Directoire Office Chairs and Desk 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.
to
2
2
Height
to
Width
to
Depth
to
2
804
540
128
127
63
50
28
27
19
14
13
10
9
9
8
7
6
2
2
2
2
1
1
2
2
2
Style: Directoire
Italy 19th Century Walnut Directory "Gondola" Chair Restored new-Upholstered
Located in Vigonza, Padua
A nice 19th century walnut directory Gondola chair from Italy restored and re-upholstered
Measure cm: H 76\40 W 53 D 51.
Category
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Directoire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Materials
Walnut
19th Century Desk/office Chair In Walnut
Located in Brussels, Brussels
19th century walnut office chair
Rare and superb 19th century office chair upholstered in camel-colored leather.
The leather has a superb patina and is in magnificent condition.
Rest...
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Materials
Walnut
Related Items
19th Century Heywood Bros. and Wakefield Co. Natural Wicker Swivel Piano Chair
Located in Savannah, GA
This fanciful Victorian wicker swivel piano chair has all the bells and whistles of the most prestigious American wicker designers Heywood Brothers ...
Category
1890s American Antique Directoire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Materials
Metal
$1,714 Sale Price
24% Off
H 44.75 in Dm 18 in
Italian Mid-Century Design Medea Chair by Vittorio Nobili for Tagliabue Brothers
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Italian iconic mid century design single "Medea" chair. This fantastic chair is made of bent oak wood and black metal legs. Designed by Vittorio Nobili for the Tagliabue Brothers in 1955. First advertised in Domus issue 329 in April 1955, it has become an iconic and highly collectible piece of mid-century design. Perfect Conditions restored. This piece is attributed to the above-mentioned designer...
Category
1950s Italian Vintage Directoire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Materials
Metal
$1,709
H 32.68 in W 18.12 in D 20.87 in
19th Century English Victorian Mahogany Desk Chair
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
For sale is a Victorian mahogany desk chair, in the Arts & Crafts style, revolving and with four down swept legs terminating on scroll fe...
Category
Late 19th Century English Antique Directoire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Materials
Mahogany
Walnut Wood and Cork Chair, Dining or Writing Desk Chair, Porto Chair
Located in Birmingham, AL
The Porto chair embraces the fusion of timeless elegance and functional minimalism. This streamlined chair complements your urban wood dining table or writing desk in the office. Wit...
Category
2010s American Directoire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Materials
Wood
$2,000 / item
H 30 in W 16 in D 18 in
Quality Antique 19th Century Regency Mahogany Desk Chair
Located in Suffolk, GB
Quality antique regency mahogany desk chair having a quality shaped figured mahogany back with a rope twist turned centre rail, lovely s...
Category
19th Century English Antique Directoire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Materials
Other
19th Century Italian Savonarola Chairs
Located in Water Mill, NY
Pair of 19th century Italian iron and bronze Savonarola chairs with paw feet and
separate loose cushions. Seat H first seat 17" with cushion 21...
Category
Late 19th Century European Antique Directoire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Materials
Bronze, Iron, Wrought Iron
19th Century Biedermeier Walnut Chair
Located in Darmstadt, DE
A chair from the time of the Biedermeier, circa 1830. The chair is made of solid walnut. The chair is newly upholstered.
In very good restored condition. The surface is semi-glossy ...
Category
Early 19th Century German Antique Directoire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Materials
Walnut
19th Century Victorian Oak Bankers Desk Chair
Located in Germantown, MD
A 19th Century Victorian patinated Oak bankers desk Chair on wheels.
Mesures 21.5" in width, 22" in depth and stands 32" tall. Seat height is 18.25...
Category
Late 19th Century American Antique Directoire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Materials
Oak
19th c, Danish Revolving Desk Chair
Located in Allerum, SE
Exceptional 19th century Danish revolving desk armchair in mahogany with marquetry and brass casters, from the Empire period. Ca 1850, Denmark.
Category
Mid-19th Century Danish Antique Directoire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Materials
Brass
Empire Mahogany Desk Chair, Early 19th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
The desk chair with carved diamond motif on crest and richly carved griffin wings above articulated paw feet with tan colored leather upholstery. Height: 30" Seat height: 17" Depth: ...
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Materials
Leather, Mahogany
19th Century English Victorian Swivel Captains Desk Chair
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Handsome 19th century English Victorian period captains chair or smokers' bow chair crafted from mahogany. The chair features a round horseshoe shaped seat crest with a deep contoure...
Category
19th Century English Antique Directoire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Materials
Plastic, Mahogany
Empire Solid Mahogany Desk Chair, Early 19th Century
Located in Spencertown, NY
Empire mahogany desk chair or fauteuil de bureau.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Materials
Mahogany
Previously Available Items
19th Century French Louis Philippe Carved Elm and Leather Desk Armchair
Located in Dallas, TX
The sophisticated antique armchair would make an elegant yet subtle statement behind a man or woman's desk. Crafted in France circa 1880 and made of elm, the carved armchair sits on ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Directoire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Materials
Elm, Leather
Creme Painted Gilded French Directoire Style Office or Desk Armchair, Circa 1950
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
For customers that require professional insured delivery we are proud to have teamed up with a nationwide professional delivery company that will assist with coordinating your delive...
Category
1950s French Vintage Directoire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Materials
Walnut
H 36 in W 23 in D 23 in
19th Century French Directoire Carved Chestnut Desk Armchair with Beige Velvet
Located in Dallas, TX
The sophisticated antique armchair would make an elegant yet subtle statement behind a man or woman's desk. Crafted in France circa 1880 and made of chestnut and oakwood, the carved ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Directoire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Materials
Oak, Velvet, Elm
H 29 in W 25.5 in L 29 in
19th Century French Directoire Carved Walnut Desk Armchair with Beige Leather
Located in Dallas, TX
Crafted in France, circa 1860, the antique armchair sits on cabriole legs ending with scrolled feet, over a scalloped and bombe apron. The chair features a rounded and arched back, d...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Directoire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Materials
Leather, Walnut
H 32.25 in W 23.5 in D 22.5 in
Mid-19th Century French Directoire Style Walnut Vanity Chair, Bergere, Leather
Located in Fayetteville, AR
This mid-nineteenth century French Directoire style walnut bergere chair features scrolled armrests and fluted front corners. Its hand pegged die joints are additionally detailed wit...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Directoire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Materials
Leather, Walnut
H 24.25 in W 22.5 in D 20 in
Exclusive Italian ‘Directoire’ Set with Two-Seat Sofa and Chair by Selva
By Selva
Located in Voorburg, NL
Exclusive and stylish black leather sofa and chair in ‘Directoire’ style handmade by the Italian company Selva in the 1990s (marked). The...
Category
Late 20th Century Italian Directoire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Materials
Leather, Beech
H 34.65 in W 47.25 in D 25.99 in
19th Century French Directoire Carved Chestnut Desk Armchair with Beige Velvet
Located in Dallas, TX
The sophisticated antique armchair would make an elegant yet subtle statement behind a man or woman's desk. Crafted in France circa 1880 and made of chestnut and oakwood, the carved ...
Category
Late 19th Century French Antique Directoire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Materials
Oak, Velvet, Elm
H 29 in W 25.5 in D 22 in
19th Century French Directoire Carved Walnut Desk Armchair with Velvet Seat
Located in Dallas, TX
Crafted in France, circa 1860, the antique carved armchair stands on scrolled legs, the chair features a rounded and arched back embellished with carved foliage decor, and a wide and...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Directoire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Materials
Velvet, Walnut
H 29.5 in W 23 in D 18.5 in
19th Century French Directoire Carved Walnut Desk Armchair with Beige Leather
Located in Dallas, TX
The sophisticated antique armchair would make an elegant yet subtle statement behind a man's desk. Crafted in France, circa 1860, the carved armchair sits on front tapered legs caped...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Directoire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Materials
Leather, Walnut
H 32 in W 24 in D 23.5 in
Mid-20th Century French Directoire Carved Painted Desk Armchair with Leather
Located in Dallas, TX
This mid-20th century Louis Philippe chair has a vintage shape and style that is highly compatible with current interior design trends. The soph...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Directoire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Materials
Leather, Beech
Chesterfield Leather Library or Office Desk Chair
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Chesterfield leather library or office desk chair
This is a wonderfully comfortable desk chair, the high back of the chair is covered in deeply buttoned Brown leather with brass s...
Category
Early 20th Century Directoire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Antique French Mahogany and Brass Desk Chair
Located in Benington, Herts
A fine quality French mahogany and brass desk chair with bergère seat, circa 1900.
This large well-proportioned desk / captain’s chair has a curved b...
Category
Early 1900s French Antique Directoire Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
Materials
Brass
Directoire office chairs and desk chairs for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Directoire office chairs and desk chairs 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 office chairs and desk chairs created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with walnut, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Directoire office chairs and desk chairs made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Italy 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 office chairs and desk chairs differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,000 and tops out at $1,750 while the average work can sell for $1,375.
Still Thinking About These?
All Recently ViewedMore Ways To Browse
Mustard Swivel Chair
Paul Mccobb Executive Chair
Herman Miller Ergon
Hon Office Chair
Knoll Basket Weave Chairs
Lucite Chair Herman Miller
Milwaukee Chair Company
Molteni Swivel Chairs
Pscc 4
Rh Desk
Tulip Bird Desk Chairs
Used Hon Office Chairs
Ico Parisi Swivel
Desede Swivel Chair
Scott Hille Supporto Chair
Vitra Ea 208
Burroughs Chair
Cole Steel Chair