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Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

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
French 19th Century Directoire Bed Frame
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A French 19th century bed from the Directoire period with a warm gray and French blue color scheme. Both the headboard and the footboard have a low and wide pitch across the top to f...
Category

19th Century French Antique Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Wood, Paint

French 19th Century Directoire Bed Frame
French 19th Century Directoire Bed Frame

French 19th Century Directoire Bed Frame

French 18th Century Directoire Bed
Located in Stockbridge, GA
French 18th century Directoire bed.
Category

Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Wood

French 18th Century Directoire Bed
French 18th Century Directoire Bed

French 18th Century Directoire Bed

Directoire Style Bed In Lacquered Wood And Canework
Located in BARSAC, FR
Directoire style bed in cream lacquered wood on a white background and caned trim. Quality work from the end of the 19th century. Solid beech. Very good condition, wear to the lacq...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Wood

Directoire Style Bed In Lacquered Wood And Canework
Directoire Style Bed In Lacquered Wood And Canework

Directoire Style Bed In Lacquered Wood And Canework

French 19th Century Twins Beds
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Beautiful set of twins beds with the original grey lacquered color. The beds are complete with spring boxes, mattresses, covered and pillows.
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Wood

French 19th Century Twins Beds
French 19th Century Twins Beds

French 19th Century Twins Beds

Early 19th Century Directoire Cherry Wood Antique Single Bed
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Delicious Italian directoire antique single bed in cherry wood, 1800. Internal dimensions inch W 30,70 D 74,01 cm W 78, D 188. Attention this bed wi...
Category

Early 1800s Italian Antique Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Iron

Early 19th Century Directoire Cherry Wood Antique Single Bed
Early 19th Century Directoire Cherry Wood Antique Single Bed

Early 19th Century Directoire Cherry Wood Antique Single Bed

French 19th Century Pair of Beds
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Those pair of frame beds wears the original paint, the inside dimensions for a spring box are 35.75 x 74.5
Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Wood

French 19th Century Pair of Beds
French 19th Century Pair of Beds

French 19th Century Pair of Beds

French Directoire Period Four Poster Bed, France 18th Century
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Very rare Directoire period four poster bed. Headboard and footboard are original - including paint. The tops curve gracefully outward. The friezes at either end feature beaut...
Category

Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Wood

French Directoire Period Four Poster Bed, France 18th Century
French Directoire Period Four Poster Bed, France 18th Century

French Directoire Period Four Poster Bed, France 18th Century

French Directoire Carved Wood and Red Upholstered Daybed
Located in Queens, NY
French Directoire daybed with a carved wooden frame a finial top on each end and an urn engraved in to the frame of the bed
Category

20th Century French Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Wood

French Directoire Carved Wood and Red Upholstered Daybed
French Directoire Carved Wood and Red Upholstered Daybed

French Directoire Carved Wood and Red Upholstered Daybed

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H 82.68 in W 60.24 in D 83.47 in
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H 35 in W 108 in D 108 in
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H 31.5 in W 80.71 in D 34.26 in
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Located in London, GB
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19th Century Spanish Painted Bed
19th Century Spanish Painted Bed

19th Century Spanish Painted Bed

H 58.67 in W 50.01 in D 78.75 in
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Located in Conversano, IT
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H 35.83 in W 74.81 in D 63 in
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19th Century French Louis XVI Painted Bed with Caning

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H 50.5 in W 51 in D 80 in
Previously Available Items
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A French Directoire style Queen size bed, C. 1930.

A French Directoire style Queen size bed, C. 1930.

H 43.5 in W 67 in D 89 in
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Beautiful French Directoire style painted and giltwood queen size bed, C 1940.
Beautiful French Directoire style painted and giltwood queen size bed, C 1940.

Beautiful French Directoire style painted and giltwood queen size bed, C 1940.

H 46 in W 58.75 in D 79 in
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Located in Baton Rouge, LA
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19th Century French Antique Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

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Walnut

French Directoire Walnut Daybed & Crown
French Directoire Walnut Daybed & Crown

French Directoire Walnut Daybed & Crown

H 34 in W 34.25 in D 80 in
Early 19th Century Italian Directoire Cherry Wood Antique Single Bed
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
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Early 19th Century Italian Directoire Cherry Wood Antique Single Bed
Early 19th Century Italian Directoire Cherry Wood Antique Single Bed

Early 19th Century Italian Directoire Cherry Wood Antique Single Bed

H 31.89 in W 34.65 in D 87.41 in
Pair of French Paint Decorated Lyre Back French Directoire Daybeds, Circa 1940s
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
For customers that require professional insured delivery we are proud to have teamed up with a nationwide professional delivery company that will assist with coordinating your delive...
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1940s French Vintage Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

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Walnut

Pair of French Paint Decorated Lyre Back French Directoire Daybeds, Circa 1940s
Pair of French Paint Decorated Lyre Back French Directoire Daybeds, Circa 1940s

Pair of French Paint Decorated Lyre Back French Directoire Daybeds, Circa 1940s

H 36 in W 36 in D 78.25 in
Late 19th Century, French, Pair of Beds
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Beautiful set of beds. They are complete, springs box, mattress, covered bed and pillows. This pair of beds is coming from a Parisian home.
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Late 19th Century French Antique Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

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Wood

Late 19th Century, French, Pair of Beds
Late 19th Century, French, Pair of Beds

Late 19th Century, French, Pair of Beds

H 33 in W 83 in D 29.5 in
French 19th Century Directoire Painted Twin Bed
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This elegant, 19th century bed is in the Directoire style. It has a pale gray paint with a blue-gray accent highlighting the details. The headboard and footboard have columns on each...
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19th Century French Antique Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Wood

French 19th Century Directoire Painted Twin Bed
French 19th Century Directoire Painted Twin Bed

French 19th Century Directoire Painted Twin Bed

H 34.5 in W 80 in D 39 in
Pair Antique French Directoire Gilded Creme Painted European Twin Size Beds
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a fantastic pair of twin size beds, they are slightly smaller than an American standard twin because after all, they are French. They dat...
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1920s French Vintage Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

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Walnut

Pair Antique French Directoire Gilded Creme Painted European Twin Size Beds
Pair Antique French Directoire Gilded Creme Painted European Twin Size Beds

Pair Antique French Directoire Gilded Creme Painted European Twin Size Beds

H 37 in W 37 in D 83 in
Directoire Style Twin Headboards
Located in Sheffield, MA
Classic Directoire style twin mahogany headboards with triangular design top and balustrade columns.  
Category

20th Century Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Wood

Directoire Style Twin Headboards
Directoire Style Twin Headboards

Directoire Style Twin Headboards

H 58.5 in W 41.5 in D 2 in
Antique French Directoire Style Solid Walnut Twin Single Beds, circa 1890s, Pair
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
These are European twin size beds that are close to American standard sizes. They measure: 52 1/2" H x 44 1/2" W x 79 7/8" D. The beds are complete with rails and footboard and headb...
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1890s French Antique Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Walnut

Antique French Directoire Style Solid Walnut Twin Single Beds, circa 1890s, Pair
Antique French Directoire Style Solid Walnut Twin Single Beds, circa 1890s, Pair

Antique French Directoire Style Solid Walnut Twin Single Beds, circa 1890s, Pair

H 52.5 in W 44.5 in D 80 in
19th Century French Directoire Carved Oak Four-Post Dog House and Vintage Fabric
Located in Dallas, TX
Give your dog or cat a spoiled and lavish lifestyle in this antique dog house. Crafted in France circa 1810, the bed features an arched top and four ...
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Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

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Fabric, Oak

19th Century French Directoire Carved Oak Four-Post Dog House and Vintage Fabric
19th Century French Directoire Carved Oak Four-Post Dog House and Vintage Fabric

19th Century French Directoire Carved Oak Four-Post Dog House and Vintage Fabric

H 22 in W 24 in D 15 in
19th Century, French Pair of Directoire Style Twin Bed Frames in Original Paint
Located in Wichita, KS
A pair of French original paint twin bed frames in the Directoire style from the 19th century. The beds are wearing aged yellow and burgundy paint. The inside frame dimensions are 4...
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19th Century French Antique Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

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Wood, Paint

19th Century, French Pair of Directoire Style Twin Bed Frames in Original Paint
19th Century, French Pair of Directoire Style Twin Bed Frames in Original Paint

19th Century, French Pair of Directoire Style Twin Bed Frames in Original Paint

H 44.25 in W 77.13 in D 44 in

Directoire beds and bed frames for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Directoire beds and bed frames 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 beds and bed frames created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include more furniture and collectibles, seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, iron and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Directoire beds and bed frames made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Italy 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 beds and bed frames differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $2,774 and tops out at $10,579 while the average work can sell for $6,750.

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