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.
1808 Blue Floral Painted Two Doors Cabinet
Located in Vo', Veneto
Painted Wardrobe dated 1808 Measurements: H. 173 cm – W. 128 (140 to the frames) cm – D. 50 (55 to the frames) cm Period: 1808 Origin: Tyrol Wood: Fir Description Beautiful painte...
Fir
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...
Bone, Wood
$475
H 15.5 in W 24.6 in D 1 in
1868 Map of the Upper Part of the Island of Manhattan Above 86th Street
Located in San Francisco, CA
This wonderful piece of New York City history is over 150 years old. It depicts 86th street and above. It was lithographed by WC Rogers and company. It was made to show what was the Battle of Harlem during the Revolutionary war...
Paper
Vintage Two Door Burl Wardrobe
Located in Denver, CO
Vintage one-of-a-kind, custom made wardrobe in an Art Deco style Maple burl veneered doors and sides stained in a rich Walnut tone Beautiful curved sides and molding Interior tr...
Wood, Maple, Birdseye Maple, Burl
Early 19th Century Hand-Painted German Two-Door Armoire Shrunk
Located in Round Top, TX
Early 19th Century Hand-Painted German Two-Door Armoire Shrunk Early 19th-century German pine two-door armoire ("Shrunk") retaining its hand-painted finish. Front doors feature four ...
Wood
Pine Two Door Armoire
Located in Baltimore, MD
This handsome pine armoire has considerable presence, having a lovely color and attractive grain pattern combined with interesting design features, including a creative use of hardwo...
Pine
Original Painted Swedish Two Door Armoire dated 1834
Located in Round Top, TX
Lovely original hand-painted armoire from the Swedish countryside. The date of 1834 indicate this was likely a wedding present. The delicate blue flowers and garland are surrounded b...
Wood, Paint
Charles Dudouyt Mid-Century Two Doors Cabinet
Located in Split, Splitsko-dalmatinska županija
Raw oak sculpted cabinet by Charles Dudouyt in a bleached finish. France c. 1950.
Oak
Two Door Armoire
Located in London, England
Two door French armoire in elm. Circa 1890 H 231cm x W 150cm x D 69cm
Elm
"The Second World War, " by Winston Churchill
Located in Austin, TX
The Second World War by Winston Churchill from Houghton-Mifflin Company, Boston. A vintage edition of Winston Churchill's six-volume memoir, The Second World War, for which he was a...
Paper
$6,566
H 71.26 in W 35.63 in D 15.36 in
19th Catalan Spanish Baroque Carved Walnut Tuscan Two Doors Wardrobe or Cabinet
Located in Split, Splitsko-dalmatinska županija
Introducing a remarkable 19th-century Catalan Spanish Baroque wardrobe, skillfully hand-carved from solid walnut and featuring Tuscan-inspired ...
Iron
$4,500
H 19.5 in W 25.5 in D 2.5 in
Antique American Flag w/ Hand-Written Inscriptions Mourning the Death of FDR
Located in York County, PA
48 STARS ON ANTIQUE AMERICAN FLAG WITH HAND-WRITTEN INSCRIPTIONS AND AN EMBROIDERED DATE OF APRIL 12TH, 1945, MOURNING THE DEATH OF PRESIDENT FRANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT: American national parade flag with 48 stars, printed on cotton, embellished with hand-written inscriptions and an embroidered date to commemorate the death of FDR on April 12th, 1945. “On this day in 1945, President Franklin D. Roosevelt died of a massive cerebral hemorrhage at his Warm Springs, Georgia, retreat at the age of 63. Roosevelt’s death in the final months of World War II was met with shock and grief throughout the Western world. Many Americans had no inkling of his decline in health. [He] had been president for more than 12 years, longer than any other person. He led the country through some of its greatest domestic and foreign crises to the impending defeat of Nazi Germany and within sight of Japan’s surrender...
Cotton
Polished Aluminum Bald Eagle Clutching USA Flag and Crest Wall Decor
Located in Stamford, CT
Large Bald Eagle clutching USA Flag and crest wall decor. This large patriotic eagle wall plaque is a beautiful piece made with hand crafted polished aluminum very good quality and w...
Aluminum
$2,450
H 34.5 in W 44 in D 2.5 in
48 Stars Canted to the Right, and Dancing Stars to the Left, ca 1912-1918
Located in York County, PA
48 STARS CANTED TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT IN DANCING ROWS, A RARE VARIETY OF ANTIQUE AMERICAN PARADE FLAG IN A LARGE SCALE, 1912-1918 OR PERHAPS EARLIER, REFLECTS ARIZONA & NEW MEXICO ST...
Cotton
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...
Fir
1790 Green Floral Painted Wardrobe
Located in Vo', Veneto
Antique Tyrolean wardrobe Period: 1790 approximately Origin: Tyrol (Northern Italy) Essence: Abete Measures: Height: 201cm Width: 145 cm (161 cm alle cornici) Depth: 49 cm (59 cm ...
Fir
Early 19th Century Blue Floral Painted Wardrobe
Located in Vo', Veneto
Painted Blue Tyrolean Wardrobe H. 183 cm – L. 128 cm (140cm at the frames) – D. 49 cm (55 at the frames) Beautiful Tyrolean wardrobe with two doors, entirely painted in deep blue, ...
Fir