Skip to main content

Directoire Children's Furniture

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.

to
1
2
2
128
79
34
22
17
15
15
14
11
9
6
6
5
3
3
3
2
2
2
2
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
2
2
2
Style: Directoire
19th Century, Country French Directoire Period Infant's Bed
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
Late 19th-early 19th century country French Directoire period infant's bed. Ideal for a doll collection or beloved mini-canine or cat. Fruitwood. Nicely molded throughout. The sides ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Directoire Children's Furniture

Materials

Fruitwood

19th Century, Country French Directoire Period Infant's Bed
19th Century, Country French Directoire Period Infant's Bed

19th Century, Country French Directoire Period Infant's Bed

Directoire Diminutive Walnut Secrétaire à Abattant and a Similar Diminutive
Located in Buchanan, MI
A 19th century Directoire diminutive walnut Secrétaire a' Abattant and a similar diminutive five-drawer chest. Great small drinks table or jewelry chest. Great attention paid to det...
Category

Early 19th Century English Antique Directoire Children's Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Directoire Diminutive Walnut Secrétaire à Abattant and a Similar Diminutive
Directoire Diminutive Walnut Secrétaire à Abattant and a Similar Diminutive

Directoire Diminutive Walnut Secrétaire à Abattant and a Similar Diminutive

Related Items
Incense Holder Modern Walnut Wood and Antiqued Bronze Casting
By Alabama Sawyer
Located in Birmingham, AL
These beautiful incense holders pay homage to wood as a material and an icon. They are made from cast bronze and urban wood. Walnut, elm or our "gulf sand" light give choices of dark...
Category

2010s American Directoire Children's Furniture

Materials

Bronze

Incense Holder Modern Walnut Wood and Antiqued Bronze Casting
Incense Holder Modern Walnut Wood and Antiqued Bronze Casting

Incense Holder Modern Walnut Wood and Antiqued Bronze Casting

H 2.5 in W 12 in D 3 in
French 19th Century Directoire Full 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 Children's Furniture

Materials

Wood, Paint

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

French 19th Century Directoire Full Bed Frame

H 46.25 in W 51.13 in D 77.38 in
19th Century Painted White Iron Crib Baby Bed
Located in Old Town Orange, CA
19th century iron crib baby bed Measures: 53" D x 29" W x 45" H Bed height: 18" Can be used without 1 side rail to be used as a settee or bench. Beautif...
Category

19th Century Antique Directoire Children's Furniture

Materials

Iron

19th Century Painted White Iron Crib Baby Bed
19th Century Painted White Iron Crib Baby Bed

19th Century Painted White Iron Crib Baby Bed

H 45 in W 29 in D 53 in
Edwardian Diminutive Post Box, Early 20th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
The oak box with brass Royal Georgian plaque on top, pick up times on the front. The brass lock and key affixed to the door.
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Directoire Children's Furniture

Materials

Brass

Edwardian Diminutive Post Box, Early 20th Century
Edwardian Diminutive Post Box, Early 20th Century

Edwardian Diminutive Post Box, Early 20th Century

H 14.25 in W 9.75 in D 7 in
Mid-Century Modern Walnut and Lucite Trinket Box
Located in San Diego, CA
Mid-Century Modern walnut and Lucite trinket box, circa 1970s. The box measures 7.75" W x 3.25" D x 2.25" H and has a removable lid made of thick Lu...
Category

Late 20th Century American Directoire Children's Furniture

Materials

Lucite, Walnut

Mid-Century Modern Walnut and Lucite Trinket Box
Mid-Century Modern Walnut and Lucite Trinket Box

Mid-Century Modern Walnut and Lucite Trinket Box

H 2.25 in W 7.75 in D 3.25 in
Walnut and Metal Small Chest, 17th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Small rectangular ark with a flat lid, with a lock of golden metal worked (crown on two facing lions, located on a garland of great size, and all around a symmetrical composition wit...
Category

17th Century European Antique Directoire Children's Furniture

Materials

Metal

Walnut and Metal Small Chest, 17th Century
Walnut and Metal Small Chest, 17th Century

Walnut and Metal Small Chest, 17th Century

H 10.24 in W 14.18 in D 8.27 in
Dirk Van Sliedregt Style Hand-Woven Rattan and Bamboo Baby or Pet Bassinet
By Dirk Van Sliedregt
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful, oversized, hand-woven rattan and bamboo baby basket. Comes with new, removable foam cushion and wood support inside. In good original condition ...
Category

1980s Dutch Vintage Directoire Children's Furniture

Materials

Bamboo, Rattan

Dirk Van Sliedregt Style Hand-Woven Rattan and Bamboo Baby or Pet Bassinet
Dirk Van Sliedregt Style Hand-Woven Rattan and Bamboo Baby or Pet Bassinet

Dirk Van Sliedregt Style Hand-Woven Rattan and Bamboo Baby or Pet Bassinet

H 36 in W 40 in D 25 in
17th Century Figured Walnut and Seaweed Marquetry Lace Box
Located in Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
A fine and extremely rare figured walnut and seaweed marquetry 'lace box', circa.... let’s break it down - Seaweed marquetry first appeared in Englis...
Category

17th Century English Antique Directoire Children's Furniture

Materials

Walnut

17th Century Figured Walnut and Seaweed Marquetry Lace Box
17th Century Figured Walnut and Seaweed Marquetry Lace Box

17th Century Figured Walnut and Seaweed Marquetry Lace Box

H 5.12 in W 17.33 in D 13.78 in
French Art Deco Cigarette Box, Walnut Wood and Leather
Located in Miami, FL
A fine French Art Deco cigarette box, France, late 1930s. Very good quality, constructed of walnut wood and leather. Beautiful natural materia...
Category

Early 20th Century French Directoire Children's Furniture

Materials

Leather, Walnut

French Art Deco Cigarette Box, Walnut Wood and Leather
French Art Deco Cigarette Box, Walnut Wood and Leather

French Art Deco Cigarette Box, Walnut Wood and Leather

H 5 in W 6.13 in D 4.88 in
Rectangular Art Deco Walnut and Walnut-Root Box, Italy
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1930s - 1940s. Made in walnut and walnut-root. It is a vintage piece, but it's been recently restored, therefore it can be considered as in excellent condition and re...
Category

1940s Italian Vintage Directoire Children's Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Rectangular Art Deco Walnut and Walnut-Root Box, Italy
Rectangular Art Deco Walnut and Walnut-Root Box, Italy

Rectangular Art Deco Walnut and Walnut-Root Box, Italy

H 3.94 in W 11.82 in D 8.27 in
19th Century Country French Child's Chair
Located in Winter Park, FL
A 19th century Country French child size chair hand crafted of solid walnut with large scrolled arms and natural rush seat. Waxed patina. Good and st...
Category

19th Century French Antique Directoire Children's Furniture

Materials

Rush, Walnut

19th Century Country French Child's Chair
19th Century Country French Child's Chair

19th Century Country French Child's Chair

H 24 in W 18 in D 16 in
Miniature Walnut Commode
Located in Greenwich, CT
Early 19th Century walnut commode, the inlaid top with cookie corners over turned and fluted legs flanking three inlaid drawers and standing on turned turnip feet, French or Italian ...
Category

Early 19th Century Italian Antique Directoire Children's Furniture

Materials

Ebony, Fruitwood, Walnut, Pine

Miniature Walnut Commode
Miniature Walnut Commode

Miniature Walnut Commode

H 12.5 in W 16.5 in D 9 in
Previously Available Items
French Directoire Secretaire a Abbattant
Located in Winter Park, FL
An early 19th century French Directoire style small scale marquetry secretaire à abbattant. A fine child's size desk made of solid cherry wood with inlaid decoration of an urn on the...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Children's Furniture

Materials

Cherry

French Directoire Secretaire a Abbattant
French Directoire Secretaire a Abbattant

French Directoire Secretaire a Abbattant

H 44.25 in W 24.75 in D 14 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 Children's Furniture

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

Directoire children's furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Directoire children's furniture 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 children's furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, more furniture and collectibles and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with walnut, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Directoire children's furniture made in a specific country, there are England, Europe, and United Kingdom 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 children's furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $4,500 and tops out at $4,500 while the average work can sell for $4,500.

Recently Viewed

View All