Directoire Furniture
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 Century French Directoire Mirror and Console with Ebony Columns
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Stunning two piece French Directoire mirror over matching console, perfect for an entryway or important hallway. Mirror has original stunning ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Walnut
$2,850 Sale Price
25% Off
LATE 18th CENTURY DIRECTOIRE COFFEE TABLE WITH WALNUT VENEER
Located in Firenze, FI
Elegant small side table, made of walnut veneer. The top is embellished with a refined inlay in fruit woods, which gives further elegance to the complement. The semi-curved legs are ...
Category
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Fruitwood, Walnut
Fine Quality Maison Jansen Style Directoire Tall Dresser Wardrobe
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Jansen style. Gold leaf detail. Brass accents. Brass hardware. 2 distressed gold leaf doors. 4 dovetail drawers. Gilt accents. Measures: 57" h x 51 3/4" x 21" d.
Category
1950s French Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Brass
$2,600 Sale Price
20% Off
Gorgeous French Carved Beveled Glass Rectangular Wall Mirror
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Beveled edge. Gilt. Ebonized. 48" h x 54" w x 3 7/8" d.
Condition
Scratches. Paint loss. Minor cracks in carving.
Category
1940s French Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
$1,036 Sale Price
20% Off
A Pair of Italian Directoire painted and gilt open arm chairs, C 1800.
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A Pair of Italian Directoire painted and gilt open arm chairs, C 1800. This is a substantial pair of chairs and can be used every day in a sitting room, bedroom, living room!
Category
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Wood, Paint
French Directoire Buffet
Located in Westwood, NJ
French Directoire Buffet, with custom-designed hand-wrought iron face plates and pulls both accent and accentuate the perfectly sized Buffet. ...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Directoire Furniture
Materials
Wood
$5,679 / item
French Inspired Bookcase, Custom Hand-Made to Order in Our Chicago Workshop
Located in Chicago, IL
Custom Country French inspired handmade 4-door bookcase, in the Directoire style, finished with a black brushed painted exterior, French vanilla interior and European style chicken w...
Category
2010s American Directoire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Direttorio 1770 walnut extending table
By A. Manzoni
Located in Villa Verucchio, Emilia-Romagna
Direttorio 1770 walnut antique extending table - Timeless elegance for your home
A masterpiece of late 18th century antique extendable table
This splendid walnut extending table, m...
Category
18th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Stunning Carved Antique Creme Painted Finish Directoire Style Bench Stool
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Carved wood. Upholstered. 22 1/2" h x 36 1/4" w x 24" d.
Condition
Finish loss. Minor stains to upholstery. Scratches.
Category
1960s Unknown Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
$1,356 Sale Price
20% Off
19th Century French Directoire Style Stripped Chiffoniere
Located in Dallas, TX
19th Century French Directoire Style Chiffoniere was crafted from solid sycamore, and features a lovely soft visual effect thanks to our proprietary stripping process. With six full ...
Category
1870s French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Decorative French Bronze Bench
Located in New York, NY
Decorative French bronze bench / stool with a linen-blend upholstered seat.
Category
1950s Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French Directoire Style Brass Trimmed Leather Top Vanity Desk, Circa 1890
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
For customers that require professional insured delivery we are proud to have teamed up with a nationwide professional delivery company that will assist with coordinating your delivery needs! They offer a reasonable flat-rate fee for delivery and set up to the ground floor of your home. They deliver to the vast majority of the lower 48 states. They offer a flat rate for most of our items with exclusions for the largest or most complex items such as breakfronts or crystal chandeliers or other items of greater complexity. For those items please ask for a shipping quote prior to purchase as these rates are different from our stated pricing. For those items please ask for a shipping quote prior to purchase. Most deliveries to the East Coast will be 295.00, to the mid-west and Southern mid-west 395.00. To the areas west of Kansas 495.00 and the farthest points to the West coast will be 595.00. Again, some areas we can't cover, however we can deliver to most of the lower 48 states so please inquire to be sure! Delivery times range from as fast as 1-4 weeks for the east coast to 5-9 weeks to the farthest areas of the west coast, sometimes longer and sometimes even shorter. If it is a time sensitive purchase, we may be able to accommodate you for a higher price. It is our goal to please each and every one of our customers with the highest standard of service possible. You must realize and accept that we are shipping antique, vintage and quality used furnishings to your home. We cannot control traffic, weather, and acts of God. There will be times when additional patience will be necessary.
Walnut. Brass accents. Pull out leather top drawer. Beveled mirror on back. Marble on top...
Category
1890s French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Brass
$1,960 Sale Price
20% Off
Directoire Style Blood Tomato Red Lacquer Super Heavy Solid Brass Pulls Dresser
By Maslow Freen
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Outstanding quality directoire style painted dresser with very heavy solid brass hardware. Six deep drawers dresser with a narrow door compartment in the m...
Category
20th Century American Directoire Furniture
Materials
Oak
Directoire Chairs, France, 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Four French Directoire walnut chairs with a cushioned S-shaped backrest and a trapezoidal seat, standing on conical feet in the front and saber legs in the rear. The chairs were prof...
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
$7,071 / set
19th Century Cherrywood Directoire Chest of Drawers
Located in Dusseldorf, DE
A 19th century classicist cherry wood chest of drawers in the Directoire style.
Solid cherry wood and veneered with ribbon inlays on the drawer fronts.
Corpus with panels on the ...
Category
19th Century European Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Cherry
Beautiful Maison Jansen Style French Directoire Creme Painted X Bench Circa 1960
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
For customers that require professional insured delivery we are proud to have teamed up with a nationwide professional delivery company that will assist with coordinating your deliv...
Category
1960s Unknown Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
$1,196 Sale Price
20% Off
French Directoire Trumeau Mirror with a Painted Green, Purple and Gold Finish.
Located in Dallas, TX
A small scale French Directoire trumeau mirror with a gilded and painted green, purple and gold finish. This Etruscan style mirror, depicting Phaedrus is a lovey size and has wonder...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Gold Leaf
Pair French Directoire Style Lion Mask X Form Vintage Planters Jardinieres
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
For customers that require professional insured delivery we are proud to have teamed up with a nationwide professional delivery company that will assist with coordinating your delive...
Category
1950s French Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Metal
$1,996 Sale Price / set
20% Off
Custom Made Old Plank Directoire Style Bookcase in Stock Floor Model Reduced
Located in Chicago, IL
Handmade Country French style glazed bookcase, display cabinet or china cabinet. Our Directoire style bookcase or china cabinet was hand-crafted right here in our Old Plank workshop....
Category
2010s American Directoire Furniture
Materials
Glass, Wood, Paint
French Bronze Coffee Table by Maison Ramsay
Located in New York, NY
French bronze coffee table with thick glass top by Maison Ramsay.
Category
1940s French Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
17th Century Extension Table from Switzerland
Located in Brussels, Brussels
Fine 17th century table with two extensions coming from Switzerland
This uncommun extension table has a very beautiful base with Fine carvings and t...
Category
1650s Swiss Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Wood
French 18th century Directoire Period Mahogany, Marble, and Ormolu center table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A handsome and most unique French late 18th century Directoire Period Flame Mahogany, Ebony, white Carrara marble and Ormolu center table. This wonderful circular table is raised on ...
Category
18th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Ormolu
French Directoire Gilt Bronze End Table
Located in Queens, NY
French Directoire-style (20th Century) gilt bronze end table with 3 scroll legs and inset round pink and black speckled marble top and shelf.
Category
20th Century French Directoire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Four Directoire Armchairs, France, early 19th Century
Located in Greding, DE
Four French armchairs made of solid mahogany with elegantly curved legs and a slightly rounded upholstered seat. The armrests slope down in a gentle curve and end on the extended leg...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
18th-century Direttorio dresser from Vicenza in walnut and cherry inlays
By A. Manzoni
Located in Villa Verucchio, Emilia-Romagna
18th-century Direttorio dresser from Vicenza in walnut and cherry inlays
The 18th-century Direttorio Dresser from Vicenza represents a precious example of antique craftsmanship, expe...
Category
1780s Italian Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Cherry, Nutwood
Set of Four French Antique Neoclassical Finely Carved Directoire Dining Chairs
Located in Hopewell, NJ
A fine 19th century set of 4 French neoclassical dining chairs from the Directoire period with stunning intricately carved walnut fram...
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Walnut
Pair of Directoire Period Painted Armchairs after a Model by Jacob Desmalter
Located in Montreal, QC
Pair of Directoire period: gray painted armchairs after a model by Jacob Desmalter . France: circa 1800 Seat height: 17 in.
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Wood
French Directoire-style Hexagonal Black and Gilt Leather Pedestal Center Table
Located in Queens, NY
French Directoire-style hexagonal top center table with ebonized finish, gilt trim and details, gilt embossed leather top, and bronze decorative drawer pulls...
Category
20th Century Directoire Furniture
Materials
Leather
French Country Directoire Style Banquette Bench with Yellow Velvet Cushion
Located in Montreal, Quebec
A beautiful French country Directoire style banquette bench with yellow velvet cushion
Made from sturdy sculpted wood, with the Classic lozenge and flower motif typical of the Direc...
Category
Early 20th Century French Directoire Furniture
Materials
Wood
$2,880 Sale Price
40% Off
Large Pair of French Directoire over Door Panels
Located in Dallas, TX
A large pair of French Directoire over door panels depicting two cherubs and a swan.
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Paint, Plaster, Wood
$16,000 / set
French 19th Century Tall Chest of Drawers
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
French 19th century Directoire style fruitwood chest of drawers, appearing to be a semainier except with six drawers instead of the requisite seven. Below the modest wood top and rou...
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Brass
French 19th Century Petite Directoire Desk
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A petite, French occasional table or writing desk from the 19th century with a very well-patinated leather surface in a gorgeous mahogany frame. The Directoire silhouette of this han...
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Brass
French Empire Style Mahogany & Leather Desk
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A French vintage 20th century leather-topped polished mahogany writing desk, designed in the Directoire taste for refined proportions & materials, accented with Neoclassical symbolis...
Category
20th Century French Directoire Furniture
Materials
Brass
St. Croix Mahogany Directoire One Drawer Stand, Stamped By Maker circa 1790-1800
Located in Charleston, SC
This Directoire or Consulate Style solid Mahogany One Drawer Work-stand / Table was made in the Danish West Indies on the Island of Saint Croix in the Lat...
Category
Late 18th Century Caribbean Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany, Cedar
Small French Empire Style Bench
Located in Buchanan, NY
A small Empire style bench upholstered in blue velvet. Add a touch of classic beauty and elegance to any space with this small Empire style bench. B...
Category
Early 20th Century French Directoire Furniture
Materials
Beech
$512 Sale Price / item
71% Off
Maison Baguès Style Gueridon Table
Located in New York, NY
Maison Baguès style French gueridon table.
Has a smoked glass top.
Category
1960s Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Brass
French, Directoire Marble Top Demi-Lune Table
Located in Bloomfield Hills, MI
This stunning example of late neoclassical furniture will bring a touch of grace and elegance to any interior. At only 11" deep, this demi-lune table will fit in many spaces. And while diminutive in size, it's big in style.
Its all metal legs and base are topped with a stunning piece of green marble and the subtle details in the legs create continued visual interest.
This table is a quintessential piece of directoire style furniture...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Metal, Iron
Directoire Armchair, France 1800-1810
Located in Leimen, DE
Discover the elegance and historical charm of this Directoire armchair, originating from France around 1790. This piece showcases a meticulously carved walnut frame, reflecting the r...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
French 19th Century Directoire St. Cherry Buffet
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An extremely attractive and elegant French 19th century Directoire st. cherry and ebonized fruitwood inlaid buffet. The buffet is raised by eight square tapered legs with conforming ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Carrara Marble
French 18th Century Ormolu and Crystal Chandelier
Located in Florence, Tuscany
Exquisite French Directoire period, chandelier dated to the end of 18th century. The lower Montgolfier is centered by a richly chased acorn finial amidst foliate. Main band, supporti...
Category
1790s French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Crystal, Ormolu
Table Tier English Mahogany Brass Marble 19th Century England
Located in New York, NY
Table tier English mahogany brass marble, 19th century England. A side table made during the end of 18th century / beginning of 19th century in England. Tiers from white marble trimmed with a brass edge. Tripod with the shapes of human legs...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
$2,100 Sale Price
40% Off
Directoire Sofa in Fruitwood with Paw Feet, France, ca. 1800
Located in Atlanta, GA
Directoire period fruitwood sofa with carved paw feet, France, circa 1800,
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Fruitwood
Directoire Walnut Tricoteuse Table
Located in Essex, MA
Rectangular with conforming gallery over a drawer and a trestle base with a stretcher.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Pair of 19th Century French Corinthian Column Gilt Bronze Candlesticks
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Pair of 19th Century French Corinthian column gilt bronze candlesticks.
With tripod-shaped feet on paws and acanthus sheathed and fluted pillars.
Ci...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Maison Jansen, Pair of Directoire Style Wall Sconces Gilt and Silver Brass 1970s
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Maison Jansen, in the taste of.
Pair of Directoire style gilt and silver brass wall sconces with four arm lights. Chandelle shaft topped by an ancient covered vase and finished by...
Category
1970s European Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Pair French Directoire Bronze and Marble Neo-Classical Figural Candelabra
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This amazing pair of Louis XVI / Directoire period candelabra are of the finest quality.
The figures are modeled as Roman Vestal Virgins issuing three scrolling acanthus leaf candle ...
Category
1790s French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Carrara Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century Pair of French Directoire Bronze Dore Bird and Arrow Wall Sconces
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of French Directoire-style (19th Century) bronze dore wall scoces with two arms, a double wreath design, and bird head and arrow details. (PRICED AS Pa...
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
1940s French Lounge Chairs Pair
Located in New York, NY
1940s pair of French lounge chairs that are nicely upholstered in silk with rolled arms and loose down filled seat cushions. The chairs have flared mahogany legs.
Category
1940s Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Mahogany, Silk
$14,000 / set
Late 19th Century Directoire Style Armchair
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful 19th century Directoire style armchair with pegged construction. Newly upholstered in textured purple/white fabric with plum linen back. Shell details carved to back with s...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Late 18th Century French Marble and Gilt Bronze Clock
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
A fine example of a late 18th century Directoir marble and gilt bronze clock after a model by Deverberie. The dial is signed a Paris but the maker is not known. The clock sits on...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
English walnut and elm burl walnut tilt of the 1700s
By A. Manzoni
Located in Villa Verucchio, Emilia-Romagna
18th-century English walnut and elm burl walnut flap - A masterpiece of style and function
The 18th-century English walnut and elm burl flap is an elegant example of period craftsma...
Category
Late 18th Century British Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Elm, Nutwood
Pair of 18th Century Italian Demi Lune Console Tables
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Handsome pair of 18th Century Italian demi-lune consoles.
Of blond walnut construction with hand-carved legs, hand-carved stretchers and a beautiful patina to the tops.
Category
18th Century Italian Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Vicentine Direttorio walnut dresser from the 1700s
By A. Manzoni
Located in Villa Verucchio, Emilia-Romagna
An 18th-Century Masterpiece: 18th-Century Vicentine Directory Walnut Chest of Drawers
Furnishing one's home with period furniture means adding a touch of history and sophistication ...
Category
18th Century Italian Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Nutwood
Pair of Directoire Cream-Painted Slipper Chairs
Located in Kittery Point, ME
Each with a rectangular carved panelled top rail above a pierced vertical splat and an upholstered seat, raised on front tapering circular legs and saber back legs.
The exquisite qu...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Silk, Wood
$7,750 / set
French Directoire Green Diamond Pattern Upholstered Mahogany Bergere Armchair
Located in Queens, NY
"French Directoire bergere armchair with pale green diamond patterned upholstery and walnut frame with curved backrest and padded armrests on balust...
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Wood, Mahogany
Directoire Period Oxblood Salon Suite w/ Saber Legs and Scrolled Backs, Late 18C
Located in New York, NY
This remarkable salon suite from the Directoire period (circa late 18th century) includes a finely crafted small sofa paired with two matching chairs, embodying the restrained elegan...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Wood
19th Century Pair of Directoire Silver metal
Bronze Directoire Candlesticks
Located in Madrid, ES
Pair of French Directory period candlesticks, early 19th century, in silver bronze with base decoration with concentric arches, upper part decorated w...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Directoire Mahogany Trestle Table, Early 19th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
Directoire mahogany trestle table, early 19th century. An octagonal top with lower shelf table.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
$3,500 Sale Price
30% Off
Steel and Brass Coffee Table in the Manner of Jansen
Located in New York, NY
Polished steel and brass coffee table manner of Jansen. Stretcher has curved legs with brass ball feet.
Category
1960s French Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Brass, Steel
LATE 18th-EARLY 19th CENTURY MARBLE BUST OF A YOUNG CHARIOTEER
Located in Firenze, FI
Elegant white marble bust, supported by a circular base in turned marble. The bust depicts a young charioteer, portrayed with a serene expression, and his face framed by curly, volum...
Category
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Directoire furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Directoire furniture 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 furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include tables, case pieces and storage cabinets, seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Directoire furniture made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Italy pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original furniture, popular names associated with this style include Maison Jansen, Baker Furniture Company, Gherardo Degli Albizzi, and Century Furniture. 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 furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $100 and tops out at $91,647 while the average work can sell for $4,519.
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