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.
Large Italian Neoclassical Giltwood Récamier Settee in Scalamandré Tiger Velvet
Located in Nashville, TN
And of unusual ( rare ) large dimensions. Matching bolsters for each end. Well worn gilt and paint finish and losses to frame. Well worn paint and gilded finish. Oxidation to the gi...
Giltwood
19th Century Louis XVI Style Settee
Located in Belmont, MA
Elaborate Louis XVI style settee, finely carved pearwood. Straight back crowned with wreath, upholstered seat and back, ending on round tapered baluster legs. Originally the settee b...
Pearwood
$3,900
H 32 in W 69 in D 37 in
Mid-Century Italian Post Modern Sculptural Chaise Lounge in Art Deco Form
Located in Philadelphia, PA
An incredibly designed chaise lounge from Italy circa 1990's. It features quality construction with a stacked art deco form.
Fabric
$12,460Sale Price|30% Off
H 44.5 in W 47 in D 36 in
"17th Century Louis XIV Settee, Hand-Carved Walnut, Leather Upholstery"
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Elaborately carved walnut frame with Upholstered in embossed and hand painted leather, Original Aged Finish and Leather look very good, Settee is in very good condition
Foam, Walnut, Hardwood, Upholstery, Wood, Leather
$9,700
H 31.5 in W 94 in D 30 in
French 19th Century Neoclassical Mahogany Upholstered Récamier Lounge Chair
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An extremely elegant French 19th-century Neo-Classical mahogany upholstered Récamier. The lounge chair is raised by lovely lightly scrolled fluted legs. The straight apron displays a...
Mahogany
Italian 1950's Scalloped Shaped Channeled Velvet Settee or Sofa
Located in New York, NY
A decadently designed Italian 1950's settee with a scalloped or petal shaped form and luxuriously upholstered channeled back tufting. The settee has been fully restored and newly reu...
Brass
$12,900
H 28 in W 59.5 in D 18 in
Antique 18th c. Italian Neoclassical Sphinx Sofa in Original Paint and Giltwood
Located in Wichita, KS
Original 18th century bench or settee from a private estate in Tuscany wearing original paint and giltwood. The carved mythical sphinxes have female heads and winged lion bodies. T...
Wood, Paint
Louis XV Style Giltwood Chaise Longue
Located in Pembroke, MA
Elegant French Louis XV style giltwood chaise longue, with nicely-carved flower cartouches on the head and foot, floral carvings on the seat rail and other rococo ornaments. Upholstered in lovely silk lampas fabric...
Gesso, Silk, Upholstery, Giltwood
Neoclassical Style carved mahogany recamier / chaise by Baker
Located in Buffalo, NY
Stunning Neoclassical Style carved mahogany recamier / chaise lounge manufactured by Baker,, Frame in excellent original condition.. original fabric upholstery has minor marks,,hav...
Brass
Italian Post-War Design Pink Velvet Settee
Located in Queens, NY
Italian Post-War Design 1960s style (modern) black velvet settee with rounded sides and shaped front with pink velvet seat & 4 back cushions contempor...
Velvet
Empire-Style Swan Settee in Olive Velvet
Located in Fort Washington, MD
Elegant and sculptural, this vintage Empire-style settee features a finely carved mahogany frame highlighted by gilt and ebonized swan armrests—an iconic neoclassical motif symbolizi...
Fabric, Wood
$16,800
H 42 in W 64 in D 35 in
Vladimir Kagan A-Symmetric Settee in Ivory Bouclé by Directional, c. 1991
By Vladimir Kagan, Directional
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Asymmetrical and chic Directional Vladimir Kagan Post Modern Settee professionally reupholstered in soft ivory white bouclé. All new cushioning and u...
Bouclé, Upholstery
Italian Empire Neoclassical Eagle Settee
Located in New York, NY
Italian Empire Neoclassical Eagle Settee. Marc Jacobs silk floral upholstered painted and parcel-gilt carved settee/sofa with finely carved eagle arm term...
Silk, Wood
Sold
H 38.5 in W 85 in D 27.5 in
Late 18th Century French Directoire Period Hand Carved Walnut Chaise Longue
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This French Directoire period walnut chaise longue from the turn of the nineteenth century features hand carved rosettes within lozenges on the die joints of both the armchair and th...
Linen, Upholstery, Walnut
Sold
H 32 in W 78 in D 34 in
Directoire Style Chinoiserie Black & Gold Chaise Lounge Double Cane Daybed Sofa
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Directoire style chinoiserie black and gold chaise lounge double cane daybed sofa. Feather foam stuffed. French gray or very light blue velvet uphol...
Cane, Wood, Down
French Walnut Directoire Style Daybed
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
French walnut-framed Directoire style daybed from France in excellent condition. A simple well-proportioned piece with elegant curved ends with sc...
Walnut
Painted and Parcel Gilt Directoire Style Daybed
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Daybed, having a fielded frame, painted and parcel gilt; its double outscrolled-sides, flanking a 3/4 shaped and padded backrest, a loose, drop-in down cushion, over upholstered apro...
Upholstery, Wood
Sold
H 33 in W 73 in L 33 in
Late 18th Century French Directoire Daybed in Carved Mahogany with Upholstery
Located in INTERLAKEN, NY
A very beautiful and opulent French daybed or chaise longue in fine African mahogany from the Directoire period which preceded Napoleon's empire and followed the reign of Louis XVI. ...
Upholstery, Walnut
19th Century French Directoire Style Chaise Longue
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century French Directoire style chaise longue with swan carvings was meticulously sculpted from select exotic imported mahogany, chosen for its natural beauty and workability. M...
Mohair, Mahogany
French Duchesse Brisee
Located in Houston, TX
Elegant French duchesse brisee or chaise longue. In walnut, this graceful Directoire chaise has been completely reupholstered in off-white linen...
Linen, Walnut
Sold
H 36.5 in W 62 in D 20 in
18th Century French Directoire Chaise Longue with a Black and White Finish
Located in Dallas, TX
French Directoire period Recamier, chaise lounge in a black and white painted finish from the late 18th century. This Recamier is in an old painted finish, but likely not original pa...
Wood
French Directoire Chaise Longue, circa 1840
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Antique French Directoire style chaise longue. A fine mid 19th Century example of French furniture making, this chaise has an all original painted finish on a wooden frame with class...
French Directoire Style Daybed
Located in Houston, TX
Beautiful French Directoire Style Painted Day Bed, Upholstered in Linen
Fabric, Wood
French 19th Century Long Directoire Chaise Longue
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This wonderful unique directorire style chaise longue is impressively long at 6 1/2 feet! We have never seen one of this size and thought it would make a wonderful addition to any an...
Directoire Chaise Lounge
Located in Dallas, TX
early 20th century upholstered Directoire style chaise lounge, painted wooden frame with amazing form and detail, upholstery and overall piece in excellent condition