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.
Mid Century Louis XVI Style Dressing Table with Lime Green Accents
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
White lacquered mid century Louis XVI style dressing table outlined in lime green accent.
Wood
18th Century French-style Poudreuse, circa 1780, plum wood and walnut
Located in Münster, DE
Poudreuse, circa 1780, plum wood and walnut, rectangular body with flared legs and hinged panels, several small drawers and false drawers, original interior fittings, shellac finish...
Fruitwood, Nutwood
$3,475
H 28.35 in W 43.31 in D 19.69 in
Early 19th Century Walnut Wood Catalan Spanish Console, Desk or Vanity Table
Located in Miami, FL
A 19th century walnut console table with a slab top above a frieze with two drawers with front decorated with and edge in each drawer and a single original iron pull . The table is s...
Iron
$2,190
H 64.97 in W 49.22 in D 15.75 in
Midcentury Mirrored Dressing Table in Sycamore and Walnut, France, circa 1950
Located in London, GB
Midcentury mirrored dressing table in sycamore and walnut, France, circa 1950. The vanity table has a large trifold mirror. Two central drawers flanked by a cupboard on either side, ...
Brass
$18,750
H 29.75 in W 39.5 in D 18.25 in
French Mid-Century Pecan Wood Dressing Table with Parquetry, 1940s
Located in Queens, NY
French Mid-Century (1940s) pecan wood dressing table with a parquetry top and mirror (20" high) over a drawer centered by 2 open side shelves.
Nutwood
1950s Robert Irwin Louis XVI Burl Walnut Dressing Table / Vanity
Located in Germantown, MD
A 1940s Robert Irwin Co. Furniture Louis XVI Style Burl Walnut Dressing Table / Vanity Measures 52" in width, 20" in depth and 30" in height. knee clearance is 24.5".
Mirror, Fruitwood
$2,495
H 32 in W 30 in D 18.25 in
Grange Vintage Ltd. Edition Cherry Louis XVI Style Poudreuse Or Dressing Table
By Grange
Located in Bridgeport, CT
Limited edition reproduction of the "Marie-Antoinette" coiffeuse (dressing table) by the French furniture manufacturer Grange. Part of their Meubles Mémoire (Memory Furniture) collec...
Brass
$4,643
H 74.81 in W 66.74 in D 14.18 in
ANTIQUE FRENCH LOUIS XVI STYLE DRESSiNG ROOM CONSOLE TABLE FULL LENGTH MIRROR
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this very rare and highly collectable, Antique Circa 1900-1920 French Louis XVI style full length trifold dr...
Mirror, Wood
$1,558
H 47.25 in W 35.44 in D 14.97 in
Mid-Century Modern Glass and Steel Dressing Table with Oval Mirror, 1960s
Located in Milano, IT
Mid-Century Modern Glass and Steel Dressing Table, 1960s, with Oval Mirror Elegant dressing table from the 1960s, featuring a sleek metal structure with a refined black opal glass t...
Metal
$2,850
H 85 in W 56 in D 17 in
French Louis XV Style Inlaid Walnut Marble Top Etched Mirror Vanity Circa 1920's
Located in Long Branch, NJ
French Louis XV Style Inlaid Walnut Marble Top Etched Mirror Vanity Circa 1920's Dimensions : 85" tall X 56" Wide X 17" Deep This stunning vanity was made in France in the 1920's a...
Marble
French Pear Wood Ladies Dressing Table. Circa 1820
Located in Charleston, SC
French two drawer pear wood ladies dressing table with fitted interior, pull out leather surface, original folding mirror, and terminating on cab...
18th century Louis XVI Dressing Table
Located in Belmont, MA
Louis XVI dressing table, France 1780. For the beautiful marquetry, the maker combined two types of veneer: Walnut and kingwood. The dressing...
Kingwood, Walnut
French Louis XV Style Vanity or Poudreuse, 19th Century
Located in Belmont, MA
This gorgeous Louis XV style vanity or "poudreuse" dates back to the mid 19th century and comes from France. The woman's dressing table has a very pretty walnut veneer pattern. The m...
Walnut
LXV Style Dressing Table
Located in London, Park Royal
Made in the French LXV style, this dressing table has been hand carved in solid wood, featuring the ornamental shell of the Rococo period. The design integrates a large adjustable mi...
Wood
Late 19th C. French Directoire Style Painted Vanity
Located in Houston, US
Late 19th C. French Directoire style painted vanity with marble top, harp shaped supports and brass fittings. Vanity height is 32" and overall height is 54".
Marble, Brass
Baker Rosewood Directoire Style Brass Mounted Vanity Writing Desk
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Dimensions - H: 30 1/4 in W: 36 in D: 19 1/4 in This Directoire style rosewood writing desk or vanity by Baker Furniture is a striking representation of neoclassical sophistication...
Brass
19th Century French Mahogany Vanity
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Simple French Directoire style mahogany vanity or desk, the top with central fold-open mirror and two opening side compartments. Two drawers fitted in ...
Mahogany
Sold
H 69 in W 51 in L 69 in
Francois Linke Style Ladies Vanity With Breche Marble Top and Matching Mirror
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is an outstanding Francois Linke style ladies vanity with a gorgeous slab of shaped Breche marble on top and adorned with crisp, Linke qualit...
Marble, Bronze
French Directoire Style Walnut Console Vanity Made at Fireside
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
French Directorie style solid walnut console / vanity without its marble top. Here we show an example of how we can make custom vanities for our customers. You can see the faux middl...
Brass
Period Directoire Poudre Table
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Directoire mahogany poudre table with rich old original finish, circa 1800.
French Directoire Style Vanity Side Table
Located in Austin, TX
Antique French Directoire style vanity table in painted mahogany with a gray "Trianon" patina. Locking top left open to show a beveled mirror and three compartments. Single dovetaile...
Mahogany, Mirror
Directoire Mahogany Dressing Table French
Located in San Francisco, CA
Directoire period solid mahogany and brass-mounted dressing table. Opening to reveal a slightly lowered surface with a mirror mounted on the underside of the lift top. On turned tape...
Brass
Sold
H 29.5 in W 26.5 in D 17 in
Hinged Top Dressing Table with Bottom Tier, French Directoire Style, 19th C
Located in Atlanta, GA
having a hinged rectangular top opening to reveal an inner compartment with three smaller compartments and having a lower shelf, raised on square tapering legs
Late 18th century French Directoire Dressing Table
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Mahogany Wood with Ebony Inlaid. Old Original Repair to the top. Rounded Leg with Ebony Inlaid . Invisible drawer with Antique original Hidden Mirror.
Ebony, Mahogany, Mirror
19th Century Directoire Gentleman Dresser Table in solid Mahogany
Located in Miami, FL
Beautiful gentlemen's dressing table/coiffeuse. Highest quality mahogany. The top opens to reveal a mirror that raises up and slides forward and backward. There are several storage places for bottles etc and the structure of this furniture itself is in plain mahogany . Included are perfume bottles in crystal, brushes and dressing toilet cases...
Bronze