Commemorating the Paris Treaty and the USA Independence, Dated 1886
Centre Table Commemorating the Paris Treaty and the USA Independence, Dated 1886

Centre Table Commemorating the Paris Treaty and the USA Independence, Dated 1886

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19th century linnen cupboard in original white paint
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19th century linnen cupboard in original white paint
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Silk

Declaration of Independence Printed Scarf
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H 32.5 in W 32.5 in D 2.5 in
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The cabinet dates from the Biedermeier period in the early 19th century. The cabinet has a very beautiful walnut veneer pattern, which was installed on a spruce body. The cabinet can...
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1808 Blue Floral Painted Two Doors Cabinet
1808 Blue Floral Painted Two Doors Cabinet

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1790 Green Floral Painted Wardrobe
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1790 Green Floral Painted Wardrobe

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1810s Italian Antique Directoire Folk Art

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Directoire folk art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Directoire folk art 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 folk art created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include folk art, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with bone, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Directoire folk art made in a specific country, there are North America, and United States pieces 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. Prices for folk art differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $91,647 and tops out at $91,647 while the average work can sell for $91,647.

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