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
Directoire Diminutive Walnut Secrétaire à Abattant and a Similar Diminutive
Located in Buchanan, MI
A 19th century Directoire diminutive walnut Secrétaire a' Abattant and a similar diminutive five-drawer chest. Great small drinks table or jewelry chest. Great attention paid to deta...
Category
Early 19th Century English Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Sober, 18th Century French Provincial Country Dining Table
Located in New York, NY
An expandable French country dining table from the Directoire period (1795-1803) that combines warmth with sobriety with it's chic tapered legs and stretchers. Two pullout leaves and...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Oak
Suite of 5 engravings of Antique scenes after Moitte by Janinet
By Jean François Janinet
Located in Paris, FR
Suite of 5 Directoire-period etchings and aquatint engravings depicting scenes from antiquity, after drawings by Jean-Guillaume MOITTE (1746-1810), author, and by the engraver Jean F...
Category
1790s French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Paper
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 Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Pinwheel Portico Clock
Located in Stamford, CT
A French Empire pinwheel portico clock with figured amboyna wood. Signed Rieussec, Horlogier du Roi.
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Amboyna
$14,800
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
Very Fine Directoire Style French Gilt Bronze and Marble Mantel Clock
Located in Atlanta, GA
A very fine French Directoire style gilt bronze and marble (Rosso Levanto) Mantel Clock. 19th Century.
movement stamped 1075.
Measures: height 16 1/2" x width 18" x depth 5 1/2"
C...
Category
1860s French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
A pair of large green Lanterns , Classic Baltic style crystal and gilt bronze
By C. Rossi 1
Located in Paris, FR
A pair of large Neo classical Lanterns in Baltic Directoire style, 4 lights, clear crystal bowl, overcome by a green crystal disc , gilt bronze fixings with foliage and grapes moti...
Category
1990s Baltic Directoire Furniture
Materials
Crystal
French Directoire Period Ormolu and Patinated Bronze Mantel Clock Signed Maniere
By C. Maniere
Located in London, GB
French Directoire period ormolu and patinated bronze mantel clock signed Maniere a Paris. A magnificent antique French Directoire mantel clock in patinated bronze and finest ormolu signed Maniere a Paris for Charles-Guillaume Maniere who was working in the Rue...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
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
Pair of French 19th Century Directoire St. Mahogany and Marble Consoles
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A very elegant pair of French 19th century Directoire st. Mahogany, ebonized Fruitwood, and Vert Maurin marble consoles. Each freestanding console is raised by slender square tapered...
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Marble
19th Century, French Louis XVI Style Six Wood Chairs and Two Wood Armchairs
Located in IT
19th century, French Louis XVI style six wood chairs and two wood armchairs
France, late 19th century
Size: chairs, cm H back 90, seat height 46 x...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Set Of 6 Directoire Style Armchairs , Wood and Fabric, Belgium
Located in Brussels, BE
Set Of 6 Directoire Style Armchairs , Wood and Fabric, Belgium
Category
2010s Belgian Directoire Furniture
Materials
Wood
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
French 19th Century Directoire St. Walnut Stool
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most elegant French 19th century Directoire st. Walnut stool. The circular stool is raised by lovely lightly curved square tapered legs below the straight wrap around frieze.
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
18th Century Directoire Commode, Mahogany, Walnut and Sycamore
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
18th Century Directoire Commode, Mahogany, Walnut and Sycamore with Original hardware. has CHAPNIS stamped. Piece is gorgeous and pr...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany, Sycamore, Walnut
Bronze Dore and Cobalt Chandelier
Located in Stamford, CT
A doré bronze and cobalt chandelier with a three-feather, circular design in the Russian or Directoire style.
Category
Late 20th Century European Directoire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Large Candelabra-Candlesticks in Gilded Wood, France Directoire Period
Located in Paris, FR
Two large candelabra-candlesticksdecorated with lion claw and cherub heads on the on the visible side .
They are turned wood and are decorated, engraved and gilded only on one side ...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Gold Leaf
French Directoire Terracotta Frieze
Located in Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire
A carved frieze of three terracotta panels of dancing maidens: French Directoire
From the frieze of a rotunda.
Repaired breaks
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Terracotta
$6,796 / set
Tripod Table with Verdigris Stone Top
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Fine Karelian wood tri-pod table with brass mounts in the Directoire taste with polished verdigris stone top.
Category
20th Century Directoire Furniture
French 19th Century Directoire Style Side/Center Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exceptional and most decorative French 19th century Directoire style flamed mahogany, rosewood, maplewood and ormolu side/center table. The table is raised by its original casters...
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Directoire Style Gilt Bronze Two-Light Sconce by Gherardo degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This French Directoire style sconce features top-quality chiselled bronze, with many vivid details typical of the end of the 18th century. At the top, there is a staple, a typical el...
Category
2010s Italian Directoire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Early 19th Century Directoire Four-Light Sconces
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Superb Pair of Directoire Sconces, Early 19th century.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Pair of French 19th Century Directoire St. Limoges Porcelain and Ormolu Lamps
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A most elegant pair of French 19th century Directoire st. Limoges porcelain and ormolu lamps. Each lamp is raised by a fine square ormolu base with a lovely beaded wrap around band. ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Set of Six Colonial Safari Armchairs with Animals in the Back Splats
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A set of six French Directoire chairs with figural back splats depicting African animals
France, early 19th century
Each in elm and pea...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Elm, Pearwood
Mid-19th Century Commode
Located in Paris, FR
Commode with three drawers, decorated with antique-inspired images: swags over a reclining draped female holding a cup.
Repatinated.
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Wood
$8,975
French 18th Century Directoire Period Mahogany, Ormolu and Brass Side Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An extremely elegant French 18th century Directoire period mahogany, ormolu and brass side table. The table is raised by three lightly scrolled legs with fine ormolu mounts with beau...
Category
18th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Brass, Ormolu
French 19th Century Directoire St. Mahogany Dessert Console
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning French late 19th century Directoire st. mahogany dessert console. The console is raised on tapered legs with ormolu sabots joined by a mahogany tier. At the apron is a cen...
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Set Of Four French Early 19th Century Directoire St. Patinated Wood Armchairs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant set of four French early 19th century Directoire st. Patinated wood armchairs. Each wonderful chair is raised by circular tapered front legs with two mottled bands and end...
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Set of Four 1940s Directoire Style Mirrors, France
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Chic and understatedly elegant set of four Directoire-style rectangular walnut mirrors, from the 1940s. The corners are embellished with a simple diamond-shape ebonized wood cabochon...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Directoire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Walnut
1950s Directoire Style Brass and Iron Coffee Table
Located in New York, NY
1950s Directoire style iron and brass trim coffee table. Has a smoked glass inserted to the top and arrow formed leg.
Category
1950s French Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Iron
18th Century Pair of Directoire Candelabra With Bronze Griffins
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
18th Century Pair of Directoire Candelabra With Bronze Griffins
Beautiful pair purchased in France. Age appropriate wear, see detailed photos or message us with questions.
Category
18th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Directoire Lyre Back Settee, circa 1880s
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Rare and elegant Directoire style lyre-back settee. Original black paint. Newly reupholstered with vintage fabric. Horsehair-filled cushion.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Polished Steel and Brass Coffee Table in the Style of Maison Jansen
Located in New York, NY
Polished steel and brass coffee table in the style of Maison Jansen.
Category
1960s Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Brass, Steel
19th Century, 6 Mahogany Chairs, Directoire Style
Located in Beaune, FR
Suite of 6 Directoire style mahogany chairs. The seats are covered with a fabric. They are in good condition.
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Directoire Style Gilt Bronze Three-Light Sconce by Gherardo degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This French Directoire style sconce features top-quality chiselled bronze, with many vivid details typical of the end of the 18th century. At the top, there is a staple, a typical el...
Category
2010s Italian Directoire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Directoire Style Gilt Bronze Sconce by Gherardo degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This French Directoire style sconce features top-quality chiselled bronze, with many vivid details. On the top of this sconce, there is a trident sided by two swan's wings. The body ...
Category
2010s Italian Directoire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
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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