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.
$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
Italian Antique Walnut Bench with Rush Seats, circa 1800
Located in New York, NY
A very fine antique Italian walnut bench dating from the late 18th to the early 19th Century. Of grand proportions, it is beautifully constructed from rich solid walnut wood, featuri...
Rush, Walnut
1970's Maison Jansen Style Brass Upholstered Directoire Bench
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This elegant Maison Jansen Directoire-style bench, often referred to as a window bench or ottoman, is a superb example of the refined neoclassical aesthetic that made Maison Jansen o...
Brass
Vintage French Directoire Jansen Style Mahogany and Brass Claw Foot Tufted Bench
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Dimensions - H: 20 1/4 in W: 38 in D: 19 3/4 in Elegant, refined, and unmistakably French, this Vintage French Directoire Jansen Style Mahogany and Brass Claw Foot Tufted Bench bea...
Brass
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
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
19th Century French Directoire Style Sofa or Settee
Located in Birmingham, AL
19th century French Directoire style three-seat sofa or settee constructed of solid walnut having a high framed upholstered back with show-wood and torchiere carvings, a typical neoc...
Walnut
Directoire Style Steel and Brass Swan-Head Curule Bench
Located in Hamburg, PA
Directoire curule bench in steel and brass. Crossed tubular legs meet at a central rosette; four brass swan heads rise at the corners; brass webbed feet finish the legs. The seat is ...
Brass, Steel
1970's Directoire Style Ebonized X Bench with Cheetah Print
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
A wonderfully chic and unusual French Louis XVI-style ebonized X-frame bench, combining classical neoclassical form with dramatic leopard-print upholstery and brass hardware. Sophist...
Textile, Wood
$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
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
$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
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
Directoire Style Mahogany Bench
Located in Essex, MA
Shaped curved back with three splats with pierced palmette carving. Drop in upholstered seat with circular fluted tapered legs.
Mahogany
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
$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
$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
$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
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
$795
H 18.5 in W 48.25 in D 19.25 in
Lexington Furniture Chippendale Style Carved Mahogany Ball & Claw Bench
Located in West Chester, PA
A high quality Chippendale Style Carved solid Mahogany Bench by Lexington Furniture with the original upholstered seat.
Upholstery, Mahogany
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
$1,082Sale Price|34% Off
H 18.9 in W 20.48 in D 14.57 in
Maison Jansen French Neoclassical Rivival Style Bench with Lether Seat
Located in Hannover, DE
This beautiful bench is something special, the finely crafted brass feet in the shape of a billy goat's feet are masterfully crafted. The frame is made of brushed steel which creates...
Brass, Stainless Steel
Vintage Regency Tufted Bench
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Introduce timeless elegance with the American style Vintage Regency Tufted Bench. Featuring classic tufted upholstery and regal design, this bench embodies the refined charm of the R...
Upholstery, Wood
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 rush seated hall bench
Located in Malton, GB
This is a very attractive all original 19th century French rush seated hall bench. The design is fabulous with the elegant arms and unusual geometric carved front stretchers. The rus...
Cherry
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
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
$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
$5,800
H 18 in W 32 in D 16 in
Maison Jansen Neoclassical Zebra Hide Bench, Estate of John Loring, France 1970s
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Maison Jansen Neoclassical Zebra Hide Bench Estate of John Loring, Tiffany & Co. France, Circa 1970s Dimensions: 32" W × 16" D × 18" H This striking bench embodies the refined neocl...
Zebra Hide, Beech
Modernist Style Parchment-Upholstered Bench.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Fully wrapped in warm-toned Pergamino parchment, this bench combines minimalist geometry with luxurious natural texture. The parchment’s subtle tonal variations and smooth matte fini...
Fabric, Wood, Parchment
Classic Vintage Walnut & Rush Seat Loveseat Bench
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Classic walnut frame and rush seat traditional vintage loveseat or bench. Lovely knot detail at top back of the frame. Arm height 26.5. Seat depth 18
Rush, Walnut
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-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
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