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Directoire Benches

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
18c French Antique Directoire Walnut Bench
Located in New Orleans, LA
A beautifully restrained 18th-century French walnut bench from the Directoire period, exemplifying the movement’s emphasis on clean lines, balanced proportions, and classical simplic...
Category

18th Century French Antique Directoire Benches

Materials

Upholstery, Walnut

18th Century Italian Walnut Directoire Bench Having a Cord Seat and Open Arms
Located in Houston, TX
18th Century Italian Walnut Directoire Bench having a cord seat and open arms. A beautifully preserved piece constructed of walnut, a prized material in Italy during the 18th centur...
Category

18th Century Italian Antique Directoire Benches

Materials

Cord, Walnut

French Directoire-Empire period window bench
Located in Houston, TX
French Directoire-Empire period window bench, the scrolled ends carved with overlapping leaf scales, each end panel carved in relief with crossed cornucopias above openwork panels ca...
Category

Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Benches

Materials

Wood

French Directoire Style Painted Bench with Light Blue Upholstery
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Lovely painted Directoire style French window bench. Nicely carved and painted bench with light blue upholstered seat. Very versatile.
Category

20th Century French Directoire Benches

Materials

Fabric, Wood

Large Blonde Window Seat Banquette Bench Daybed Neoclassical Directoire Antique
Located in London, GB
A large and strikingly attractive Neoclassical blonde window seat bench in lovely antique condition. Likely made in the early 20th Century, in the manner of the late 18th Century Fre...
Category

Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Benches

Materials

Pine

French Directoire Style Bench
Located in Houston, TX
French Directoire Style Bench. This lovely French Directoire bench or stool painted a gray/green color with dark blue accents with swan handle ...
Category

1920s French Vintage Directoire Benches

Materials

Wood, Velvet

French Wrought Iron Bench
Located in New York, NY
Brown-burgundy leatherette top with a decorative wrought iron and brass frame.
Category

1950s French Vintage Directoire Benches

Materials

Brass, Wrought Iron

Stunning Carved Antique Creme Painted Finish Directoire Style Bench Stool
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This exquisite antique Directoire style bench stool showcases the refined elegance and neoclassical artistry of the late 18th to early 19th century aesthetic. Expertly hand-carved, t...
Category

1960s Unknown Vintage Directoire Benches

Materials

Walnut

Petite Bagues Style Gilt Upholstered bench in needlepoint
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This petite Baguès style gilt upholstered bench in needlepoint is a charming and elegant accent piece that reflects the timeless sophistication of French design. Inspired by the reno...
Category

1950s French Vintage Directoire Benches

Materials

Metal

Signed, Three Maison Jansen Tufted Benches
Located in New York, NY
Signed, three Maison Jansen Tufted benches. The benches have tufted velvet cushions, black ebonized tapered legs with gold trim.
Category

1950s French Vintage Directoire Benches

Materials

Leather, Wood, Velvet

French Country Directoire Style Banquette Bench with Yellow Velvet Cushion
Located in Montreal, Quebec
A beautiful French country Directoire style banquette bench with yellow velvet cushion Made from sturdy sculpted wood, with the Classic lozenge and flower motif typical of the Direc...
Category

Early 20th Century French Directoire Benches

Materials

Wood

Maison Baguès Iron and Bronze Tufted Mohair Fabric Bench
Located in New York, NY
Maison Baguès iron and bronze tufted bench. Base is steel with brass hoof feet. Newly upholstered in mohair fabric.
Category

1950s French Vintage Directoire Benches

Materials

Bronze, Iron

Wrought Iron and Tufted Bench Style of Maison Ramsay
Located in New York, NY
Wrought iron and tufted bench style of Maison Ramsay.
Category

1950s Vintage Directoire Benches

Materials

Wrought Iron

Pair Directoire Carved Draper Era x Benches
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This pair of Directoire carved Draper era X-benches exemplifies timeless sophistication, blending neoclassical influence with mid-20th-century revival style. The X-frame design, a ha...
Category

1950s European Vintage Directoire Benches

Materials

Walnut

Pair Directoire Carved Draper Era x Benches
Pair Directoire Carved Draper Era x Benches
$1,356 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Small French Empire Style Bench
Located in Buchanan, NY
A small Empire style bench upholstered in blue velvet. Add a touch of classic beauty and elegance to any space with this small Empire style bench. B...
Category

Early 20th Century French Directoire Benches

Materials

Beech

Decorative French Bronze Bench
Located in New York, NY
Decorative French bronze bench / stool with a linen-blend upholstered seat.
Category

1950s Vintage Directoire Benches

Materials

Bronze

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Bench with Antique Rug Upholstery
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This bench, in the style of Stephen's Kenn Inheritance Collection, has been upholstered with an antique rug from the collection of King Kennedy rugs. The ...
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2010s American Directoire Benches

Materials

Steel

Bench with Antique Rug Upholstery
Bench with Antique Rug Upholstery
$4,600 / item
H 17 in W 48 in D 24 in
French antique bench in solid walnut
Located in LYON, FR
Superb 1950s bench in solid walnut with its unique grain. Entirely restored by our cabinetmaker, the bench is perfectly solid and stable on its legs. Treated and protected with a col...
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1950s European Vintage Directoire Benches

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Walnut

French antique bench in solid walnut
French antique bench in solid walnut
$1,066
H 19.69 in W 78.75 in D 7.88 in
19th Century Light Blue Paint Pine Settle Bench
Located in Houston, TX
19th Century American country pine settle bench with old, naturally worn blue surface paint. The bench features an open rail back and a set box having two hinged lids enclosing an o...
Category

19th Century American Antique Directoire Benches

Materials

Pine

19th Century Light Blue Paint Pine Settle Bench
19th Century Light Blue Paint Pine Settle Bench
$2,850
H 32.5 in W 67.5 in D 17.5 in
18th Century Italian Baroque Walnut Bench
Located in Houston, TX
18th Century Italian Baroque Walnut Bench. Offered is a handsome 18th century Italian Baroque walnut bench from the Tuscany region of Italy that has graceful arms which is profession...
Category

18th Century Italian Antique Directoire Benches

Materials

Velvet, Walnut

18th Century Italian Baroque Walnut Bench
18th Century Italian Baroque Walnut Bench
$5,650
H 29 in W 62 in D 17.5 in
Bench with Antique Rug Upholstery
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This bench, in the style of Stephen's Kenn Inheritance Collection, has been upholstered with an antique rug from the collection of King Kennedy rugs. The ...
Category

2010s American Directoire Benches

Materials

Steel

Bench with Antique Rug Upholstery
Bench with Antique Rug Upholstery
$4,600 / item
H 17 in W 48 in D 24 in
Contemporary Bench with Handwoven B&W Upholstery
Located in Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo
The Cloud collection was created around the concept of tress. These contemporary styled benches and stools are made with cotton fabric and foam stripe...
Category

2010s Brazilian Directoire Benches

Materials

Fabric

Contemporary Bench with Handwoven B&W Upholstery
Contemporary Bench with Handwoven B&W Upholstery
$2,135 / item
H 17.72 in W 51.19 in D 19.69 in
French Antique Painted Bench
Located in New York, NY
French antique painted bench. The bench has a tufted seat and hand-painted floral designs to the wood frame. This petite bench has a low seat hei...
Category

1890s French Antique Directoire Benches

Materials

Wood

French Antique Painted Bench
French Antique Painted Bench
$7,200
H 22.5 in W 55.5 in D 14 in
Antique French Louis XV Walnut Bench circa 1880
Located in New Orleans, LA
Antique French Walnut Bench circa 1880
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Directoire Benches

Materials

Walnut

John Vesey Aluminum and Walnut Folding Directoire Bench, circa 1958
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Such an incredible rare example of precision design of the 1950s, by John Vesey Inc, this aluminum Classic Folding Bench in the Directoire style is in high-demand and sought after by collectors, interior designers and fine art galleries for very good reasons. The quality and precision craftsmanship of this foldable bench is simply incredible. Use it as a bench, stool, chair, and then fold it up, stow it away or take with you. It's size allows you to use it in smaller rooms and stow away in smaller closets or place it aside alongside a wall in a room. And the look and style of this piece is unmatchable. Such luxurious high-end design, excellent candidate for the designer who has a discriminating client who wants the best of the best. This elegant aluminium folding bench by John Vesey would work great in a Mid-Century Modern, Scandanavian Modern or Danish Modern home or penthouse apartment but could also look fantastic in a Contemporary or Post-Modern room. Also consider mixing it up in a Traditional, Transitional, Classical or Art Deco room with a splash of juxtaposition. Would also be an apt choice in a commercial project such as a hotel lobby lounge or members club, creative design studio or high-rise executive office. Consider using as a side chair, dining, cafe or breakfast table bench, bedside chair, fireside stool...
Category

1950s American Vintage Directoire Benches

Materials

Aluminum

John Vesey Aluminum and Walnut Folding Directoire Bench, circa 1958
John Vesey Aluminum and Walnut Folding Directoire Bench, circa 1958
$6,500 Sale Price
40% Off
H 27.5 in W 27.5 in D 12 in
Solid French Walnut Live Edge Bench
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This exquisite piece is crafted out of a beautiful 3in solid slab of live edge french walnut, with block legs made of american walnut. Along the cut edge of the slab additional piece...
Category

1970s American Vintage Directoire Benches

Materials

Ebony, Walnut

Solid French Walnut Live Edge Bench
Solid French Walnut Live Edge Bench
$6,800
H 21 in W 26.5 in D 117 in
French Modernist Style Leather Hourglass Bench Ottoman
Located in Southampton, NJ
Generously sized classic hourglass shape bench or ottoman possessing distinct French Modernist sculpture design influences. Upholstered in h...
Category

Early 2000s Directoire Benches

Materials

Leather, Wood, Lacquer

Antique French Coffee Table Bench Window Seat Marble Top Oak Renaissance Revival
Located in Tyler, TX
UNIQUE Carved Oak French Renaissance Revival Coffee Table, Bench or Window Seat/Settee with Grey Marble Top~~c. 1900-1920s Beautifully carved "scroll" accents on sides and stretche...
Category

1920s French Vintage Directoire Benches

Materials

Marble

Previously Available Items
Pair of White Paint Decorated Faux Bamboo French Directoire Style X Benches
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a gorgeosu pair of French Directoire style Faux bamboo leather lashed and wrapped foot stools or X benches. The benches are in good original condition and will show distresse...
Category

1960s European Vintage Directoire Benches

Materials

Brass

Late 18th Century French Directoire Period Carved Rush Seat Radassier Bench
Located in Birmingham, AL
A late 18th century French Directoire period hall bench handcrafted of walnut in the Provençal countryside near the picturesque hilltop village of Gordes, known for its white limesto...
Category

Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Benches

Materials

Walnut, Rush

Outstanding Gilded Swan Carved French Directoire Style Rectangular Window Bench
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a stunning French-made giltwood bench with super carving and gorgeous vintage upholstery that really compliments the gilded frames. The carved swans are very naturalistically...
Category

1950s French Vintage Directoire Benches

Materials

Gold Leaf

Pair of Directoire Style Walnut and Brass Upholstered Benches
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Dimensions - H: 17 1/4 in W: 26 1/2 in D: 16 1/2 in This elegant pair of mid-20th century Directoire style benches blends classical design with the refined sensibilities of the mid...
Category

20th Century Unknown Directoire Benches

Materials

Upholstery, Wood, Walnut

Vintage Painted Curule Bench with Greek Key Embrioidered Linen Upholstery
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Directoire style, curule bench having a newly upholstered bowed seat with nailheads, its ivory-painted finish showing natural wear, channeled, square-section X-frame legs, joined by ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Directoire Benches

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

French 18th Century Directoire Painted Bench
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A French Directoire period painted bench made during the late 1700’s. This bench is upholstered in a worn green velvet upholstery with a nailhead trim. The frame has diamond carvings...
Category

18th Century French Antique Directoire Benches

Materials

Velvet, Wood, Paint

French Directoire style painted and gilt window bench circa 1950.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
French Directoire style painted and gilt window bench circa 1950 having carved columns and rolled ends.
Category

1950s French Vintage Directoire Benches

Materials

Upholstery, Wood, Paint

Gorgeous Creme Painted and Gilded French Directoire Style Round Bench Stool
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Carved distressed painted wood frame. Gilt accents. Upholstered seat. Nail head trim. 21" h x 31" diameter. Condition Scratches. Minor finish loss.
Category

1940s French Vintage Directoire Benches

Materials

Walnut

Gorgeous Circular End Creme Paint Decorated Window Bench Foot Stool Directoire
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Distressed painted frame. Upholstered. 24" h x 50 3/4" w x 19 3/8" d. Seat height 19 1/2". Condition Scratches. Paint loss. Chips along edges. Minor stains.
Category

1970s French Vintage Directoire Benches

Materials

Walnut

Pair of Tufted Leather Benches by Baker Furniture
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Baker Directoire style gilded 22-karat gold leaf lion head wood benches with tufted leather upholstery and nailhead trim detail.
Category

20th Century Unknown Directoire Benches

Materials

Leather, Walnut

French Directoire Sofa Bench Silk Patterns Blue Gray White 18th
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Small bench Directoire period, end of reign of Louis XVI. Magnificent patterned silk upholstery for the seat and plain blue silk on the back of the bench. Very good condition. Grey, ...
Category

Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Benches

Materials

Silk, Wood

Early 20th Century French Directoire Style Painted Ash Banquette, Settee
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This French Directoire style banquette from the turn of the twentieth century features a scrolled seat back detailed with a carved central rosette flanked by palmettes within a class...
Category

Early 20th Century French Directoire Benches

Materials

Upholstery, Cane, Ash

Directoire benches for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Directoire benches for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage benches created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with walnut, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Directoire benches made in a specific country, there are North America, United States, and Unknown pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original benches, popular names associated with this style include Baker Furniture Company, Maison Jansen, and Georges Jacob. 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 benches differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $2,100 and tops out at $2,625 while the average work can sell for $2,363.