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Directoire Doors and Gates

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
Portal of the Directoire Period
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Directoire period wrought iron gate with two panels, divided into two sections by a horizontal band. The upper part is composed of vertical rods ending in spearheads. They rest on a ...
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Doors and Gates

Materials

Wrought Iron

Portal of the Directoire Period
Portal of the Directoire Period

Portal of the Directoire Period

$18,886
Mid-20th Century French Gates
Located in Stockbridge, GA
Mid-20th century French Director style iron gates. There are 5 gates connected to each other.
Category

Mid-20th Century French Directoire Doors and Gates

Materials

Iron

Mid-20th Century French Gates
Mid-20th Century French Gates

Mid-20th Century French Gates

$5,440 Sale Price / set
20% Off
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Two Sets Mid-Size Circular Door Handles in Bronze, Mid-20th Century, France
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Large Lanterns for Gate Post or Wall Bracket, Late 19th or Early 20th Century
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Circular Push-Pull Door Handle in Bronze, Mid-20th Century, France
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Circular Push-Pull Door Handle in Bronze, Mid-20th Century, France
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Pair of Late 18th Century French Chateau Doors
Located in Gloucestershire, GB
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Antique French Doors in Original Paint

Antique French Doors in Original Paint

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Pair Directoire Painted Doors
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Wood

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Pair of Period Directoire Doors from France, Oak and Iron, Circa 1800
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Early 1800s French Antique Directoire Doors and Gates

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Pair of Period Directoire Doors from France, Oak and Iron, Circa 1800
Pair of Period Directoire Doors from France, Oak and Iron, Circa 1800

Pair of Period Directoire Doors from France, Oak and Iron, Circa 1800

H 93.4 in W 50.7 in

Directoire doors and gates for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Directoire doors and gates for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Mid-20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage doors and gates created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include building and garden elements and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with iron, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Directoire doors and gates made in a specific country, there are Europe, and France pieces for sale on 1stDibs. 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 doors and gates differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $6,800 and tops out at $17,642 while the average work can sell for $12,221.

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