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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 Directoire Walnut Daybed & Crown
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This is a classic French Directoire hand-carved walnut daybed and crown. The walnut bed frame has Directoire motifs thoughtfully carved throughout. The headboard and footboard are u...
Category

19th Century French Antique Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Walnut

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

French Directoire Walnut Daybed & Crown

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 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 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

No Reserve
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

Related Items
French Walnut Pair of Headboards with Marquetry Directoire Period, 1800
Located in Labrit, Landes
Walnut pair of headboards from the Directoire Period (with period follows the Revolution Period) French, circa 1800 Very nice marquetry work The ...
Category

Early 1800s French Antique Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Walnut, Upholstery

French Walnut Pair of Headboards with Marquetry Directoire Period, 1800
French Walnut Pair of Headboards with Marquetry Directoire Period, 1800

French Walnut Pair of Headboards with Marquetry Directoire Period, 1800

H 57.09 in W 35.04 in D 1.58 in
19th Century French Louis XVI Style Bed
Located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire
19th century French Louis 16th style bed, decorative carved design, painted, upholstered in vintage laurel wreath. Design fabric by Design Archive.
Category

19th Century French Antique Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Wood

19th Century French Louis XVI Style Bed
19th Century French Louis XVI Style Bed

19th Century French Louis XVI Style Bed

H 60.24 in W 59.06 in D 82.68 in
19th Century French Renaissance Bed
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century French Renaissance Bed is a marvel of the wood sculptor's art! With detail too abundant to fully explore in this description, it ...
Category

1870s French Antique Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Oak

19th Century French Renaissance Bed
19th Century French Renaissance Bed

19th Century French Renaissance Bed

H 70.5 in W 58 in D 84 in
French 19th Century Empire Daybed & Bed Crown
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A gorgeous French Empire mahogany alcove daybed and bed crown hand-crafted in France in the 19th Century. A rare lit de repos made of mahogany most likely from Cuba or the Antilles and fitted with brass and ormolu figurines...
Category

19th Century French Antique Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Brass

French 19th Century Empire Daybed & Bed Crown
French 19th Century Empire Daybed & Bed Crown

French 19th Century Empire Daybed & Bed Crown

H 41 in W 85 in D 57.88 in
19th Century French Louis XVI Rosewood Queen Bed
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century French Louis XVI Rosewood Queen Bed brings to life the neoclassical revival that occurred during the reign of Napoleon III. Executed i...
Category

1890s French Antique Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Rosewood

19th Century French Louis XVI Rosewood Queen Bed
19th Century French Louis XVI Rosewood Queen Bed

19th Century French Louis XVI Rosewood Queen Bed

H 58.5 in W 62.5 in D 89 in
Late 20th Century Vintage Coastal Hand Carved Four Poster Queen Bed
Located in west palm beach, FL
A fabulous vintage Regency Queen bed frame. A chic four posted design with hand carved vine detail. Gorgeous Mahogany wood grain detail. Acquired fro...
Category

Late 20th Century American Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Mahogany

Late 20th Century Vintage Coastal Hand Carved Four Poster Queen Bed
Late 20th Century Vintage Coastal Hand Carved Four Poster Queen Bed

Late 20th Century Vintage Coastal Hand Carved Four Poster Queen Bed

H 75 in W 62.75 in D 84.5 in
Jean Royère Style Oak Four Poster Bed, France 1950's
By Jean Royère
Located in New York, NY
Oak bed in the manner of Jean Royere with undulation design on the headboards and posts that end in spheres, a classic design of the period.
Category

Mid-20th Century French Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Oak

Jean Royère Style Oak Four Poster Bed, France 1950's
Jean Royère Style Oak Four Poster Bed, France 1950's

Jean Royère Style Oak Four Poster Bed, France 1950's

H 55 in W 62 in D 83 in
Mahogany Neoclassical Bed Frame, 19th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
"Boat" bed in carved mahogany wood, 19th century. Head and feet of the same height, are decorated with a circular molding, while the rear, by harmony, follows the lines of the front...
Category

19th Century European Antique Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Wood, Mahogany

Mahogany Neoclassical Bed Frame, 19th Century
Mahogany Neoclassical Bed Frame, 19th Century

Mahogany Neoclassical Bed Frame, 19th Century

H 59.85 in W 85.83 in D 50.4 in
Magnificent French 19th Century Bed
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Magnificent French 19th century bed.
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Giltwood

Magnificent French 19th Century Bed
Magnificent French 19th Century Bed

Magnificent French 19th Century Bed

H 54 in W 61.75 in D 80.75 in
Late 19th Century King Size American Mahogany Four Poster Bed
Located in Charleston, SC
This wonderful New York Four Poster bed has a simple poplar headboard and tester for draping. The mahogany foot post have a block spade foot below the bed bolts. The post continue up...
Category

19th Century American Antique Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Mahogany, Poplar

Late 19th Century King Size American Mahogany Four Poster Bed
Late 19th Century King Size American Mahogany Four Poster Bed

Late 19th Century King Size American Mahogany Four Poster Bed

H 88.25 in W 77.25 in D 87.5 in
Ralph Lauren Home Collection Woven Rattan Wicker Bed
By Ralph Lauren
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Organic modern style woven bamboo rattan bed by Ralph Lauren Home Polo collection. The bed features a subtle sleigh form on each end ...
Category

20th Century American Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Metal

Ralph Lauren Home Collection Woven Rattan Wicker Bed
Ralph Lauren Home Collection Woven Rattan Wicker Bed

Ralph Lauren Home Collection Woven Rattan Wicker Bed

H 47 in W 93 in D 60 in
Mid-Century Modern Italian Pair of Bamboo and Wicker Sofa Beds, 1960s
Located in Prato, IT
Mid-Century Modern Italian pair of bamboo and wicker sofa beds or single beds. The beds need a mattress of cm. 85 x 190 (Standard Italian single bed size).   
Category

1960s Italian Vintage Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Bamboo, Rattan

Mid-Century Modern Italian Pair of Bamboo and Wicker Sofa Beds, 1960s
Mid-Century Modern Italian Pair of Bamboo and Wicker Sofa Beds, 1960s

Mid-Century Modern Italian Pair of Bamboo and Wicker Sofa Beds, 1960s

H 27.17 in W 36.23 in D 81.11 in
Previously Available Items
Early 19th Century Italian 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 31,49 D 77,95 cm W 80 D 198. Attention this bed wil...
Category

Early 1800s Italian Antique Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Iron

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...
Category

1940s French Vintage Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

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.
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

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...
Category

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...
Category

1920s French Vintage Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

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...
Category

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 ...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

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...
Category

19th Century French Antique Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

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
Painted Directoire Daybed, circa 1800
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Original paint on this Directoire period daybed from Paris. Lovely detail, very sturdy and usable. Outside measurements – 74″ Long x 44″ Wide x 42″ Tall. Mattress size requirement ...
Category

20th Century French Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Paint

Painted Directoire Daybed, circa 1800
Painted Directoire Daybed, circa 1800

Painted Directoire Daybed, circa 1800

H 42 in W 44 in D 74 in
Pair of Twin Beds Daybeds Vintage Directoire French Empire Revival, 20th Century
Located in Mimizan, FR
Handsome pair of twin beds French daybed Directoire style Original paint Upholstery and top covers in very good condition Covers easily changed to suit your interior With metal ...
Category

Late 20th Century French Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Wood, Upholstery

Pair of Twin Beds Daybeds Vintage Directoire French Empire Revival, 20th Century
Pair of Twin Beds Daybeds Vintage Directoire French Empire Revival, 20th Century

Pair of Twin Beds Daybeds Vintage Directoire French Empire Revival, 20th Century

H 33.86 in W 36.23 in D 77.17 in
French 19th Century Mahogany Directoire Daybed
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
An amazing 19th century French mahogany Directoire period daybed with newly upholstered mattress. This beautifully toned piece boasts wonderful neoclassical carved embellishments tha...
Category

19th Century French Antique Directoire Beds and Bed Frames

French 19th Century Mahogany Directoire Daybed
French 19th Century Mahogany Directoire Daybed

French 19th Century Mahogany Directoire Daybed

H 37.25 in W 80.5 in D 33 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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