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.
Late 18th Century French Trumeau Mirror
Located in San Francisco, CA
Absolutely beautiful example of an original French trumeau mirror with painting of what appears to depict a scene from the famous o...
Wood, Paint, Canvas, Mirror
$1,575Sale Price|55% Off
An early Twenty First Century Italian Trumeau miror
Located in Winnetka, IL
A large modern Directoire style white and gilt painted Italian- made Trumeau mirror. The carved gilt carvings over the beaded mirror plate include musical instruments, ribbons and al...
Wood
Early 19th Century French Trumeau of a Gentleman Naturalist
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Very rare and charming early 19th Century French trumeau mirror. The painting depicts a flower collecting youth walking along a leafy country lane. With collecting box over the shoul...
Metal
French 18th Century Classicistical Directoire Trumeau/Mirror in White/Gold Paint
Located in Salzburg, AT
French, Classic Directoire Trumeau 18th century gold / white Very fine representation of an antique chariot with handlebar. Framed with pearl frieze ...
Mercury Glass, Wood
19th C. French Directoire Trumeau Mirror, 7 Ft Tall
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Directoire style trumeau mirror from the 19th century. This antique mirror from France features a classic trumeau design with woode...
Mirror, Wood
19th Century French Louis XVI Style Trumeau Mirror
Located in Houston, TX
19th century French Louis XVI style trumeau mirror. Stunning large 19th century French Louis XVI style painted and giltwood trumeau mirror. This fabulous full-length Neoclassical st...
Giltwood, Wood
$1,879Sale Price|34% Off
H 91 in W 50 in D 17 in
Early 20th Century Italian Trumeau Mirror with Planter Stand
Located in Old Town Orange, CA
Early 20th century Italian Trumeau mirror with plant stand A medium walnut color, that has been sanded to show a two-tone finish. This is 2 pieces, the mirror separates from the b...
Mirror, Walnut
Early 19th Century Swedish Gold Gilt Trumeau Mirror
Located in Round Top, TX
Lovely decorative trumeau mirror with applied carved accents including pair of griffins, decorative garland, floral medallions and more. Note how the gold giltwood frame is enhanced ...
Mirror, Giltwood, Paint
19th Century Large French Trumeau Mirror
Located in Madrid, ES
A large antique French trumeau mirror with grey paint and decor with musical trophy and the top, made in hand carved in pine.
Wood
$22,950Sale Price|46% Off
H 96 in W 58 in D 6.5 in
French 19th Century Louis XV Style Carved Giltwood & Gesso Trumeau Cherub Mirror
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A very fine and palatial French 19th century Louis XV style carved giltwood and gesso figural beveled mirror frame trumeau. The arched plate within a main...
Mirror, Gesso, Giltwood
French 19th Century Gilt and Painted Trumeau
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A unique trumeau mirror from circa 1800 century France featuring an assortment of gilded, low-relief carvings in the panel above the glass. This amalgamation consists of a satin ribb...
Gold
Massive Timeworn Antique Italian Trumeau Mirror
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Magnificent late 18th-Early 19th Century Baroque Style Trumeau Mirror In green paint with gilt details. A carved top with a surround with paintted scenes of a castle, lake and figure...
Canvas, Mirror, Wood
18th Century French Painted and Parcel-Gilt Trumeau Mirror
Located in Basildon, GB
18th Century French Painted and Parcel-Gilt Trumeau Mirror. The upper section with a romantic oval painted panel of fruit pickers in a cartouche shaped frame with a shell crest, over...
Mirror, Giltwood, Paint
Late 18th Century French Louis XV Style Trumeau Mirror
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A large and impressive painted and gilt mirror dating to the last quarter of the 18th Century. Green painted and having applied carved and gilt cartouche and floral mouldings the upp...
Mirror
French 19th Century Petite Parcel Gilt Trumeau
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A petite 19th century French trumeau mirror that is relatively compact in its proportions yet sophisticated in the Neoclassical decorative elements that project a respect for history...
Gold Leaf
Late 18th Century French Trumeau Mirror
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Late 18th Century French trumeau with original mirror and painted decoration.
Mirror, Wood
French 18th Century Louis XV Trumeau
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A fine, large, and stunning trumeau dating to the Louis XV period in France. Typical of the period, the trumeau has tastefully carved Rococo accents which house the double-stacked me...
Mercury Glass, Canvas, Giltwood
French 19th Century Directoire Trumeau Mirror
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
An endearing trumeau mirror, painted a restful celadon green tone, is illuminated by trim of gold gilt around the frame and crown molding. The frieze above the mirror plate depicts a...
Mirror, Wood
Sold
H 52.25 in W 43.75 in D 2 in
French Period Directoire Trumeau Mirror with Distressed Paint, Late 18th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French period Directoire trumeau mirror from the late 18th century with gilded accents, carved urn, distressed paint and mirror. This French Directoire mirror features an elegant l...
Mirror, Wood
Sold
H 49 in W 26.5 in D 4 in
French Directoire Trumeau Mirror with a Painted Green, Purple and Gold Finish.
Located in Dallas, TX
A small scale French Directoire trumeau mirror with a gilded and painted green, purple and gold finish. This Etruscan style mirror, depicting Phaedrus is a lovey size and has wonder...
Gold Leaf
French Directoire Period Trumeau Mirror, Interior Scene, Circa 1800
Located in Doylestown, PA
A French Directoire Period trumeau mirror with charming painted scene of a well-to-do family in a sitting room engaged in various activities, circa 1800, oil-on-canvas, and retaining its original giltwood frame and mercury plate mirror...
Canvas, Mirror, Paint
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H 61.75 in W 47.5 in D 3 in
Early 19th Century French Directoire Period Painted and Gilded Trumeau Mirror
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This French Directoire period trumeau mirror from the turn of the nineteenth century features its original mercury glass and oil painting above. The mirror is flanked by gilded flute...
Canvas, Giltwood, Paint
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H 18.75 in W 11.75 in D 1.38 in
Small French Directoire Style Green Painted and Parcel Gilt Trumeau Mirror
Located in Pembroke, MA
Small French Directoire style parcel gilt and green-painted trumeau mirror.
Mirror, Wood
French Directoire Trumeau Mirror of Monumental Scale, circa 1800
Located in Kinderhook, NY
Exceptional and unusual French Directoire period trumeau mirror of monumental scale having original painted and parcel-gilt frame with neoclassical and foliate ormolu appliqués in the forms of winged...
Bronze
Early 19th Century Trumeau from France
Located in Chireno, TX
Early 19th century painted French trumeau.
Mirror, Wood
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H 57.5 in W 36.75 in D 1.5 in
18th Century French Directoire Trumeau Mirror with Gilt Frame and Oil Painting
Located in Dallas, TX
A French Directoire trumeau mirror with a gilded frame and oil painting. This late 18th century trumeau has a gilt frame with beading and a finely done oil painting depicting a love...
Mirror, Wood, Paint
Sold
H 65 in W 51 in D 4 in
Late 18th Century French Period Directoire Painted Trumeau Mirror with Campanula
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French late 18th century period Directoire painted and gilded trumeau mirror with original split mercury glass, campanula and waterleaves. This French trumeau mirror features a cle...
Mirror, Wood, Giltwood
Sold
H 64.25 in W 32.75 in D 1.5 in
Pair of Large Contemporary Mirrors Made from 18th Century Reeded Fragment S
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of contemporary mirrors made from 18th century reeded fragments. Both made in the style of trumeaus with two sheets of mercury mirror...
Mercury Glass, Wood
19th Century Directoire Trumeau or Mirror
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th c. French Directoire decorative painted and partial gilt trumeau with fine gilded gesso carvings and sheaf of wheat decoration. Original mirror. More photos available upon re...