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.
18th Century Directoire Bergère Chair with Paisley Upholstery
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
This rare French bergère chair dates from the late 18th century, during the elegant transitional period between the Louis XVI and Directoire styles. Crafted from solid beechwood, the...
Beech
$2,200 / item
19th Century English Directoire Style Bergere
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Directoire style bergere characterized by its transition from the more ornate Louis XVI style to the more rigid Empire style. Key features in this chair include a loose seat cushion,...
Fabric, Wood
$19,880Sale Price|20% Off
Pair Louis XVI/Directoire Bergeres, Late 18th Century or Early 19th Century
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is a superb pair of Directoire late 18th century or early 19th century Marquis or bergere a la reine. The quality and rarity of these chairs, i...
Leather, Hardwood, Down
Large French Directoire Style Armchair
Located in Buchanan, NY
An exceptional 19th century French Directoire style armchair. This large Directoire style fauteuil is a timeless piece of French design. Featuring a beautiful white-distressed wooden...
Upholstery, Wood
$1,996Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair Ebonized Black Cane Back French Directoire Bergere Chairs Brass Accents
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This pair of French Directoire bergère chairs combines neoclassical elegance with timeless sophistication, featuring finely crafted ebonized black frames accented with brass details....
Brass
Pair of 19th Century French Directoire Upholstered Bergères with Twisted Columns
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of French Directoire style painted wood bergères chairs from the 19th century with twisted columns and new custom upholstery. This elegant pair of French Directoire style berg...
Upholstery, Wood
French Directoire Period Bergere
Located in Pembroke, MA
French Directoire period blue-gray painted bergere, newly-upholstered in lovely blue and gold toile fabric based on a museum-archived pattern....
Upholstery, Wood
Faux Suede Directoire Style Bergere
Located in New York, NY
Elegant faux suede Directoire style bergere with fluted and tapered legs and curved columnar arm details. Natural colored wood showing great a...
Suede
Pair of Ebonized Open Armchairs French Directoire in the Manner of Andre Arbus
By André Arbus
Located in Stamford, CT
Pair of ebonized open armchairs French Directoire style in the manner of Andre Arbus. Upholstered back and seat cushion. Measure: Seat height 17.5".
Wood
20th C. Directoire Style Painted and Floral Crewelwork Upholstered Bregere
Located in Morristown, NJ
Mid 20th C. Directoire style crewelwork bergere with a cream painted wood frame decorated with bands of carved rope and draped swags. The crewelwork upholstery is accented with a com...
Fabric, Silk, Wood
18th Century French Directoire Bergere
Located in Houston, TX
18th century French Directoire Bergere. This stunning 18th century period French Directoire chair or bergère is the perfect side chair, ...
Wood
The Collection of H.R.H. The Princess Margaret (1930-2002) Set Of Bergere Chairs
Located in Reading, Berkshire
Formerly Owned By The Late Sister Of Queen Elizabeth II.The Collection of H.R.H. The Princess Margaret (1930-2002), Kensington Palace. A Pair of Early 19th Century French Walnut Fau...
Walnut
Directoire Mahogany Bergère Attributed to Georges Jacob
By Georges Jacob
Located in Kittery Point, ME
A Directoire Mahogany Bergère Attributed to Georges Jacob, its curved back and padded armrests with finely carved baluster-shaped supports raised on turned front legs and sabre back legs. With a spurious Jacob stamp to back rail. The term "Directoire" refers to a historical period following the French Revolution (1789) and preceding the First Empire when Napoleon reigned, but also to a style of furniture and decoration covering a longer period from 1789 to 1804. It is characterized by the production of furniture with simplified forms and ornaments, inspired by antique decorations. The profound social and political upheavals that marked this period had a direct impact on the production of Directoire furniture. The stripping down of furniture pieces, which had begun in the 1780s under the influence of Greek art, was accentuated during this period. The abolition of guilds by the revolutionaries also forced manufacturers in the Faubourg Saint-Antoine to simplify shapes and materials. Elegant and graceful, the furniture is generally small-scale. They retain the Louis XVI structure. The Directoire style adopts clean shapes, straight lines, simple curves, flat surfaces and right angles. Lines accentuate geometric shapes inspired by Antiquity. A typical trait is the pronounced rolled-over back, similar to a scroll illustrated in our bergere, evocative of the klismos chair. Only the more luxurious pieces of furniture use mahogany, an exotic and expensive wood. Despite his humble origins, Georges Jacob rose to become one of the most renowned menuisiers of his day. Unlike many artisans who joined their fathers or brothers in the middle-class family trade of furniture making, Jacob was from a peasant family and moved to Paris at sixteen to begin his career. He apprenticed in a joinery workshop and eventually became a master in 1765. He developed a reputation for producing inventive designs for chairs, beds, and screens carved with such motifs as twisted ribbons, guilloches, beading, and fluting. Jacob's reputation grew quickly, eventually spreading outside France; the future King George IV of England, Gustavus III of Sweden, and several German princes...
Mahogany
$3,234Sale Price|40% Off
H 38.59 in W 28.35 in D 27.56 in
18th Century Carved Mahogany Library Bergère Armchair
Located in Lymington, GB
An English 18th-century carved mahogany library armchair - or bergère - of good rich colour. George III, circa 1780. This antique Sheraton-period armchair, sometimes described as a bergère (bergere) chair, is raised on reeded square tapering legs which merge, headed by a carved rosette panel...
Mahogany
$2,103
H 36.23 in W 24.41 in D 22.05 in
Mahogany Bergère Armchair, Classical / Empire Style, Early 19th Century
Located in Stahnsdorf, DE
Mahogany Bergère Armchair, Classical / Empire Style, Early 19th Century Elegant bergère armchair crafted from solid mahogany, representing fine European cabinetmaking of the early 1...
Mahogany
$5,625 / set
H 43 in W 25.5 in D 24 in
Wonderful Pair of Late 19th Century Louis XVI Style Carved Wood Bergères
Located in Long Island City, NY
A Nice Pair of Late 19th Century Louis XV Style Carved Wood Bergères High backs and wide seats with hand carved designed frames. Details: Height – 43 inches / 109cm Width – 25.5 in...
Fabric, Wood
French Louis XVI Pair of Bergere Chairs
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Those charming pair of bergere chairs are covered of leather in the Louis XVI style. Simple and elegant they can be place anywhere at home.
Leather, Walnut
$3,450
H 37 in W 23.5 in D 26 in
French Louis XVI Period Late 18th Century Walnut Bergère Chair with Curving Back
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Louis XVI period walnut bergère chair from the late 18th century with curving back, scrolling arms, carved rosettes and fluted tapering legs. Experience the timeless eleganc...
Upholstery, Walnut
$2,220
H 34 in W 25 in D 34 in
20th C. Directoire Style Painted and Floral Crewelwork Upholstered Bregere
Located in Morristown, NJ
Mid 20th C. Directoire style crewelwork bergere with a cream painted wood frame decorated with bands of carved rope and draped swags. The crewelwork upholstery is accented with a com...
Fabric, Silk, Wood
French Bergere Chairs
Located in Stockbridge, GA
This wonderful Pair of Bergere Chairs are painted creme with gold. The fabric is used with some stains on it.
Wood, Giltwood
$5,980 / set
H 42 in W 29.5 in D 27.5 in
Pair 19th Century French Louis XVI Painted Bergeres ~ Armchairs
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair 19th Century French Louis XVI Painted Bergeres ~ Armchairs will add both comfort and elegance to any room! Hand-crafted by talented artisans, each features frameworks fully car...
Mohair, Hardwood, Paint
Bergère Armchair, early 19th century
Located in Greding, DE
Bergère on lion paws with carved leaf decorations on the armrests and high elegantly curved backrest. The armchair was completely polished by hand and newly upholstered with a creamy...
Wood
Regence Double Cane Bergere Chairs, Pair
By Baker Furniture Company, Harden Furniture 1, Henredon
Located in Southampton, NJ
A pair of Regence Double Cane Arm Chairs of classic European styling with hand-carved detailing on the wood frames, tight upholstered seats and tapered, turned legs. Rarely used cond...
Upholstery, Cane, Walnut
$4,200
H 36 in W 37 in D 21 in
19th Century French Louis XVI Style Oversized Bergere Marquise Armchair
Located in Charleston, SC
19th century French Louis XVI style bergère marquise upholstered armchair in painted wood frame with neoclassical architecture embellished hand-carved...
Fabric, Wood, Paint
French 19th Century Louis XVI Style Blue Velvet Marquise Bergere
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A French Louis XVI marquise bergère, commonly known as a chair and a half, from the 19th century. This example features timeless sophistication, beautiful lines, and sparse ornamenta...
Fabric, Wood, Down
French 19th Century Pair of Directoire Bergeres
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A welcoming pair of 19th century French bergere chairs, made in the Directoire taste with influences of Louis XVI for timeless appeal. The pair are characterized by a gorgeous cut ve...
Velvet, Wood, Paint
French Directoire Style Children’s Hand Pinted Bergere Chairs - Pair
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a set of French Directoire style children’s bergere chairs. The hand painted frames are coral and ivory. The upholstery is new and a cotton linen blend. The frames show some ...
Upholstery, Wood
Sold
H 31 in W 29.75 in D 24 in
Pair Maison Jansen style Distressed Grayish Green and Blush Moire Bergere Chairs
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a fantastic and very rare pair of Directoire or Louis XVI style Maison Jansen marquis or Bergere chairs. The chairs are in an original grayish green or greenish gray painted ...
Walnut
Sold
H 33.75 in W 28.25 in D 25 in
Fantastic Pair Carved Beech Wood French Louis XVI Directoire Bergere Chairs
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a gorgeous, expertly carved pair of "limed" beechwood Louis XVI style or Directoire. The frames are very precisely carved, better than average by far and have a sophisticated "limed" finish with deposits of white pigment within the carved areas...
Beech
Sold
H 37 in W 25 in D 24 in
Pair of Smaller French Gilded Carved Directoire Bergere Chairs in Green Velvet
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a beautiful pair of French-made gilded smaller scale bergere chairs. They have been reupholstered in Brooklyn NY and appear to be in good condition with regards to their upho...
Walnut
A pair of painted French Directoire style bergere chairs C 1900.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A pair of painted French Directoire style bergere chairs C 1900.
Upholstery, Wood
Painted French Directoire style bergere chair C 1900.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Painted French Directoire style bergere chair C 1900. This chair has just been reupholstered in a burlap type fabric.
Upholstery, Wood
Pair Late Empire Barrel Back Chairs
Located in Pasadena, CA
This is a very desirable pair of period Lat Empire Barrel Back Bergeres that date to c. 1810-1820. The chairs have retained their original surface which we have cleaned and applied several coats of hard paste wax. The chairs are newly upholstered in a very high-end Kravet Couture velvet in the perfect shade of blue. In addition to their desirability, these barrel back chairs are very comfortable. They are the perfect addition to many settings from living room, study to bedroom. ****Please contact MJH Design...
Velvet, Walnut
Sold
H 33.25 in W 29 in D 32 in
Early 20th-C. French Carved Walnut Bergere Chairs In New Floral Linen -Pair
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a pair of early 20th century French Directoire style bergere chairs that have been newly upholstered in a neutral white, beige, gray and blue linen. The cushion is a thick do...
Linen, Walnut
Sold
H 36.25 in W 22.75 in D 24 in
Early 20th Century French Directoire Style Painted Ash Armchairs, Caned Seats
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This pair of French Directoire style armchairs from the turn of the twentieth century features scrolled seat backs detailed with a carved central palmette. The seat back is additiona...
Upholstery, Cane, Ash
Sold
H 36 in W 27 in D 32 in
Superb Pair of French Directoire Painted Upholstered Bergere Chairs Circa 1940
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a superb pair of Directoire style bergere chairs with beautiful upholstery and styling. The chairs are in a creme painted finis...
Beech
Antique French Directoire Leather Bergeres
Located in Austin, TX
Pair of armchairs, “Bergeres”, of French polished beech wood. Original patinated leather in nice condition throughout. The chairs are comfortable and extremely elegant.
Leather, Beech