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.
$7,860 / set
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...
Wood
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...
Metal
$5,117
H 45.75 in W 30 in D 21 in
Georgian Mahogany Bowfront Corner Cupboard with Satinwood Inlay, 1790
Located in Bedfordshire, GB
An Exceptional Quality Late 18th Century, Georgian Mahogany Hanging Corner Cupboard, Of Bowfronted Form, Having Satinwood Crossbanded ...
Satinwood
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...
Mahogany
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...
Iron
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.
Wood, Pine, Paint
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...
Pine
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...
Rosewood
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...
Teak
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.
Oak
$1,413
H 42.52 in W 24.81 in D 16.54 in
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...
Wood
$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...
Wood
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.
Birdseye Maple, Walnut
$2,305
H 77.96 in W 47.25 in D 31.5 in
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...
Maple
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.
Walnut
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.
Walnut
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...
Elm
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...
Brass
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...
Bronze
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.