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Directoire Wall Lights and Sconces

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 Style Crystal Two-Light Sconces with Rosette Motifs
Located in Atlanta, GA
A pair of French Directoire style two-light wall sconces from the 20th century with bronze armature, crystal rosettes and obelisk motifs. This exquisite pair of French Directoire sty...
Category

20th Century French Directoire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Crystal, Bronze

Set of Four Vintage French Brass Lyre Sconces
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
This set of four, vintage 20th century French sconces are full of historic details referencing Directoire and Neoclassical themes. Cast in heavy, high-quality brass they are a beauti...
Category

20th Century French Directoire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass, Wire

Pair of Directoire Lion Mask Sconces of Bronze
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Very fine pair of sconces, of gilt bronze and partial painted finish, each concave hexagonal backplate divided by a vertical arrow, and centered by a lion mask, its teeth holding two...
Category

Early 20th Century French Directoire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

Set of Four Late 18th Century Neoclassical Ormolu Wall Sconces
By François Rémond
Located in Essex, MA
Rare Set of Four Period French Directoire or Le Premier Empire Sconces. Two arm wall lights in the Late 18th Century Neoclassical form. Dull and Burnished Fire Gilding. Extreme de...
Category

Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Ormolu

Large Pair of French Gilt Dore Bronze Figural Bow Top Four-Light Wall Sconces
Located in Roslyn, NY
A palatial pair of French doré bronze four-light bow top and tassle wall sconces, newly wired.
Category

19th Century French Antique Directoire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Ormolu

Pair of French 19th Century Tole Wall Jardinieres Wired as Wall Sconces
Located in Dallas, TX
A pair of French 19th century painted and parcel-gilt tole wall jardinieres wired as wall sconces.
Category

19th Century French Antique Directoire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Tôle

Pair of David Duncan Studio Sage Boissy II Light Sconces
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 Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Blown Glass, Wood

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 Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Brass

19th Century Pair of French Directoire Bronze Dore Bird and Arrow Wall Sconces
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of French Directoire-style (19th Century) bronze dore wall scoces with two arms, a double wreath design, and bird head and arrow details. (PRICED AS Pa...
Category

19th Century French Antique Directoire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

Pair of Early 19th Century Directoire Four-Light Sconces
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Superb Pair of Directoire Sconces, Early 19th century.
Category

Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

Directoire Style Gilt Bronze Two-Light Sconce by Gherardo degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This French Directoire style sconce features top-quality chiselled bronze, with many vivid details typical of the end of the 18th century. At the top, there is a staple, a typical el...
Category

2010s Italian Directoire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

Directoire Style Gilt Bronze Three-Light Sconce by Gherardo degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This French Directoire style sconce features top-quality chiselled bronze, with many vivid details typical of the end of the 18th century. At the top, there is a staple, a typical el...
Category

2010s Italian Directoire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

Directoire Style Gilt Bronze Sconce by Gherardo degli Albizzi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This French Directoire style sconce features top-quality chiselled bronze, with many vivid details. On the top of this sconce, there is a trident sided by two swan's wings. The body ...
Category

2010s Italian Directoire Wall Lights and Sconces

Materials

Bronze

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Located in New York, NY
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Set of Four Moderne Style Brass Sconces, Sold in Pairs
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Set of Four Gilt Bronze Sconces
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Located in North Bergen, NJ
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H 6 in W 15 in D 6 in
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Located in Southampton, NY
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Pair of Bronze French Style Two-Light Wall Sconces
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H 14 in W 5.75 in D 4 in
Set of Four French Brass Sconces Attributed to Leleu
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Set of Four French Brass Sconces Attributed to Leleu
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Previously Available Items
Pair of Directoire Style Gilt Bronze Wall Lights
Located in Essex, MA
Each with four arms with a classical bacchus like head backplate. Finely cast.
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Mid-19th Century French Antique Directoire Wall Lights and Sconces

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Bronze

Set of 4 French Mid-Century Brass Mirrored Two Arm Wall Sconces
Located in Queens, NY
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Metal, Brass

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).     
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20th Century Directoire Wall Lights and Sconces

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Metal, Brass

Set of Four Cast Bronze Bows and Tassels Sconces, circa 1900
Located in Firenze, Toscana
Rare set of four. Housing two-light each, Will be rewired with certified UL US sockets for the USA, appropriate sockets for all other countries and ready to hang. Heavy bronze with g...
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Early 1900s French Antique Directoire Wall Lights and Sconces

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Bronze

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)
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Mid-20th Century Directoire Wall Lights and Sconces

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Brass

Ritz Directoire Bronze Wall Sconces, France
Located in Brussels, BE
Direct from the Ritz, fine pair of neoclassical bronze wall sconces, circa 1920.  
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Early 20th Century French Directoire Wall Lights and Sconces

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Bronze

Ritz Directoire Bronze Wall Sconces, France
Ritz Directoire Bronze Wall Sconces, France
H 11.82 in W 6.3 in D 3.94 in
Pair Green Tole Sconces with Hand Painted Landscapes
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This hand painted neoclassical style tole sconces have shield shaped backs, and removable shades. They were purchased from the estate of Drue Heinz, and originally hung in "Goodwood"...
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Early 1900s French Antique Directoire Wall Lights and Sconces

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Tôle

Elegant Pair of Directoire Style Bonze Sconces
Located in Montreal, QC
Elegant pair of directoire style gilt and patinated bronze sconces with "bow and arrow" design.
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1920s French Vintage Directoire Wall Lights and Sconces

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Bronze

Pair of Turn of the Century French Directoire Style Ormolu Sconces
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of French Directoire style (19/20th Cent) gilt bronze 2 arm wall sconces with a centered roundel decorated with a Classical mask between a floral design top and bottom.
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Late 19th Century French Antique Directoire Wall Lights and Sconces

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Ormolu

Pair of 19th c. French Directoire Style Gilt Bronze Sconces
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of French Directoire style (19th Cent) gilt bronze wall sconces with 2 upswept scroll arms emanating from a round backplate and centered by filigree heart shaped filigree accents.
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19th Century French Antique Directoire Wall Lights and Sconces

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Ormolu

19th Century Directoire Sconces
Located in Norwalk, CT
Solid bronze candle sconces in the Directoire style, made in France, circa 1850-1870. Fine casting with patinated candleholders surrounded by bright bronze decoration including lion ...
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19th Century French Antique Directoire Wall Lights and Sconces

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Bronze

19th Century Directoire Sconces
19th Century Directoire Sconces
H 8 in W 12 in D 10 in
Set of 6 Gilt Bronze 2-Light Tasstle Form Wall Sconces
Located in Manhasset, NY
SIX PAIR ARE AVAILABLE. Set of 6 gilt bronze wall sconces in the French Directoire style, circa 1940s. Each has two arms with candlestick sleeves, overall shaped in tassel form....
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Directoire wall lights and sconces for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Directoire wall lights and sconces 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 wall lights and sconces created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include lighting and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, bronze and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Directoire wall lights and sconces 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 wall lights and sconces, popular names associated with this style include and Gherardo Degli Albizzi. 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 wall lights and sconces differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $750 and tops out at $19,000 while the average work can sell for $3,725.

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