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Directoire 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.

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Style: Directoire
19th c. Venetian Painted Secretary
Located in New Orleans, LA
Fantastic Italian Venetian Painted secretary/cabinet. This piece has a wonderful color palette but I believe that was done in the early 20th...
Category

Late 19th Century Italian Antique Directoire Cupboards

Materials

Wood

19th c. Venetian Painted Secretary
19th c. Venetian Painted Secretary

19th c. Venetian Painted Secretary

$14,200
Directoire Painted Bookcase, circa 1800
Located in Doylestown, PA
A wonderful and rare French Directoire Period bookcase cabinet in 2-parts, circa 1800, hand-scraped to its original grey painted finish, and retaining its original wavy glass panes. ...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Cupboards

Materials

Wood

Directoire Painted Bookcase, circa 1800
Directoire Painted Bookcase, circa 1800

Directoire Painted Bookcase, circa 1800

$11,500
2-door 3-drawer Cabinet in solid oak, a French Directoire style interpretation
Located in Landivy, FR
This 2 doors cabinet is a handmade and modernized interpretation of a French Directoire style cabinet at the end of the 18th century. The des...
Category

2010s French Directoire Cupboards

Materials

Cherry, Oak

2-door 3-drawer Cabinet in solid oak, a French Directoire style interpretation
2-door 3-drawer Cabinet in solid oak, a French Directoire style interpretation

2-door 3-drawer Cabinet in solid oak, a French Directoire style interpretation

$3,867 / item
1-door Directoire style cupboard in solid wood
Located in Landivy, FR
This wooden closet is offered in solid French cherrywood and is also available in oak. The hanging bar is fixed under a wooden shelf. This shelf is height-adjustable on a wooden rack. The oval entrance and key are in brass and fitted with a lock. The finish proposed here is a classic cherrywood "D" stain, with a natural varnish on the diamond and fluted fronts. The finish of every GONTIER cabinet is customizable. You can choose the wood stains and colors you prefer (see last pictures) MÉLANIE Collection This cupboard part of the MÉLANIE collection, a modern interpretation of the French Directoire style of the late 18th century. The straight, classic and timeless lines are embellished with rhombuses...
Category

2010s French Directoire Cupboards

Materials

Wood, Cherry

1-door Directoire style cupboard in solid wood
1-door Directoire style cupboard in solid wood

1-door Directoire style cupboard in solid wood

$4,890 / item
Walnut Panetière Early 19th Century
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Superb and rare walnut panetière from the beginning of the 19th century This piece of furniture were used in the past to store the bread in the south of France. Provence region Very...
Category

19th Century French Antique Directoire Cupboards

Materials

Walnut

Walnut Panetière Early 19th Century
Walnut Panetière Early 19th Century

Walnut Panetière Early 19th Century

$2,703
Napoleon III Etagere 'Japonism ALPHONSE GIROUX PARIS
Located in Madrid, ES
A Napoleon III Etagere 'japonism' in ormolu and grave glass Modeled as rods of bamboo mounted with bamboo leaves on the legs, the top suspended with four handles and with three circular tiers each engraved with floral and ivy designs and surrounded by a three-quarter pierced gallery, the upper tier signed 'ALPH. GIROUX PARIS...
Category

19th Century French Antique Directoire Cupboards

Materials

Bronze

Napoleon III Etagere 'Japonism ALPHONSE GIROUX PARIS
Napoleon III Etagere 'Japonism ALPHONSE GIROUX PARIS

Napoleon III Etagere 'Japonism ALPHONSE GIROUX PARIS

$19,336
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H 54.53 in W 51.97 in D 17.72 in
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H 25.99 in W 24.41 in D 26.78 in
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Located in Tyler, TX
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19th Century French Scrubbed Pine Cupboard
Located in London, GB
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H 69.69 in W 50.4 in D 16.74 in
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Early 19th Century Mahogany Small Cupboard
Located in Brecht, BE
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Early 19th Century Mahogany Small Cupboard

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H 27.56 in W 24.41 in D 18.51 in
Antique Carved Breton Buffet Cabinet, French, Sideboard, Oak, circa 1880
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
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H 106.7 in W 57.09 in D 20.08 in
Large English Four Door Cupboard
Located in Wilson, NC
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1990s English Directoire Cupboards

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H 89.5 in W 59 in D 27 in
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1844 Blu Floral Painted Small Cabinet
Located in Vo', Veneto
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1840s Italian Antique Directoire Cupboards

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1844 Blu Floral Painted Small Cabinet
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H 29.14 in W 22.45 in D 14.18 in
20th Century French Brass and Leather Cartonnier
Located in Petworth,West Sussex, GB
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H 33.86 in W 15.75 in D 13.59 in
Metal Cabinet with Antique French Directoire Period Doors
Located in Sheffield, MA
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Metal Cabinet with Antique French Directoire Period Doors
Metal Cabinet with Antique French Directoire Period Doors

Metal Cabinet with Antique French Directoire Period Doors

H 40 in W 31 in D 13 in
18th Century French Directoire Period Bleached Walnut Placard or Wardrobe
Located in Birmingham, AL
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1780s French Antique Directoire Cupboards

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18th Century French Directoire Period Bleached Walnut Placard or Wardrobe
18th Century French Directoire Period Bleached Walnut Placard or Wardrobe

18th Century French Directoire Period Bleached Walnut Placard or Wardrobe

H 100 in W 89 in D 24 in
Directoire Painted Bookcase, circa 1800
Located in Doylestown, PA
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Directoire Painted Bookcase, circa 1800
Directoire Painted Bookcase, circa 1800

Directoire Painted Bookcase, circa 1800

H 86 in W 53 in L 86 in
French Directoire Sytle Mahogany Cabinet with Glass Doors, 19th Century
Located in Savannah, GA
French Directoire Style mahogany cabinet with brass trim decoration and glass doors over wood doors opening to wood shelves, late 19th century.    
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French Directoire Sytle Mahogany Cabinet with Glass Doors, 19th Century
French Directoire Sytle Mahogany Cabinet with Glass Doors, 19th Century

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H 61.25 in W 45.5 in D 17.5 in
1790s French Directoire Era Bookcase
Located in Los Angeles, CA
1790s French large painted Directoire era bookcase with lower cabinet.
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1790s French Directoire Era Bookcase
1790s French Directoire Era Bookcase

1790s French Directoire Era Bookcase

H 95 in W 55 in D 18 in
French Hand Carved Wood Directoire Coffre or Chest/ Armoire/ Bench, circa 1795
Located in New York, NY
A sober French late 18th century Directoire period "Coffre" with a hand carved front panel in the form of repeating squares with its original iron forged hardware. The piece conveys ...
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French Hand Carved Wood Directoire Coffre or Chest/ Armoire/ Bench, circa 1795
French Hand Carved Wood Directoire Coffre or Chest/ Armoire/ Bench, circa 1795

French Hand Carved Wood Directoire Coffre or Chest/ Armoire/ Bench, circa 1795

H 20 in W 60 in D 15 in
18th Century French Directoire Walnut Vaisselier or Cupboard
Located in Houston, TX
Rare antique French Directoire period walnut cupboard, sideboard, vaisselier, credenza, display cabinet or buffet or plate rack with bronze hardware from the 18th century. This versa...
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18th Century French Antique Directoire Cupboards

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Walnut

18th Century French Directoire Walnut Vaisselier or Cupboard
18th Century French Directoire Walnut Vaisselier or Cupboard

18th Century French Directoire Walnut Vaisselier or Cupboard

H 93.5 in W 59 in D 22.5 in
French Directoire Period, Two-Door Walnut Cupboard, 18th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
Tall cupboard constructed of walnut with some patching and steel hardware, sitting on bracket feet, the interior having three shelves, condition consistent with age.
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French Directoire Period, Two-Door Walnut Cupboard, 18th Century
French Directoire Period, Two-Door Walnut Cupboard, 18th Century

French Directoire Period, Two-Door Walnut Cupboard, 18th Century

H 61 in W 26 in D 22.5 in
1880s Petite Painted Antique, French Directoire Cupboard
Located in Chicago, IL
With tons of unparalleled character and charm, this cabinet offers loads of style and remarkable storage opportunities. Use this fine cabinet most anywhere, well enough suited for any formal or informal room of your home. It's presence is unmistakable and the style distinguished making itself a perfect fit most anywhere. Use this fine painted cupboard on one side of the fireplace in the parlor hiding a small TV and media equipment, in the dining room safekeeping extra dishes and linens or that special wine collection, or for storing extra linens, toiletries, and such in a guest bedroom suite. Whichever way you deem fit, this petite cupboard...
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19th Century French Antique Directoire Cupboards

1880s Petite Painted Antique, French Directoire Cupboard
1880s Petite Painted Antique, French Directoire Cupboard

1880s Petite Painted Antique, French Directoire Cupboard

H 83 in W 42.25 in D 19.75 in L 83 in
Early 19th Century French Directoire Period Burled Elm and Cherry Armoire
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This early 19th century cherry and burled elm armoire is from the Bresse region of France. The burled elm and cherry wood of this piece along with its age give a wonderfully warm fee...
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Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Cupboards

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Bronze

Early 19th Century French Directoire Period Burled Elm and Cherry Armoire
Early 19th Century French Directoire Period Burled Elm and Cherry Armoire

Early 19th Century French Directoire Period Burled Elm and Cherry Armoire

H 74 in W 48.5 in D 17 in

Directoire cupboards for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Directoire cupboards for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage cupboards created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include case pieces and storage cabinets, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, hardwood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Directoire cupboards made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and North America pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original cupboards, popular names associated with this style include and Europa Antiques. 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 cupboards differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $2,552 and tops out at $17,736 while the average work can sell for $14,350.

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