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.
to
126
565
237
735
77
6
199,578
113,954
43,725
33,617
16,389
12,293
10,841
10,801
9,954
9,003
7,259
6,759
6,444
6,411
6,157
5,865
4,926
3,787
179
243
313
83
64
149
52
8
5
13
7
24
53
27
17
11
5
554
362
178
173
131
673
556
71
58
54
818
749
782
8
7
3
2
2
Style: Directoire
Maison Jansen Style Directoire Style Marble Top Two Door Cabinet Commode Buffet
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This Maison Jansen style Directoire marble top commode buffet is a fine example of understated French elegance and timeless versatility. The cabinet features a beautifully veined ori...
Category
1950s French Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Breccia Marble
LATE 18th CENTURY DIRECTOIRE PERIOD WALNUT SOFA
Located in Firenze, FI
An elegant, compact sofa, crafted from solid walnut and veneered walnut. The sofa features truncated pyramid legs, typical of the period, and flared armrests that lend elegance and b...
Category
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Walnut
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 Tilt Top Dining Table
Located in Winter Park, FL
A vintage French Directoire style oval tilt-top table made of solid walnut. Unusual lyre shaped swivel provides sturdy support. Dining table height. Thick 1" plank top with high glos...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Directoire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
18th Century Pair of Italian Gilt Wood Angel Wall Shelves
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A pair of superb and monumental 1700's Italian gilt wood angel wall shelves. These hand carved wood wall bracket shelves have incredible details and wonderful gold leaf gilding. Such...
Category
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Gold Leaf
$2,720 Sale Price
39% Off
Directoire Gilt-Bronze Marble Mounted Chariot Clock, Late 19th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
A very fine and delicate directoire style gilt-bronze marble mounted chariot clock. Exquisite bronze work depicting a winged charioteer guiding a pair of...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
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
French Directoire style 3-door sideboard in solid cherry wood
Located in Landivy, FR
This 3 doors sideboard 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 straight, sober, timeless lines, sometimes enhanced by decorative motifs such as fluting, diamonds or Louis XVI rings...
Category
2010s French Directoire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Fine Quality French Sword and Scabbard Form Marble Top Gueridon Table
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Add a touch of regal French flair to your interior with this fine quality French sword and scabbard form marble top gueridon table, a masterfully crafted piece that combines neoclass...
Category
1960s French Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
French Pair of Directoire Style Armchairs with Incredible Patina c1900
Located in Chicago, IL
Matched pair of French Directoire Armchairs. Incredible finish, or should I say lack of finish, whatever you preference the patination is wo...
Category
Early 20th Century French Directoire Furniture
Materials
Hardwood, Upholstery
French Directoire style desk in oak
Located in Landivy, FR
This computer desk is proposed here in solid oak from France and is also available in cherry.
A black leather desk pad equips the top.
The top is sli...
Category
2010s French Directoire Furniture
Materials
Leather, Oak
$3,223 / item
Directoire Armchair, France 1800-10
Located in Leimen, DE
Discover the elegance and historical charm of this Directoire armchair, originating from France around 1800. This piece showcases a meticulously carved walnut frame, reflecting the r...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
Metal Cabinet with Antique French Directoire Period Doors
Located in Sheffield, MA
These Directoire period metal doors were once window shutters on an 18th century French chateau that now have been repurposed and made into doors for this cabinet which can lend itse...
Category
18th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Iron
French Neoclassical Console Table
Located in Greenwich, CT
Fine French early 19th century walnut neoclassical console or pier table, the top with wooden gallery edge with ebonized molded edge over two drawer...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
French 18th Century Directoire Bed
Located in Stockbridge, GA
French 18th century Directoire bed.
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Wood
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
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
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
Antique Directoire Style Verre Églomisé Glass Barometer
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Antique Directoire style verre églomisé glass barometer, 19th century. Barometer is not functional it is purely decorative.
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Glass, Wood
Fine Set of 8 French Directoire Louis XVI Style Paint Decorated Dining Chairs
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This fine set of 8 French Directoire Louis XVI style dining chairs beautifully captures the elegance and refinement of neoclassical French design. Each chair features a delicately pa...
Category
1950s French Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
French Directoire Style Brass Trimmed Leather Top Vanity Desk, Circa 1890
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This French Directoire style brass trimmed vanity desk, circa 1890, exemplifies refined Parisian elegance from the late 19th century. Crafted in fine mahogany, the piece features a r...
Category
1890s French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Brass
$1,960 Sale Price
20% Off
French Directoire style round Table in solid cherry wood, white-cream lacquered
Located in Landivy, FR
This piece belongs to our DIRECTOIRE collection, which takes up the Directoire style, very famous at the end of the 18th century in France.
It is remarkable for its straight, classic...
Category
2010s French Directoire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Cherry, Oak
Charles Pollack Custom Ottoman
Located in Dallas, TX
Custom ottoman by Charles Pollack with semi attached boxed seat cushion covered in Bergamo fabric.
Category
Late 20th Century American Directoire Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Set of Eight French 19th Century Directoire St. Patinated Wood Dining Chairs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and very unique complete set of eight French 19th century Directoire st. patinated wood dining chairs. Each chair is raised by lovely turned circular legs at the front wit...
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Wood
French Directoire Style Cream Painted Gilt Polychromed Decorative Barometer
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
French Cream Painted and Gilt Polychromed Directoire Barometer
P. F. Bollenbach Barometer and Thermometer, 20th Century
A stunning French-style cream-painted and gilt polychromed D...
Category
20th Century American Directoire Furniture
Materials
Glass, Wood
$1,196 Sale Price
27% Off
French Directoire Gold Giltwood Mirror with Original Mercury Glass 19th Century
Located in Milano, IT
This exquisite French Directoire mirror, crafted in gold giltwood, features its original mercury glass, adding a touch of historical charm. Dating back to the 19th century, the mirro...
Category
18th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Mercury Glass, Giltwood
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
Early 19th Century French Three Drawer Commode
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
An elegant French commode, called a "Sauteuse" because of it's shapely, long legs ready to spring forth!
Original ebonised finish with decorative brass drawer handles and escutcheons...
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Custom Hand-Made Louis Philippe Style Bookcase or Display Cabinet, Any Dimension
Located in Chicago, IL
Handmade in the Old Plank workshop and fabricated this awesome reproduction French Bibliotheque, copying an authentic antique one verbatim. Newly constructed bookcase with the utmost...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Directoire Furniture
Materials
Brass, Gold Leaf
Narrow Depth Metal Cabinet with Antique French Directoire Period Doors
Located in Sheffield, MA
These Directoire period metal doors were once window shutters on an 18th century French chateau that now have been repurposed and made into doors for this cabinet which can lend itse...
Category
18th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Iron
French fruitwood marquetry top writing table, 1950’s
Located in Kenilworth, IL
Academic Revival rectangular bureau plat in the French Directoire taste. The fruitwood marquetry top is mounted on a conforming apron fitted with a divided long drawer. Each drawer f...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Directoire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Pair of Antique Aprey French Faience Pottery Cachepots or Jardinieres
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine pair of antique French faience jardinieres or cachepots.
By Aprey.
Each with two painted scenes on either side. One has a man gardening and a woman carrying a breadbask...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Faience
Unusual Antique Silver Inkwell & Document Box
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Antique Silver Inkwell & Document Box. No apparent hallmarks so we are assuming this is silver plate.
Category
Mid-19th Century British Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Silver Plate
$1,280 Sale Price
20% Off
Fine Pair of French Bronze and Malachite Directoire Gueridons Mid 20th Century
Located in Dallas, TX
A fine pair of early to mid 20th century French gilt bronze and malachite topped gueridon cigarette tables.
Category
Early 20th Century French Directoire Furniture
Materials
Malachite, Bronze
Louis XVI Style Marble Top Console Server Patinated Mirror
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
ChatGPT said:
This Louis XVI Style Marble Top Console Server with Patinated Mirror exudes timeless sophistication and French neoclassical elegance. Featuring a luxurious marble top ...
Category
1960s French Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
$3,996 Sale Price
20% Off
Round Marble Top Gueridon Table With Mahogany Shelves
Located in Locust Valley, NY
A vintage round marble top gueridon table with a brass rail, brass legs and mahogany shelves. At the heart of this gueridon table is a round white carrara marble top, exuding a luxur...
Category
Mid-20th Century Directoire Furniture
Materials
Carrara Marble
French Early 19th Century Directoire St. Mahogany And Ormolu Jardiniere Planter
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exceptional and most decorative French early 19th century Directoire st. Mahogany and ormolu jardiniere planter circa 1805. The planter is raised by an elegant bottom tier with fi...
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
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
French Directoire style handcrafted striped Bonnetiere in solid cherry wood
Located in Landivy, FR
This piece belongs to our MELANIE collection, which is a handmade modernized interpretation of this French Directoire style. The Directoire periode started at the end of the 18th cen...
Category
2010s French Directoire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Cherry, Lacquer, Oak
French Directoire Period Trumeau Mirror, Interior Scene, Circa 1800
Located in Doylestown, PA
A French Directoire Period trumeau mirror with charming painted scene of a well-to-do family in a sitting room engaged in various activities, circa 1800, oil-on-canvas, and retaining its original giltwood frame and mercury plate mirror...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Canvas, Mirror, Paint
$2,200 Sale Price
20% Off
Directoire Bureau a Cylindre - France, circa 1800, Mahogany Secretaire or Desk
Located in Greven, DE
Desk with mirror attachment - Bureau à cylindre
France
Mahogany
Directoire circa 1800
Dimensions: H x W x D: 149 x 97 x 50 cm
Description:
Top-mounted desk standing on tapered rou...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Brass
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
$7,916 / set
Italian Desk In The Giuseppe Maggiolini Style - 20th Century
Located in RUEIL-MALMAISON, FR
Desk in precious wood and finely executed marquetry, inspired by the work of Giuseppe Maggiolini (1738-1814), a cabinetmaker renowned for his detailed neoclassical marquetry.
Desk i...
Category
Early 20th Century Italian Directoire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Reclaimed French Chic Stone Fireplace Mantel For A Good Price
Located in Beervelde, BE
Antique fireplace surround in French Bleu-Green stone with a restoration on the front piece. This original French reclaimed 18th century period fireplace is available for a good pric...
Category
18th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Stone
Dining Room Set of Eight Italian Chairs and a Pair of Armchairs, 1790
Located in Rome, IT
A fine set of Nord-Italian walnut chairs (8) and a pair of armchairs,
Covered in ivory color silk in perfect condition.
Lombardy Nord Italy, last quarter of the 18th century.
Category
Late 18th Century Italian Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Walnut
$17,255 Sale Price / set
20% Off
18th Century Louis XVI Bedroom Bench or Daybed by George Jacob
Located in Richmond, London
A fine French late 18th century Klismos bench, of great colour and desirable generous proportions.
Stamped G.Jacob.
France, circa 1795.
Why we like it
A handsome, timeless design. With its curved sabre legs at either end, this bench relates to the ancient Greek 'Klismos' seats, often seen depicted on Attic pottery. Its superb quality, splendid patination and a recorded maker...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
French Louis XVI Style Gold Gilt Octagonal Beveled Glass Wall Hanging Mirror
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Dimensions- H: 40 1/4in W: 28 1/4in D: 1in
This French Louis XVI Style Gold Gilt Octagonal Beveled Glass Wall Hanging Mirror is truly exceptional! If you take a look at the photos provided you'll see the exceptional attention to detail within the carved gilt frame. One dead give away that this piece is quality is by looking at the beveled mirror. Beveled mirror is much more expensive than plain mirror lower end furniture companies did not bother to put higher end materials into their product as it would cost them more money. This mirror is perfect to be used as a vanity mirror, Bathroom Mirror, Bedroom mirror, entryway mirror, or kitchen mirror...
Category
Late 20th Century American Directoire Furniture
Materials
Composition
Mid-Century French Maison Jansen Bronze, Steel and Glass Cocktail Coffee Table
Located in Dallas, TX
Crafted in France circa 1950, this mid-century coffee table by Maison Jansen exemplifies the firm’s signature blend of neoclassical elegance and modern restraint. The rectangular fra...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Directoire Furniture
Materials
Brass, Bronze, Steel
Very Fine Antique Dovetailed Leather top Letter Secretary Desk Chest of Drawers
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Very Fine Antique Dovetailed Leather top Letter Secretary Desk Chest of Drawers MINT
Category
20th Century American Directoire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
French Period Directoire Trumeau Mirror with Distressed Paint, Late 18th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French period Directoire trumeau mirror from the late 18th century with gilded accents, carved urn, distressed paint and mirror. This French Directoire mirror features an elegant l...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Mirror, Wood
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 Furniture
Materials
Wood
Vintage Duck Doorstop Sculpture Solid Brass, England Ca 1970's
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Large cast iron sculpture of a duck in solid brass. This large door stop is both form and function, can be used as a door stop as well as a sculptural piece on a fireplace mantel as ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Directoire Furniture
Materials
Brass
French Directoire Style 3-drawer lacquered console table in solid wood
Located in Landivy, FR
This Console is a handmade reproduction of the French Directoire Style at the end of the 18th century. This period is remarkable with its straight, classical and timeless lines.
This Console is made of solid French cherry wood.
Its finish consists of black lacquered legs and white-cream lacquered drawers, shelf and top.
This Console features 3 drawers with Louis XVI rings...
Category
2010s French Directoire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Cherry, Oak, Lacquer
Mid 19th Century Candlestick - Swans - Ormolu Gilt Bronze
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
Refined French ormolu bronze candlestick, mid 19th century, finely detailed and beautifully cast. The base is formed by three sculpted swans, their long necks rising gracefully to su...
Category
1860s French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Bronze, Ormolu
Set Three (3) French Directoire Style Bronze and Marble Pedestals
Located in New York, NY
Set of three large very fine quality and rare French Directoire style Pedestals or plant stands with verdigris and gilt patina, with circular marble tops attributed to Caldwell. ...
Category
Early 20th Century Directoire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Directoire cylinder desk with a book case on top, France 1800
Located in Leimen, DE
Directoire cylinder desk with a book case on top, France 1800, mahogany veneer. The desk has its original brass fittings. The leather on the writing surface is original as well. The ...
Category
1790s French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
18th Century Black Belgian Marble Arts And Crafts Fireplace Surround
Located in Beervelde, BE
Fabulous 18th century Belgian antique fireplace surround. A small Black Belgian marble and Belgian Ardenne marble jewel in great condition. One of a kind original fireplace surround ...
Category
18th Century Belgian Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Belgian Black Marble
18th Century French Directoire Bergere
Located in Houston, TX
18th century French Directoire Bergere.
This stunning 18th century period French Directoire chair or bergère is the perfect side chair, ...
Category
18th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Extraordinary Solid Bronze French Marble Top Directoire Sideboard with Mirror
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Introduce timeless sophistication and impeccable craftsmanship to your space with this Extraordinary Solid Bronze French Marble Top Directoire Sideboard with Mirror. A rare and opule...
Category
1890s French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
$7,196 Sale Price
20% Off
Pair Ebonized Black Cane Back French Directoire Bergere Chairs Brass Accents
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This pair of French Directoire bergère chairs combines neoclassical elegance with timeless sophistication, featuring finely crafted ebonized black frames accented with brass details....
Category
1950s French Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Brass
$1,996 Sale Price / set
20% Off
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.
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Burled Walnut Desk
Burnished Bamboo
Butter Table
Cabinet Dowel
Cabinets With Metal Inlay
Cameo Glass Bowl
Campaign Chest 1970
Campaign Chest Camphor
Canopic Jars
Canton Chinese Bowl
Cardinal Sculpture
Carrera Marble Dining Table
Carved Boar
Cast Grape Vine
Ceramic Cheetah
Ceramic Giraffe
Ceramic Pagoda
Ceramic Spanish Jug