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.
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.
Fabric, Wood
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...
Upholstery, Walnut
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 ...
Wood, Velvet
$1,356Sale Price|20% Off
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...
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...
Wood
$24,000 / set
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.
Leather, Wood, Velvet
$1,356Sale Price / set|20% Off
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...
Walnut
Wrought Iron and Tufted Bench Style of Maison Ramsay
Located in New York, NY
Wrought iron and tufted bench style of Maison Ramsay.
Wrought Iron
$1,356Sale Price|20% Off
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...
Metal
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.
Bronze, Iron
$2,880Sale Price|40% Off
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...
Wood
$640 / item
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...
Beech
French Wrought Iron Bench
Located in New York, NY
Brown-burgundy leatherette top with a decorative wrought iron and brass frame.
Brass, Wrought Iron
Decorative French Bronze Bench
Located in New York, NY
Decorative French bronze bench / stool with a linen-blend upholstered seat.
Bronze
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...
Pine
Bench with Antique Rug Upholstery
By Stephen Kenn
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 ...
Steel
19th Century French Walnut Bench
Located in High Point, NC
19th century carved walnut bench from France with a newly upholstered seat in linen and finished with welted decoration. The upholstered seat is scalloped and is enclosed in a molded...
Linen, Walnut
Antique Venetian Baroque Carved and Painted Bench
Located in Bridgeport, CT
With a tall scrolled back and scrolled lower frame. In the Classic Venetian sage green paint with white scrolls and a large polychrome painted crest on the back. The bench platform l...
Wood
Antique English Jacobean Style Carved Oak Joint Bench Stool
Located in London, GB
Antique English Jacobean style carved oak joint bench stool circa 1920 A good size piece. Of good solid construction. Expected signs of wear to plank top, commensurate of age, ol...
Oak
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...
Walnut
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...
Wood
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...
Fabric
$4,464
H 36.62 in W 70.48 in D 27.56 in
Antique walnut bench, Southern France / Northern Spain, 17th–18th century
Located in Amsterdam, Noord Holland
Antique bench crafted from solid walnut, originating from Southern France or Northern Spain and dating from the 17th or 18th century. The bench features distinctive paneled armrests ...
Chestnut
$3,475
H 25.5 in W 63 in D 20.5 in
Mid-Century Neo-Classical Maison Jansen Style Steel Bench W/ Faux Marble Fabric
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a Maison Jansen inspired neoclassical style steel bench newly upholstered in a silver / bronze faux marbleized fabric. It is purported to be Italian. There is some age approp...
Steel
$595
H 19 in W 39.5 in D 15 in
French Louis XVI Style Blue White Distress Painted Upholstered Wooden 40" Bench
Located in Philadelphia, PA
French Louis XVI Style White/Blue Distress Painted Upholstered Wooden 40" Long Bench. Item features a white and blue distress painted finish, brown printed upholstery with nail-head ...
Fabric, Wood
French Modern Maison Jansen Style Iron Brass Long Bench
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
French Modern Maison Jansen Style Iron Brass Long Bench France, circa 1950s A striking French Modern long bench measuring an impressive 94.5 inches wide (7'8"), 17 inches deep, a...
Brass, Wrought Iron
Louis XVI Style Creme Painted Bench
Located in Essex, MA
Rectangular with rounded ends and flat back. Will carved with creme color paint over a very sturdy frame. Upholstery in very good condition. Frame carved with fluting and paterae. Ra...
Fabric, Wood
Sold
H 33 in W 72.75 in D 20.5 in
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...
Cord, Walnut
Sold
H 18.5 in W 23 in D 17 in
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...
Brass
Sold
H 33.5 in W 78 in D 23.75 in
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...
Rush, Walnut
Sold
H 22 in W 47.25 in D 22.75 in
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...
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...
Upholstery, Wood, Walnut
Sold
H 20 in W 23.25 in D 15.25 in
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 ...
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...
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.
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.
Walnut
Sold
H 24 in W 50.75 in D 19.5 in
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.
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.
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, ...
Silk, Wood