Directoire Dining Room Chairs
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.
26
5
to
2
20
10
31
30
30
7,206
3,262
1,614
527
201
180
180
143
133
122
109
103
79
67
52
51
51
15
7
7
12
5
3
8
1
2
2
2
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
4
5
3
9
4
13
3
11
3
9
3
10
29
6
6
6
5
21
16
5
5
4
1
Style: Directoire
Set of 6 French Directoire Walnut Chairs
Located in Jersey City, NJ
These chairs were purchased in France. There are in walnut. covered with a beige cotton wool fabric and show signs of previous use.
They have the elegance of the Directoire and can...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Directoire Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Wood
Fine Set 8 Maison Jansen Distressed Paint Decorated Balloon Back Dining Chairs
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a superb set of 8 signed Maison Jansen balloon back style Directoire dining chairs. The chairs are in exceptional distressed condition an...
Category
1920s French Vintage Directoire Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Beech
Six painted and gilt upholstered directoire style dining chairs circa 1940
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Six painted and gilt upholstered directoire style dining chairs circa 1940 with recent fabric.
Category
1940s Vintage Directoire Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Upholstery, Wood
Set of Four French Antique Neoclassical Finely Carved Directoire Dining Chairs
Located in Hopewell, NJ
A fine 19th century set of 4 French neoclassical dining chairs from the Directoire period with stunning intricately carved walnut frames (see photos for detail). Lovely curved backsp...
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Upholstery, Walnut
Directoire Armchairs
Located in Westwood, NJ
Two mahogany armchairs, with an over scroll padded back and seat between open scroll arms and above floral capital carved and paneled sabre legs. Inspired by a 19th-century French or...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Directoire Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Wood
19th Century Set of Six Directoire Style Mahogany Dining Chairs
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Opulent set of six mahogany French dining chairs made in the transitional directoire pre-Empire taste. The chairs feature gracefully curv...
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Brass, Ormolu
Set of 8 French Directoire Style Dining Chairs
Located in London, GB
This is a very decorative set of French dining chairs.
The attractive directoire design is accentuated with the original cream and pale blue original paint. Please take a look at a...
Category
1940s French Vintage Directoire Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Wood, Paint
Set of 10 Ebonized Lacquered and Gilded French Directoire Dining Chairs
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a gorgeous set of 10 French Directoire style sidechairs in black lacquer and gold from the 1960s era. The chairs are in good condition as far as their frames are concerned bu...
Category
1960s Unknown Vintage Directoire Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Walnut
Set of Six French Directoire Chaires, signed J-E Coryn, circa 1800
Located in Greven, DE
Six identical antique chairs
France
Beech
Directoire around 1800
Dimensions: H x W x D: 87 x 45 x 41 cm, seat height: 46 cm
Description:
Beautiful set of provincial French chairs...
Category
1790s French Antique Directoire Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Beech
Set of Eight Antique French Directoire Dining Chairs
Located in Dallas, TX
Set of Eight Antique French Directoire Dining Chairs is a relatively rare find, especially with this level of quality and preservation!...
Category
Early 20th Century French Directoire Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Mohair, Sycamore
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 Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Wood
Set of Six Directoire Dining Chairs, France, Early 19th Century
Located in Greven, DE
Set of six antique chairs
France
mahogany
early 19th century
Dimensions: H x W x D: 88 x 47 x 44 cm, seat height: 48 cm
Description:
Set o...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Wood
Set of 8 French Directoire Style Mid-Century Mahogany Dining Chairs
Located in Dallas, TX
Set of 8 French directoire style mid-century mahogany dining chairs are perfect for providing tailored, stylish comfort to your dining experience! Generous seats are taller than norm...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Directoire Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Mahogany
1950s French Iron and Brass Dining Chairs
Located in New York, NY
1950s French iron and brass dining chairs. The chairs have iron frames, are black vinyl, with brass finials to the top and brass ball feet. The chairs also have sloping arms and fold...
Category
1950s Vintage Directoire Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Brass, Iron
Decorative Set of 12 Italian Style Dining Chairs of Carved Wood and Leather
By Florentine
Located in New York, NY
Stunning set of 12 matching dining chairs, of carved gilt, and painted, wood frames with unexpected and intriguing bubble gum pink leather seats. It ...
Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Directoire Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Leather, Wood
Set of 6 Antique French Directoire Style Painted Cane Back Dining Side Chairs
Located in Birmingham, AL
A handsome set of 6 early 20th century French Directoire style painted dining side chairs, circa 1920s, having hand caned backs, upholstered seats with nailhead trim, and typical neo...
Category
Early 20th Century French Directoire Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Wood
French Directoire Dining Armchair
Located in Westwood, NJ
French Directoire style dining armchair, a hand carved distressed beech and oak dining chair with turned top rail, down scrolled uprights and arms encl...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Directoire Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Wood
1950s French Iron and Brass Dining Table and Chairs
Located in New York, NY
1950s French iron and brass dining table and chairs. The set has iron frames, chairs are black vinyl, with brass finials to the top and b...
Category
1950s Vintage Directoire Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Brass, Iron
Directoire Style Leather Dining Chair
Located in Westwood, NJ
A French Directoire style leather dining chair upholstered with brown leather to the seat and back, in a warm walnut finish, supported on slender turned tapering legs, and finished w...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Asian Directoire Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Wood
Set of Ten French Mahogany Directoire St. Dining Chairs
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An exceptional and complete set of ten French turn of the century Directoire st. mahogany dining chairs. Each chair is raised by elegant lightly curved square tapered legs below the ...
Category
20th Century French Directoire Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Mahogany
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 Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Wood
Fine Italian Dining Room Set of Eight Chairs and a Pair of Armchairs, 1790
Located in Rome, IT
Elegant 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 Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Walnut
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 Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Walnut
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 Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Walnut
Set of Six Colonial Safari Armchairs with Animals in the Back Splats
Located in Amsterdam, NL
A set of six French Directoire chairs with figural back splats depicting African animals
France, early 19th century
Each in elm and pea...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Elm, Pearwood
French 18th Century Directoire Mahogany Chairs with Silk Blend Upholster Fabric
Located in Firenze, IT
This beautiful set of four late 18th-early 19th century European Directoire period mahogany gondola chairs will be the perfect addition to your dining room or living room as they can...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Fabric, Cotton, Silk, Upholstery, Mahogany, Giltwood
Set of Four Directoire Mahogany Side Chairs with Brass Banding
Located in Berlin, DE
Set of four late 18th century Directoire mahogany side chairs with brass banding, with rectangular plat backs, curved and pierced with an associated lyre motif of foliate decor and i...
Category
1790s French Antique Directoire Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Brass
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 Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Walnut
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 Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Brass
Directoire Side Chairs
Located in Westwood, NJ
Large mahogany side chairs, with an over scroll padded back and seat above floral capital carved and paneled sabre legs. Inspired by a 19th-century French original.
Dimensions: 23" W...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Directoire Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Wood
French Directoire Dining Chair
Located in Westwood, NJ
French Directoire style dining chair, a hand carved distressed beech and oak dining chair with turned top rail, an upholstered cushion seat raised on turned and tapered legs with flo...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Directoire Dining Room Chairs
Materials
Wood
Directoire dining room chairs for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Directoire dining room chairs 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 dining room chairs created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating, tables and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, walnut and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Directoire dining room chairs 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 dining room chairs, popular names associated with this style include and Hickory Chair Furniture Company. 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 dining room chairs differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $895 and tops out at $27,900 while the average work can sell for $6,621.
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
Cane Dining Chairs Set Of 6
Chinese Chippendale Bamboo
Ladder Back Wood Chair
Oak And Woven Dining Chairs
Set Of 19th Century English Dining Chairs
Walnut Dining Chairs Europe
Walnut Woven Dining Chair
Baker Furniture Midcentury Chairs
Chrome Mcm Furniture
Chrome Mcm
Dining Chair With Upholstered Rounded Back
Dining Chairs Set Milo
English Regency Dining Set
Executive Chair Set
Leather Swivel Dining Chairs
Louis Xv Caned
Mahogany Ball And Claw Chairs
Set Of Klismos Chairs