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Directoire Bergere Chairs

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
Color:  Brown
"Pair" of Painted Bergère
Located in New Orleans, LA
Painted with gilt accents. Splendid as a pair, note that the carvings do not match. Sizes are nearly identical, varying less than an inch in H, W, and D.
Category

19th Century French Antique Directoire Bergere Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Giltwood

"Pair" of Painted Bergère
"Pair" of Painted Bergère

"Pair" of Painted Bergère

French 18th Century Lacquered Directoire Bergère
Located in Madrid, ES
Antique 18th Century French Directoire armchair bergere. It’s made in beech wood and oak lacquered in off-white and upholstered in black ve...
Category

1790s French Antique Directoire Bergere Chairs

Materials

Velvet, Wood, Beech

French 18th Century Lacquered Directoire Bergère
French 18th Century Lacquered Directoire Bergère

French 18th Century Lacquered Directoire Bergère

French 19th Century Cherrywood Directoire Style Armchair
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A 19th century French cherrywood Directoire style armchair or Fauteuil, having simple geometric lines and recently upholstered in black horsehair fabric with a woven neoclassical mot...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Directoire Bergere Chairs

Materials

Cherry

French 19th Century Cherrywood Directoire Style Armchair
French 19th Century Cherrywood Directoire Style Armchair

French 19th Century Cherrywood Directoire Style Armchair

French Directoire Carved Mahogany Bergere, 18th/19th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
having a high barrel back with padded arms raised on baluster pillar supports, raised on round tapering legs, upholstered in black leatherette and trimmed in brass nailheads.
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Bergere Chairs

Materials

Mahogany

French Directoire Carved Mahogany Bergere, 18th/19th Century
French Directoire Carved Mahogany Bergere, 18th/19th Century

French Directoire Carved Mahogany Bergere, 18th/19th Century

Early 20th C Carved and Painted French Directoire Style Chairs in Linen, Pair
Located in Kennesaw, GA
This is a pair of early 20th century carved French bergère chairs. The frames are sage green paint with almost deep russet painted details. The floral linen upholstery is recently do...
Category

Early 20th Century French Directoire Bergere Chairs

Materials

Linen, Wood

Early 20th C Carved and Painted French Directoire Style Chairs in Linen, Pair
Early 20th C Carved and Painted French Directoire Style Chairs in Linen, Pair

Early 20th C Carved and Painted French Directoire Style Chairs in Linen, Pair

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....
Category

Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Bergere Chairs

Materials

Upholstery, Wood

French Directoire Period Bergere
French Directoire Period Bergere

French Directoire Period Bergere

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18th Century Louis XV Style French Bergère, or Armchair

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Early 1900s Era French Louis XVI Paint Decorated Directoire Bergere Lounge Chair

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Located in Atlanta, GA
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French Directoire Style 19th Century Carved, Painted and Gilded Bergère Chair
French Directoire Style 19th Century Carved, Painted and Gilded Bergère Chair

French Directoire Style 19th Century Carved, Painted and Gilded Bergère Chair

H 36 in W 30.5 in D 24.5 in
19th Century Mahogany Directoire Style Armchair
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A fine and elegantly-proportioned French 19th century armchair or ‘fauteuil’ in mahogany with carved neoclassical details and raised on turned tapering legs. Recently upholstered; co...
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19th Century Mahogany Directoire Style Armchair
19th Century Mahogany Directoire Style Armchair

19th Century Mahogany Directoire Style Armchair

H 35 in W 24 in D 25 in
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Located in Pasadena, CA
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H 36 in W 24 in D 25 in
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Located in Kennesaw, GA
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1970s American Vintage Directoire Bergere Chairs

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French Directoire Style Cerused Oak Club Chairs in Blue Chintz, Pair
French Directoire Style Cerused Oak Club Chairs in Blue Chintz, Pair

French Directoire Style Cerused Oak Club Chairs in Blue Chintz, Pair

H 37 in W 26.5 in D 28 in
Pair of 18th Century French Directoire Period Walnut Armchairs, Art Deco Fabric
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This pair of French Directoire period hand carved walnut armchairs from the late eighteenth century features hand carved rosettes on the die joints, armrests, and seat backs. The armrest is supported by turned columns that stand on fluted plinths. The scrolled seatback rests on gently curved rear legs that are "en sabres" or "like sabers," in English. Newly upholstered in France in a stunning Art Deco...
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Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Bergere Chairs

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Upholstery, Walnut

Pair of 18th Century French Directoire Period Walnut Armchairs, Art Deco Fabric
Pair of 18th Century French Directoire Period Walnut Armchairs, Art Deco Fabric

Pair of 18th Century French Directoire Period Walnut Armchairs, Art Deco Fabric

H 35.5 in W 22 in D 21 in
Mid-19th Century French Directoire Style Walnut Vanity Chair, Bergere, Leather
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This mid-nineteenth century French Directoire style walnut bergere chair features scrolled armrests and fluted front corners. Its hand pegged die joints are additionally detailed wit...
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Mid-19th Century French Antique Directoire Bergere Chairs

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Mid-19th Century French Directoire Style Walnut Vanity Chair, Bergere, Leather
Mid-19th Century French Directoire Style Walnut Vanity Chair, Bergere, Leather

Mid-19th Century French Directoire Style Walnut Vanity Chair, Bergere, Leather

H 24.25 in W 22.5 in D 20 in
Antique Directoire Style Bergère
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Antique Directoire style beech wood bergère, 19th century. The wood has nice old color, upholstery is in very good condition, recently reupholstered...
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19th Century European Antique Directoire Bergere Chairs

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Upholstery, Beech

Antique Directoire Style Bergère
Antique Directoire Style Bergère

Antique Directoire Style Bergère

H 34.5 in W 24.75 in D 27.5 in
Pair of French Directoire Style Painted Bergère Chairs with Column Arm Supports
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of French Directoire style painted bergère chairs from the 20th century, without-scrolling backs, carved rosettes and new upholstery. Created in France during the 20th century...
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20th Century French Directoire Bergere Chairs

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Wood, Upholstery

Pair of French Directoire Style Painted Bergère Chairs with Column Arm Supports
Pair of French Directoire Style Painted Bergère Chairs with Column Arm Supports

Pair of French Directoire Style Painted Bergère Chairs with Column Arm Supports

H 35.25 in W 26.75 in D 26.5 in

Directoire bergere chairs for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Directoire bergere chairs for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage bergere chairs created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, fabric and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Directoire bergere chairs made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and North America 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 bergere chairs differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $640 and tops out at $24,850 while the average work can sell for $3,473.

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