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
Pair of French Directoire Nightstands, 1780-1800
Located in Belmont, MA
Pair of French Nightstands, Directoire Period 1780-1800
Step into a world of elegance and history with this remarkable pair of nightstands, hailing from France and dating back to th...
Category
1780s French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
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
Pair of Gilt and Patinated Bronze Candlesticks. Directoire, Late 18th Century
Located in Knivsta, SE
A Pair of Gilt and Dark-Patinated Bronze Candlesticks – French Directoire, Late 18th Century
An exquisite pair of French gilt and dark-patinated bronze candlesticks, crafted during ...
Category
1790s French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Custom Old Plank Directoire Inspired Ebonized Desk with Gilded Leather Top
Located in Chicago, IL
From our Old Plank collection of hand-crafted furniture is a French Directoire inspired desk built to your exact specifications; meaning, in any dimension, wood species, leather colo...
Category
2010s American Directoire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
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 Directoire Marble Pillar Mantel Clock
Located in Norwich, GB
A Directoire Ormolu with black marble French pillar clock, three and a half inch enamel dial with Roman numerals signed ‘Viven Fils a Epernay’ with...
Category
1790s French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu
Pair of Jansen Directoire' Style Armchairs
Located in Dallas, TX
Fine pair of STAMPED Jansen Directoire' armchairs. The wood has carvings and are painted in beautiful crème patina with green details along the borders of the wood. The chairs are up...
Category
20th Century French Directoire Furniture
Materials
Wood
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 Mahogany and Brass Mounted Console Desserte
Located in Essex, MA
With rectangular top with 3/4 brass gallery and dark grey stone top over a drawer with two circular gilt bronze ring handles, raised on circular brass inset fluted legs joined by a l...
Category
1790s French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
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
French antique Architect's Table, Directoire Period 1780-1800
Located in Belmont, MA
Explore a stunning late eighteenth-century Directoire Period architect’s desk crafted from figured mahogany. This exquisite piece features an adjustable green leather-lined writing surface with a hidden double rising system. Flanked by a pair of convenient pull-out slides and one long drawer, the desk opens to reveal an additional writing surface and sliding pen tray. Elevated on round tapering legs, this architect's table, also known as "table à la Tronchin...
Category
1790s French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Pair of French Directoire Style Brass Lyre Wall Sconces
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of French Directoire-style (20th century) brass wall sconces with three arms, lyre design, and eagle head details (priced as pair).
Category
20th Century Directoire Furniture
Materials
Metal, Brass
Mid Century Modern Bookcase, Wardrobe Cabinet or Armoire by Jansen
Located in Manhasset, NY
Lovely French Directoire style mahogany, rosewood and satinwood wardrobe cabinet, the top with bronze gallery over a conforming inlaid cabinet fitted with églomisé glass doors flanke...
Category
1940s French Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Wood
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
Directoire Card Table, 1800-10, Mahogany
Located in Belmont, MA
This French Directoire card table dates back to around 1800-10, It has a pretty mahogany veneer. The table stands on four pointed legs. The top can be folded out and rests on the pul...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Exceptional 18th Century French Mahogany Stools
Located in Allerum, SE
Exceptional 18th / early 19th century French mahogany stools. Ca 1800. Signed by Henry Jacob, master in Paris (1753 - 1824).
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
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
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
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
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
1950s Maison Jansen Bronze and Glass Coffee Table
Located in New York, NY
1950s Maison Jansen bronze and glass coffee table. Solid bronze with original glass.
Category
1950s French Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Pair of Directoire Chairs, Western, France, 1810-1820
Located in Belmont, MA
Charming pair of Directoire chairs, Western France, Strassburg region 1810-1820, cherrywood. The chairs are in very good condition with a new...
Category
1810s French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Cherry
An Exceptional Set of Six Inlaid Directoire Period Mahogany Dining Chairs
By Charles Percier
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
All six frames featuring swan shaped brass inlaid motifs strikingly silhouetted against ebonized panels within brass moldings, over hand carved lyre-shaped splats replete with brass 'strings'. The frames also featuring brass strung stiles, front seat rails & sabre-leg front supports. All are in exceptionally sound condition due to the classical construction method of using oak as the secondary wood for added strength & durability.
The swan motif was highly favored by cabinetmakers & mount makers during the Directoire Period and was associated with Napoleons consort Josephine, by interpreting her protective nature towards her children like that of a swan towards it's cygnets).
For comparative examples see works by Charles Percier...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Pair of David Duncan Studio Sage Boissy II Light Sconces
By David Duncan
Located in New York, NY
A directoire-inspired hand-carved, diamond shaped backplate in mahogany available with wood, painted or guilt finishes. The eight point star-shaped backplate designed for single or d...
Category
2010s Directoire Furniture
Materials
Blown Glass, Wood
Set of Four Directoire Mahogany Armchairs by Jacob Freres
Located in Kittery Point, ME
Each upholstered backrest with backscrolled top rail above an upholstered seat flanked by arm rests, raised on ring-turned legs; each stamped JACOB FRERES / RUE MESLEE on back rail, three with old inked inscription M Julien...
Category
1790s French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
Maison Jansen Style Brass Ram's Head Gueridon or Side Table
Located in New York, NY
Brass ram's head Maison Jansen style two-tier side table, smoked glass top.
Category
1950s French Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Brass
French 19th Century Mahogany Etagere
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A petite French mahogany 19th century oval etagere side table on casters. The thick upper tray is ringed with a sloping wall, forming a shallow bowl or vide poche to enclose the cont...
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Mahogany
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
Set of Six Vintage Directoire Style Black & Gold Dining Chairs Modern Chic
Located in Palm Springs, CA
We have admired this style of chairs for years, but it took 13 years in business to find this set. Custom made in the early 1960s by Indianapolis Chair...
Category
1960s American Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Chrome and Brass Console after Jansen
Located in New York, NY
Jansen chrome and glass console table with brass feet.
Category
1960s Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Chrome, Brass
Faux Bamboo Bronze Shelf in the Style of Maison Baguès
Located in New York, NY
Faux bamboo bronze shelf in the style of Maison Baguès. Has three glass shelves and a nice greenish patina to the bronze.
Category
1950s Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Vintage Neoclassical Directoire Scrolled Iron Outdoor Plank Top Dining Table 72"
Located in Dayton, OH
A nice blend of Neoclassical, Directoire and Farmhouse styling in this beautiful outdoor table. Made of iron featuring scrolled accents and pine plank top.
Dimensions:
72" x 34" x 29"h
Category
Late 20th Century Directoire Furniture
Materials
Iron
Antique Painted Petite Side Table
Located in Austin, TX
Side table, French, made of cherry wood with a hand painted “Trianon” gray finish and black hand painted trim. Three dovetailed drawers have brass hardware rings. The tapered legs ar...
Category
1890s French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Brass
French Gilded Steel Three Piece Maison Jansen Style Banquet Coffee Table Set
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
While you are welcome to use 1stdibs shipping we also offer extremely inexpensive white-glove shipping as well to most areas of the country. Sometimes at no cost. Please send me your...
Category
1990s French Directoire Furniture
Materials
Steel
French Consulat Mahogany Period Commode with Paw Feet and Fossil Marble Top
Located in Pembroke, MA
French Consulat period mahogany commode with three-drawers, ebonized griffin feet and pilasters, and black fossil marble top. Gilt bronze escutcheons i...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Ormolu, Bronze
Continental mid 19th century Directoire st. Carrara and Belgian marble mantel
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An elegant and most handsome Continental mid 19th century Directoire st. white Carrara and black Belgian marble mantel. This beautiful mantel is elevated by stepped Black Belgian mar...
Category
19th Century Unknown Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Belgian Black Marble, Carrara Marble
Vintage Directoire Style Painted Dresser
Located in Sheffield, MA
Refinished large paint decorated black cherry 10-drawer Directoire style dresser. A handsome grey paint with a hint of gold gilt accent gives this dresser added style and functional...
Category
20th Century Directoire Furniture
Materials
Cherry
Pair of French Directoire Style Painted Armchairs
Located in London, GB
A pair of French Directoire style painted armchairs, newly upholstered in stone coloured textured silk with gold scroll braid.
Category
1930s French Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Fruitwood
Table Game French Directoire 19th Century Mahogany Leather Black France
Located in New York, NY
An extraordinary game table from the Directoire period made in France. Frame made of mahogany in a beautiful cognac brown shade. Apron divided into rectangular parts of brass and bra...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Brass
Wrought Iron and Tufted Bench Style of Maison Ramsay
Located in New York, NY
Wrought iron and tufted bench style of Maison Ramsay.
Category
1950s Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Wrought Iron
Antique French Bronze and Marble Pedestal
Located in New York, NY
1920s French bronze and marble pedestal. Pedestal has hoof feet, a nice burgundy marble top with a decorative and ornate bronze frame.
Category
1920s French Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
19th Century, French Center Cabinet with Marble Top
Located in IT
19th century, French center cabinet with marble top
This central cabinet was made in France, during the Directoire period, between the late eighteenth and the beginning of the ninet...
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
Italian 19th Century Table
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
Italian early 19th Century dining table.
Featuring an unusual, decorative top that extends to make a stylish square table.
With fantastic proportions and design, this table will ad...
Category
19th Century Italian Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Wood, Paint
Pair of Directoire Style Bronze Tables with Pietra Dura Marble Top, French
Located in El Monte, CA
Outstanding pair of French Directoire style bronze round tables with semi precious gemstone (malachite, lapis lazuli, carnelian, agate, etc.) inlaid ...
Category
Late 20th Century Directoire Furniture
Materials
Multi-gemstone, Marble, Bronze
Directoire Fruitwood Commode
Located in Essex, MA
With original bowed St Anne marble top over two conforming drawers with round brass handles, lower conforming shelf and ending on turned feet. From the estate of William Hodgins...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Fruitwood
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
rare Olivewood side table with decorative hardware.
Located in Bronx, NY
This wonderful french side table is wonderfully craffed with details and moulures to add class and elegance. The bale is made of rare olive wood with an impressive patern on the top....
Category
1940s French Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Wood
Maison Baguès Steel and Brass Coffee Table
Located in New York, NY
Steel and brass Maison Baguès coffee table with a rectangular shaped glass top.
Category
1950s French Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Brass, Steel
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
Signed, Three Maison Jansen Tufted Benches
Located in New York, NY
Signed, three Maison Jansen Tufted benches. The benches have tufted velvet cushions, black ebonized tapered legs with gold trim.
Category
1950s French Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Leather, Wood, Velvet
Pair of Directoire Gilt and Patinated Bronze Ewers
Located in Kittery Point, ME
In the neoclassical taste, the open reeded spouts above ovoid bodies with leaf-clasped socles on square bases, the handles terminating in a female mask.
This pair of ewers...
Category
1790s French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Bronze
French Directoire Period Bergere
Located in Pembroke, MA
French Directoire period blue-gray painted bergere, newly-upholstered in lovely blue and gold toile fabric based on a museum-archived pattern....
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
Monumental French Directoire Style Ebonized Mirror Beveled With Brass Accents
Located in Manhasset, NY
A Monumental French Ebonized and parcel-gilt mirror in the style of Directoire, circa 1950s, the rectangular beveled looking glass with a panelled frame decorated by brass accents.
Category
1950s French Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Wood
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
Pair of Early 19th Century Directoire Chairs, in the manner of Bellange Frères
By Henri Jacob
Located in Berlin, DE
Pair of early 19th century mahogany side chairs in the manner of Bellange Frères. Raised on turned tapering front legs and sabre rear legs, carved with pierced splades in the shape o...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
Table Game Directoire 19th French Mahogany Brass Leather Top France
Located in New York, NY
Table game Directoire 19th century French mahogany brass leather top, France. A game table made during the 19th century in France. Demi lune opens up to a round table. Channeled and ...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Wood
French Bronze and Marble Coffee Table
Located in New York, NY
French bronze and marble coffee table. The table has a marble top with floral style bronze legs. Stamped made in France under one of the legs.
Category
1950s French Vintage Directoire Furniture
Materials
Marble, Bronze
French Directoire Style Armchair
Located in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
19th C French Directoire style armchair. 1880.
Seat is 22" w x 22.5" d x 16.5" h.
Internal reference: JG11
Reference: 8063
Dimensions
28 inches (71 cms) Wide
30.5 inches (77 cms)...
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Furniture
Materials
Fabric, Oak
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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