Skip to main content

Directoire Corner Cupboards

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.

to
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
1
1
2
62
42
21
19
17
14
14
12
12
8
8
6
6
6
3
2
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
2
2
Style: Directoire
Pair of 20th Century French Corner Cupboards
Pair of 20th Century French Corner Cupboards

Pair of 20th Century French Corner Cupboards

Located in Gloucestershire, GB

Pair of 20th Century French simulated mahogany corner cupboards. Of lovely scale and proportions, these cupboards exhibit the most wonderful original rich patina. The top section fea...

Category

Early 20th Century French Directoire Corner Cupboards

Materials

Wood

French Directoire Fruitwood Corner Cabinet with Inlay
French Directoire Fruitwood Corner Cabinet with Inlay

French Directoire Fruitwood Corner Cabinet with Inlay

Located in Baton Rouge, LA

A French solid fruitwood corner cabinet that will add a bit more storage to any room without taking up too much space. Hand-crafted in the 19th century around 1850, this is a wonderf...

Category

19th Century French Antique Directoire Corner Cupboards

Materials

Metal

Related Items
18th Century Dutch Mahogany Corner Cupboard
18th Century Dutch Mahogany Corner Cupboard

18th Century Dutch Mahogany Corner Cupboard

$3,343

H 90.5 in W 48 in D 30 in

18th Century Dutch Mahogany Corner Cupboard

Located in Martlesham, GB

18th century Dutch mahogany corner cupboard with a moulded arched cornice, the top section having two paneled doors with shaped and moulded beading around the panels, opening to reveal three fixed shelves and a drop down flap at the bottom of the cupboard, the bottom section also having two paneled doors with shaped and moulded beading around the panels, opening to reveal a single fixed shelf inside, the corner cupboard...

Category

1780s Dutch Antique Directoire Corner Cupboards

Materials

Mahogany

19th-C. French Corner Cabinet
19th-C. French Corner Cabinet

19th-C. French Corner Cabinet

$3,120Sale Price|20% Off

H 99.5 in W 42.25 in D 30.25 in

19th-C. French Corner Cabinet

Located in Ballard, CA

A single door painted French corner cabinet in the Louis XVI style. Made out of pine wood painted with light gray/blue and cream accents. Feature...

Category

19th Century French Antique Directoire Corner Cupboards

Materials

Iron

19th Century Swedish Corner Cupboard
19th Century Swedish Corner Cupboard

19th Century Swedish Corner Cupboard

$6,200

H 73 in W 40 in D 24 in

19th Century Swedish Corner Cupboard

Located in Charleston, SC

19th century Swedish two-part bowfronted 4 door corner cupboard with reeded panels. Dry scraped from most recent painted surface.

Category

19th Century Swedish Antique Directoire Corner Cupboards

Materials

Wood, Pine, Paint

An 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Corner Cupboard
An 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Corner Cupboard

An 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Corner Cupboard

$4,639

H 69.69 in W 38.59 in D 25.6 in

An 18th Century Swedish Gustavian Corner Cupboard

Located in Basingstoke, Hampshire

An 18th-century Swedish Gustavian corner cupboard, featuring an original dry-scraped finish that reveals a delicate patina with subtle tones of white and light grey. The elegant desi...

Category

18th Century Swedish Antique Directoire Corner Cupboards

Materials

Pine

Rosewood Corner Cabinet
Rosewood Corner Cabinet

Rosewood Corner Cabinet

$1,750

H 54.75 in W 33.75 in D 21.25 in

Rosewood Corner Cabinet

Located in Puslinch, ON

Condition: Great Vintage Condition Dimensions: 33.75" x 21.25" D x 54.75" H Description: A vintage rosewood corner cabinet. Freshly imported from Denmark. In great condition. Comes...

Category

1960s Danish Vintage Directoire Corner Cupboards

Materials

Rosewood

Mid-Century Modern Teak Corner Cabinet with Doors
Mid-Century Modern Teak Corner Cabinet with Doors

Mid-Century Modern Teak Corner Cabinet with Doors

$1,766

H 55.12 in W 31.5 in D 22.45 in

Mid-Century Modern Teak Corner Cabinet with Doors

Located in Torino, IT

Elegant corner cabinet made of teak, an authentic expression of Northern European Mid-Century Modern design. The choice of the corner configuration responds to an educated and functi...

Category

1960s Danish Vintage Directoire Corner Cupboards

Materials

Teak

18th Century English Hanging Corner Cupboard
18th Century English Hanging Corner Cupboard

18th Century English Hanging Corner Cupboard

$716

H 32 in W 23.5 in D 11.5 in

18th Century English Hanging Corner Cupboard

Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire

Small 18th Century English oak bowfront hanging corner cupboard. 1780 This will fit into a 17" (43cm) corner.

Category

18th Century English Antique Directoire Corner Cupboards

Materials

Oak

Elegant antique corner cabinet with wood inlay and 2 drawers, France ca. 1850
Elegant antique corner cabinet with wood inlay and 2 drawers, France ca. 1850

Elegant antique corner cabinet with wood inlay and 2 drawers, France ca. 1850

Located in Meulebeke, BE

France / 1850 / corner cabinet / wood / antique Elegant and decorative antique corner cabinet made in France, circa 1850. With 4 high legs and bowed front this exquisite corner cabi...

Category

1850s French Antique Directoire Corner Cupboards

Materials

Wood

Decorative Corner Dresser/Corner Shelf, England, 20th Century
Decorative Corner Dresser/Corner Shelf, England, 20th Century

Decorative Corner Dresser/Corner Shelf, England, 20th Century

$621Sale Price|51% Off

H 37.41 in W 22.05 in D 15.36 in

Decorative Corner Dresser/Corner Shelf, England, 20th Century

Located in Berlin, DE

Decorative corner dresser/corner shelf, England 20th century. Solid wood corner shelf on three floors/shelves. High curved legs. Cover plate with inl...

Category

20th Century English Directoire Corner Cupboards

Materials

Wood

Baroque Corner Display Cabinets
Baroque Corner Display Cabinets

Baroque Corner Display Cabinets

$9,800Sale Price / set|56% Off

H 74 in W 33.5 in D 21 in

Baroque Corner Display Cabinets

Located in Pompano Beach, FL

Two Baroque Corner Display Cabinets in walnut and birdseye maple with a mirrored interior and four shelves.

Category

19th Century Austrian Antique Directoire Corner Cupboards

Materials

Birdseye Maple, Walnut

20th century French Maple Veneer Milliner's Corner Cupboard, 1980s
20th century French Maple Veneer Milliner's Corner Cupboard, 1980s

20th century French Maple Veneer Milliner's Corner Cupboard, 1980s

Located in LEGNY, FR

Beautiful Milliner’s Corner cabinet, custom-made in the 1980s for a fur boutique, featuring an original hatbox-inspired design. Maple veneer on a particleboard structure. The two up...

Category

1980s French Vintage Directoire Corner Cupboards

Materials

Maple

Previously Available Items
French Directoire Walnut Corner Cupboard, ca. 1790
French Directoire Walnut Corner Cupboard, ca. 1790

French Directoire Walnut Corner Cupboard, ca. 1790

Located in Atlanta, GA

A late 18th century French walnut corner cupboard with 2 doors, fluted column detail and ebonized moulding.  

Category

Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Corner Cupboards

Materials

Walnut

French Directoire Corner Cabinets, Pair
French Directoire Corner Cabinets, Pair

French Directoire Corner Cabinets, Pair

Sold

H 34 in W 25 in D 13 in

French Directoire Corner Cabinets, Pair

Located in Doylestown, PA

Pair of 19th century French Directoire corner cabinets, late 18th to early 19th century. Cherrywood, with one door, having nicely tapered feet and diamond and star inlay.

Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Corner Cupboards

Materials

Walnut

Early 19th Century Directoire Period Ebonized Corner Cabinet
Early 19th Century Directoire Period Ebonized Corner Cabinet

Early 19th Century Directoire Period Ebonized Corner Cabinet

Located in Dallas, TX

Early 19th century Directoire period ebonized corner cabinet features a splendid elmwood facade with beautiful naturalistic figure. The tailored architecture is defined by a subtle e...

Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Corner Cupboards

Materials

Elm

19th Century French Directoire-Style Corner Cabinet
19th Century French Directoire-Style Corner Cabinet

19th Century French Directoire-Style Corner Cabinet

Located in Vancouver, British Columbia

An unusual, French mid-19th century, mahogany-framed corner cabinet, or vitrine, the single door with original curved glass panels and brass trim and flanked by fluted pilasters. Pie...

Category

Mid-19th Century French Antique Directoire Corner Cupboards

Materials

Brass

Directoire Style French Vintage Corner Cabinet
Directoire Style French Vintage Corner Cabinet

Directoire Style French Vintage Corner Cabinet

Sold

H 35.625 in W 24.5 in D 13.75 in

Directoire Style French Vintage Corner Cabinet

Located in Austin, TX

Corner cabinet made of solid cherrywood in the sophisticated Directoire style, with a honey toned, rich patina. Moldings, fluting, and tapered legs add Fine Neoclassical details to t...

Category

1950s French Vintage Directoire Corner Cupboards

Materials

Bronze

French Corner Cabinet
French Corner Cabinet

French Corner Cabinet

Sold

H 39 in W 37 in D 25.5 in

French Corner Cabinet

Located in Vancouver, British Columbia

An early-to-mid-19th Century, Directoire-style mahogany antique French corner cabinet, with contrasting boxwood and ebony inlay.

Category

19th Century French Antique Directoire Corner Cupboards

Directoire corner cupboards for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Directoire corner cupboards for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 18th Century and Earlier, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage corner cupboards created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, walnut and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Directoire corner cupboards made in a specific country, there are Europe, and France 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 corner cupboards differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $5,950 and tops out at $6,200 while the average work can sell for $6,075.