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 Directory Cherry Wood Secetary Desk
Located in Madrid, ES
A French Directory era secretary desk, from the early 19th century, made of beautiful cherry wood, in a light tone with bronze handles and bronze keyholes as well. In their lower par...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Directoire Style French Antique Desk
Located in Austin, TX
Desk from France in the Directoire style. This piece is made of solid wood construction, primarily rosewood and tinted rosewood parquetry. The writing table has been finished with a ...
Category
1910s French Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Early 19th Century French Ormolu-Gilded Inkwell
Located in Copenhagen, K
French cut-glass, Palisander and ormolu inkwell. Sneaks as handle and claw on ball feet. Original glass wells and two drawers.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$2,800 Sale Price
37% Off
Pair of Chinoiserie Maison Jansen Attributed French Directoire Commodes
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a wonderful pair of distressed finished pale apple green, French made Directoire commodes attributed to Maison Jansen. The commodes are a rare pair of three drawer commodes a...
Category
1940s French Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Brass
French Louis XVI Directoire Style Marble Top Sideboard Buffett, Maison Jansen
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Dimensions- H: 35 1/2in W: 104in D: 21 1/4in
This French Louis XVI Directoire Style Marble Top Sideboard Buffett attributed to Maison Jansen is made of the highest quality and is bo...
Category
Mid-20th Century Argentine Directoire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
Pair of Directoire Style Étagères
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Directoire style mahogany étagères or bookcases. Has brass pineapple finials at the top.
Category
1960s Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
$11,500 / set
Zabihi Collection Vintage Turkish Anatolian Runner
Located in New York, NY
1930s Turkish Anatolian runner in soft brown, beige, and pink
Details
rug no. j3530
size 2'5" x 9' 6" (74 x 290 cm)
Category
20th Century Turkish Directoire Furniture
Materials
Wool
19th Century French Comtoise Clock Movement
Located in Denton, TX
A great industrial accent for a tabletop or bookshelf the combination of brass and steel gears and a bronze bell. This movement is in non working condition and is used for decorative...
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Brass, Bronze, Steel, Iron
$720 Sale Price
20% Off
French 19th Century Directoire Roll Top Secretary
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A stately French Directoire roll top secretary. This massive desk is over six feet long and four feet tall with a grey marble top. Directly beneath the marble are three drawers with ...
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
Mid Century Lacquered Louis XVI Style Dressing Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
White lacquered mid century Louis XVI style dressing table outlined in lime green accent.
Category
20th Century Italian Directoire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Pair of Maison Jansen Style Carved Walnut X Form Stools Benches
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a fantastic pair of hand-made Maison Jansen style X form benches. The benches are in good condition with hand-carved, hand-made frames and decent upholstery. The benches are ...
Category
1970s French Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
French Directoire Style Bookcase in Solid Oak white Stained pearl grey Lacquered
Located in Landivy, FR
This 3 doors bookcase is a handmade reproduction of the French Directoire Style at the end of the 18th century.
This period style is remarkable with its straight, classical and timel...
Category
2010s French Directoire Furniture
Materials
Glass, Wood, Cherry, Oak, Lacquer
20th C. Directoire Style Painted and Floral Crewelwork Upholstered Bregere
Located in Morristown, NJ
Mid 20th C. Directoire style crewelwork bergere with a cream painted wood frame decorated with bands of carved rope and draped swags. The crewelwork upholstery is accented with a com...
Category
1980s American Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Silk, Wood
Antique French Directoire Solid Mahogany Dining Table, Exquisite Bronze Details
Located in Chicago, IL
On first glance, one might misinterpret this mahogany dining table as just another 1940’s-1960’s veneer mahogany Louis XVI style French dining table. On closer inspection, you will s...
Category
1870s French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$6,850 Sale Price
52% Off
Early 19th Century Directoire Cherry Wood Antique Single Bed
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Delicious Italian directoire antique single bed in cherry wood, 1800. Internal dimensions inch W 30,70 D 74,01 cm W 78, D 188. Attention this bed wi...
Category
Early 1800s Italian Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Iron
$2,364 Sale Price
20% Off
French Directoire Style Bronze Wall Panels
Located in Sherborne, GB
French Directoire style bronze wall mounted panels, the classic X-frame panels with central diamond made from molten enamel.
So stylish, these panels can be wall mounted to give ...
Category
Late 20th Century French Directoire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$2,032 / set
Directoire Console Table, France, circa 1800, Mahogany
Located in Belmont, MA
Directoire console table, France, circa 1800.
This Classic Directoire French console table has a beautiful mahogany veneer. The brass fittings are original. The marble top is framed ...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Set of Four Samuel Copelon Swan & Lyre Back Dining Chairs
Located in Peabody, MA
A set of four wrought iron lyre-back chairs in the French style by the Samuel Copelon Company of New York, one with original label. They feature art deco bronze swan finials and padd...
Category
1950s American Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Wrought Iron
French Directoire Louis XVI Demilune Shape Marble Top Marble Top Console Table
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
Early 1900s French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Carrara Marble, Brass
$3,000 Sale Price
20% Off
Large French Directoire Style Armchair
Located in Buchanan, NY
An exceptional 19th century French Directoire style armchair. This large Directoire style fauteuil is a timeless piece of French design. Featuring a beautiful white-distressed wooden...
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
Antique Directoire Chest Of Drawers In Walnut - Italy 18th
Located in Atlanta, GA
This elegant Directoire chest of drawers originates from Modena in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy and dates to the late 18th century. Crafted entirely from solid walnut, the piec...
Category
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
19th C. French Directoire Carved Walnut Armchair with Gold Velvet Upholstery
Located in Chicago, IL
19th Century French Directoire carved walnut armchair with white paint and gold velvet upholstery.
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Velvet, Walnut, Paint
Unique Greek Key John Vesey Style Marble Top Steel Demilune Console Table
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a beautiful Directoire style demilune console table. The table is in good condition and measures 15.25 deep x 30.25 wide x 34.25 tall with greek key and tradtional Directoire...
Category
Early 2000s European Directoire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Metal
$1,276 Sale Price
20% Off
Diminutive Antique Directoire Bookcase Secretary
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A finely constructed bookcase secretary with a chest. The tall cabinet has a pierced brass 3/4 gallery around the marble top with cookie corners. The bookcase has a frieze drawer ove...
Category
19th Century Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
Chests of Drawers Walnut & Tulipwood, Bespoke
Located in Uppingham, GB
Two Drawer Chest of Drawers.
Modern design two drawer chest with simple lines, matching 'Stripey' Walnut Grained tops, Two finely Beaded drawers resting on slender tapering legs.
Mad...
Category
2010s British Directoire Furniture
Materials
Tulipwood, Walnut
$5,364 Sale Price / set
43% Off
Pair 18th Century Directoire Gold Parcel Gilt Painted Bergéres
Located in Houston, TX
Exquisite pair of late 18th Century Directoire bergères featuring parcel gilt detailing, faded sea green paint and upholstered in Velluto Sforza Venetian velvet fabric with outside b...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Velvet, Wood, Giltwood
Elegant Antique Italian Directoire Fruitwood Side Table with Octagonal Top
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Superb antique Italian fruitwood side table having 3 tiers including an elongated octagonal top, two oval shelves below and a very elegant refined silouette.
Category
1940s Italian Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Fruitwood
19th Century French Directoire Commode or Chest of Drawers
Located in Winter Park, FL
An early 19th Century French Directoire Period commode made of solid cherry wood with yellow pine as a secondary wood. Unusual form with serpentine sides. Rounded fluted front corner...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Italian Brass Glass Nesting End Tables Directoire Maison Jansen Style, Set
Located in New York, NY
A versatile and substantial set/pair of Italian brass and glass nesting tables in the Directoire style, in the style of design h...
Category
1960s Italian Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Brass
18th Century French Folding Secrétaire in Walnut Veneer, Époque Directoire
Located in Sofia, BG
19th century folding secretary in walnut veneer and flamed mahogany opening to a drawer in the upper part and three drawers in the lower part, the fluted uprights resting on small sp...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Marble
Large Italian Neoclassical Giltwood Récamier Settee in Scalamandré Tiger Velvet
Located in Nashville, TN
And of unusual ( rare ) large dimensions. Matching bolsters for each end. Well worn gilt and paint finish and
losses to frame. Well worn paint and gilded finish. Oxidation to the gi...
Category
1790s Italian Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Giltwood
Pair of Antique French Armchairs Directoire Style
Located in Buxton, GB
Add an elegant touch to your living space with this pair of Antique Directoire style Bergere Armchairs. These chairs boast a stunning Square shape and have Cotton upholstery fabric w...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
Pair of 19th Century French Directoire Upholstered Bergères with Twisted Columns
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of French Directoire style painted wood bergères chairs from the 19th century with twisted columns and new custom upholstery. This elegant pair of French Directoire style berg...
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
French 18th Century Oak Armchair
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A French 18th century (circa 1790) transitional style oak armchair reflecting design influences from Hepplewhite and Sheraton tastes with Directoire refinement. This sturdy, solid oa...
Category
18th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Pair of Antique Directoire Style Painted Armchairs
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Pair of Antique Directoire style painted armchairs, circa 1900. With triangular shaped crest rails flanked by acorn finials, down swept arms, elongated vase shaped arm supports, turn...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Wood, Paint
Extraordinary Solid Bronze French Marble Top Directoire Sideboard with Mirror
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a superbly crafted, one-of-a-kind solid bronze mirrored sideboard in teh Directoire style from France. The piece is in very good condition ...
Category
1890s French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$7,196 Sale Price
20% Off
Pair of Directoire Style Carved Armchairs Attributed to Theodore Alexander
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Dimensions - H: 27 3/4 in W: 24 in D: 23 1/2 in SH: 19 1/4 in
This striking pair of Directoire style carved armchairs, attributed to the renowned Theodore Alexander, exemplifies th...
Category
20th Century Unknown Directoire Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
18th Century Original Antique Fireplace Mantel
Located in Beervelde, BE
Phenomenal fireplace surround from the free mason compagnon in bicolor burgundy hard stone. The carving is very fine and very unusual.
Measures:
142.5 cm EW 56.10",
112 cm EH...
Category
18th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Stone
Pair of Neoclassical Demilune Commodes
Located in Greenwich, CT
A very fine pair of early 19th Century Northern European neoclassical demilune commodes, the original shaped marble tops over two brass molded door...
Category
Early 19th Century Scandinavian Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Marble
$55,000 / set
French Directoire Pendule, Black Marble, Firegilded Bronze, circa 1800
Located in Greven, DE
Antique portal clock
France
marble, bronze, enamel
Directoire around 1800
Dimensions: H x W x D: 46 x 28 x 14 cm
Description:
Antique portal c...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Belgian Black Marble, Bronze
Pair of French Provencal Directoire Style Commodes
Located in Kilmarnock, VA
A rustic yet handsome pair of 1950s Italian fruitwood chests crafted in the French Provincial Directoire style. With their clean lines, tapering legs, and restrained neoclassical det...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Directoire Furniture
Materials
Fruitwood
Pair of French Directoire Candlesticks, circa 1790
Located in Knivsta, SE
A pair of rare and beautiful French Directoire candlesticks in gilt bronze from the late 18th century.
In very good antique condition.
Marked in the lower part of the foot with "13...
Category
1790s French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Gold Plate, Bronze
Fantastic Bronze or Brass Maison Jansen Style 5 Tier Etagere Bookshelf Display
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a unique and beautiful Maison Jansen style French brass etagere with 5 tiers. The etagere is in good condition with minor scuffs and a crack to an edge of one glass shelf but...
Category
1970s French Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Brass
French 19th Century Directoire Settee
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A sumptuous French 19th century settee, Directoire in style, with original painted finish of French gray-blue and spruce green. The tightly upholstered seatback and bench seat is don...
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Wood, Paint
Pair of Late 18th Century French Chateau Doors
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Pair of late 18th Century French Directoire period chateau internal double doors and frames.
(Dimensions are for each door).
Category
18th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Wood
$7,803 / set
Louis XVI Directoire Style French Mahogany and Marble Top Stand Circa 1910
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This Louis XVI Style French Marble Top Stand is made of the highest quality and is truly remarkable! Although small this little stand/end table packs a punch! and will most definitel...
Category
1910s European Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
$1,276 Sale Price
20% Off
Fine Set of 8 French Directoire Louis XVI Style Paint Decorated Dining Chairs
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a gorgeous set of 8 paint decorated dining chairs. The chairs are color coordinated with the same color of the upholstery on their tim details. The chairs are in good conditi...
Category
1950s French Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Simple and Sophisticated French Travertine Marble Metal and Brass Gueridon Table
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a superb, very well-made brass and steel gueridon or end table. The table is very chic and sophisticated and has delicately design details and is entirely hand-wrought metal....
Category
1950s French Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Travertine, Brass, Steel
Pair of Directoire Style Bookcases, China Cabinets Made by Old Plank in Any Size
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of French Directoire Inspired Bookcases, China Cabinets or Display Cabinets made in house by Old Plank. Roughly 30-years ago we purchased in France a similar Directoire style Bo...
Category
2010s American Directoire Furniture
Materials
Brass, Wire
Circle of François Boucher – "Venus and Cupid" – Oil on canvas – 18th century
Located in Madrid, ES
An elegant 18th-century oil on canvas, attributable to the circle of François Boucher, depicting Venus, goddess of love and beauty, accompanied by Cupid (Amore). Seated on clouds, cr...
Category
18th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Canvas
Directoire Walnut Tricoteuse Table
Located in Essex, MA
Elongated octagonal top with gallery and fold down hinged panel. Trestle base with two oval lower shelves. The trestle sides with ebonized lozenge decoration. These tables were made ...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Custom Painted Bookcases Made in Our Old Plank Workshop in Any Dimension, Pair
Located in Chicago, IL
Stunning pair of handmade solid wood bookcases, custom made for one of our designer clients. These bookcases are made to the highest standards here...
Category
2010s American Directoire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Glass, Paint
A Pair Of Gilt Bronze And White Marble Guèridon Tables
Located in Bradenton, FL
Pair of Gilt Bronze With White Marble Guèridon Tables. The set features small round tables with the marble top raised on three in-curved supports joined by a marble inset undershelf ...
Category
20th Century French Directoire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French Directoire style 3-door hand-crafted buffet in solid cherry wood
Located in Landivy, FR
This 3-door buffet is a craft handed reproduction of the world-renowned French Directoire style, which dates back to the end of the 18th century.
This range is characterized by stra...
Category
2010s French Directoire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Large Italian Bureau 18th Century Inlayed Walnut Chest of Drawers with Flap
Located in Milano, MI
An Italian monumental sized bureau with flap dating back to the second half of 18th century. Three deep drawers and a fall-front opening to reveal a fitted interior with six small dr...
Category
1770s Italian Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Cherry, Maple, Walnut
$7,570 Sale Price
50% Off
French 19th Century Directoire Red Marble Table
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This fruitwood occasional table is topped with an inset piece of stunning red Rosso Francia marble and surrounded by a 3/4th gallery over an apron with a single drawer. The drawer co...
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Stone, Marble, Metal, Brass
French Handcrafted Directoire Style 2-Door Cabinet in solid-cherry wood
Located in Landivy, FR
This 2-door small sideboard ( "mini-bahut") is a handcrafted reproduction of the French Directoire Style at the end of the 18th century.
This period style is remarkable with its str...
Category
2010s French Directoire Furniture
Materials
Brass
French Directoire Mahogany and Glass 3 Panel Screen
Located in Queens, NY
English Sheraton style (19/20th Century) 3-panel mahogany screen with applied carved molding and small roSettes below 9 pane glass windows in each panel.
Each panel 17.75" W. Wear t...
Category
20th Century French Directoire Furniture
Materials
Glass, Wood, Mahogany
20th C. Sophisticated French Credenza by M. Hirsch
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sophisticated French Credenza, Signed Hirsch, Paris.
This 4 door credenza/buffet is ebonized, and is made in Directoire style.
Category
20th Century French Directoire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Early 19th Century French "Toilette D'Homme" or Dressing Table
Located in Greven, DE
Small antique dressing table
Paris
Mahogany on oak
Directoire around 1800
Dimensions: H x W x D: 113 x 58 x 43 cm
Description:
In an issue of the famous Parisian fashion magazine ...
Category
Early 19th Century French 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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