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.
French Directoire Period Floral Painted Panel in Gilded Frame, circa 1790
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Directoire period framed painted panel from the late 18th century, with floral motifs. Born in France during the later years of the 18th century, this exquisite decorative p...
Wood, Paint
19th Century French Directoire Wallpaper Panels with Vibrant Scenes
Located in Wichita, KS
19th c. wood-block printed French panoramic wallpaper scenes in the Directoire style very likely by the premier French manufacturer, Zuber & Cie. Presenting a panorama of park an...
Wood, Paint, Paper
Large French 19th Century Copper Overlaid Relief Medallion of Antoine Lavoisier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A large and Rare French 19th century Copper Overlaid Portrayal Relief Medallion of The Renown French Chemist ANTOINE LAVOISIER (1743-1794). The ovoid...
Copper
$6,811 / set
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
Terracotta
$5,288
H 39.77 in W 25.6 in D 1.58 in
Ceramic Wall Panel by Pierre Digan, to La Borne, circa 1970-1975
By Pierre Digan
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
A ceramic wall panel by Pierre Digan, to La Borne, circa 1970-1975. The base is in wood. Very good original conditions.
Ceramic
19th Century Renaissance Marble Relief
Located in Madrid, ES
19th century Renaissance marble relief. The relief is carved to the Renaissance taste and is in very good condition. It is framed in a later frame ...
Marble
$1,128
H 5.52 in W 14.57 in D 1.97 in
20th Century French Eagle with Spread Wings made of Bronze and Signed JP
Located in Sofia, BG
Bronze wall decoration representing an eagle with wide open wings made of bronze. There is signature JP at the back of both wings. France, circa 1900.
Bronze
French Glazed Terracotta Fish Sculpture
By Sarreguemines, Vallauris, Gilbert Metenier, Zsolnay, Bitossi
Located in Houston, TX
French Glazed Terracotta fish sculpture. Interesting antique French iridescent glazed terracotta fish sculpture. This French fish figure is executed i...
Terracotta
Mid-19th Century Hand Painted Asian Wallpaper Panels
Located in San Francisco, CA
A set of three mounted hand painted wallpaper panels in simple wood frames. Beautifully and elaborate painted scenes with birds, flowers,...
Paper
French Terracotta Sculpture of a Classical Male
Located in Houston, TX
French terracotta sculpture of a classical male. This stunning French terra cotta sculpture of a classical Roman male is expertly executed ...
Terracotta, Wood
19th Century French Carved Wall Over-Door/Wall Panel
Located in Shipston-On-Stour, GB
19th Century French Neo-Classical wall carving or over-door. With shaped concave sides and flora surround mould. The central panel featuring a carved figure of Minerva, flanked by f...
Softwood, Paint
$695
H 66 in W 36 in D 2 in
Modernist Translucent Architectural Panel with Repeating Curlicue Field Motif
By Jasper Johns
Located in New York, NY
Groovy architectural panel constructed of translucent plastic with embedded wood curlicue elements repeating throughout. I believe this panel was originally a room divider, or some s...
Plastic, Wood
Early 19th Century Carved Neoclassical Frieze Panel
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An early 19th century English carved limewood neoclassical frieze panel, circa 1800. This decorative wooden panel is over a metre long and features five putti or cherubs carved in th...
Wood
$1,695
H 1 in W 29.75 in D 22.25 in
Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Red and Gold Tole Tray with Marine Scene
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This large mid-19th century French Napoleon III period hand painted metal tole tray features a central marine scene with sailors stranded on a rock and...
Metal
19th Century French Terracotta Bust
Located in Brighton, Sussex
A good quality French 19th patinated terracotta bust of a classical lady, mounted on a Rouge marble sockel.
Terracotta
19th Century Majolica Palissy Fishs Wall Platter by Victor Barbizet
By Victor Barbizet
Located in Austin, TX
Large Palissy fishs wall platter on a blue background with bugs, butterfly, lizard, crawfish, shells, leaves as ferns. The School of Paris is composed by makers as Victor Barbizet, F...
Majolica, Ceramic, Faience
19th Century Painted Screen
Located in New Orleans, LA
Certainly a wonderful addition to any room with a pailette of many colors and an interesting scene of many characters! Screens can be easily mounted on a wall and can set the tone of...
Canvas
Large 19th Century French Hand-Colored Aquatints by Debucourt, a Pair
Located in Plainview, NY
A pair of large 19th century French hand-colored aquatints by Philibert Louis Debucourt (1755-1832) after Carl Vernet (1758-1836). One aquatint is is depicting Prussian cuirassier, ...
Wood, Paper
Red Napoleon III Tole Tray
Located in Doylestown, PA
French red and gilt hand painted Directoire/Emire tole tray, classical chariot and horses scene, late 18th-early 19th Century.
Metal
Pair of 18th Century French Neoclassical Carved Wood Urns
Located in Stamford, CT
Pair of late 18th century French carved and painted oak wall appliques in the form of urns. Each urn carved with swags and florets, with asymmetrical flames spouting from the tops. ...
Market Scene in Paris by Egron Sillif Lundgren
By Egron Sillif Lundgren
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A market scene in Paris by Egron Sillif Lundgren, (Swedish, 1815-1875), Pencil, touches of red and heightened with white on buff paper. Size: 7" inche...
Paper
Four-Panel French Screen
Located in Houston, TX
Neoclassical four-panel screen, circa 1800. Painted canvas stretched on wooden frames. Presently separated and hung as art panels, the back is also painted and decorated so that it can be hinged and restored to it’s original use as a freestanding screen
Canvas, Paint
Pair of Directoire Silvered Bronze Portrait Medallions of Roman Emperors
Located in Kittery Point, ME
Each of round form with profile portraits of Roman Emperors Auguste and Vespasian. In a giltwood frame.
Pair of Marbled and Gilt Bronze Maps, Directoire Vases
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
. Marble and gilt bronze . Directoire vases . Made for electricity . 19th century . Lampshades can ordered in many different colors
Marble, Bronze