Directoire Mirrors
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
Rare Mother of Reticulated Mother of Pearl Large Wall Mirror
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Wood. Mother of Pearl. 59 7/8" h x 41 7/8" w x 3 1/2" d.
Condition
Scratches. Finish loss. Splits in seams. Chips in mother of pearl.
Category
1950s French Vintage Directoire Mirrors
Materials
Brass
19th Century Rectangular Wall Mirror with Giltwood Frame
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A very fine Louis Philippe rectangular mirror in a wonderful gilt wood frame, which has been carved all round in a simple but attractive ribbed or reeded style. Dating from the mid-1...
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Mirrors
Materials
Wood, Giltwood, Mirror
19th Century French Directoire Style Giltwood Mirror
Located in Houston, TX
19th Century French Directoire Style Giltwood Mirror.
Stunning 19th century French Directoire style gilt wood fluted design mirror.
Great patina!
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Mirrors
Materials
Giltwood
Simple and Elegant Gilded Carved Wood French Directoire Wall Mirror, Circa 1940
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
1940s Unknown Vintage Directoire Mirrors
Materials
Fruitwood
Antique French Directoire Period Carved and Gitwood Mirror
Located in Madrid, ES
Directory period French mirror in carved and gilded wood, with a frame decorated with rope motifs, it retains a beautiful vintage patina.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Mirrors
Materials
Mercury Glass, Giltwood
Gorgeous French Carved Beveled Glass Rectangular Wall Mirror
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Beveled edge. Gilt. Ebonized. 48" h x 54" w x 3 7/8" d.
Condition
Scratches. Paint loss. Minor cracks in carving.
Category
1940s French Vintage Directoire Mirrors
Materials
Walnut
Large Giltwood Dark Framed French Directoire Wall MIrror
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Carved wood frame. Gilt trim. 54" h x 36 1/2" w x 1 3/4" d.
Condition
Minor scratches. Minor finish loss.
Category
1980s European Vintage Directoire Mirrors
Materials
Walnut
Great Milling Road by Baker Large Ebonized Circular Gilded Wall Mirror
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Beveled glass. Ebonized frame. Gilt accents. 43 3/4" h x 42 1/2" w.
Condition
Surface scratches. Minor dents. Minor finish loss.
Category
1970s Unknown Vintage Directoire Mirrors
Materials
Walnut
Antique French Directoire Giltwood Mirror with Divided Mercury Glass
Located in Dallas, TX
Very fine period French Directoire giltwood mirror with divided mercury glass. Beautiful detail on the frame. A classic piece. So pretty!!
Category
Early 19th Century Antique Directoire Mirrors
Materials
Mercury Glass, Giltwood
18th Century Baguette Gilded Directoire Mirror with Acanthus Leaf Detail
Located in Washington, DC
The frame is in good condition and the Acanthus Leaf Details on the inner frame is very special. The gilt is over Sienna Bole. The Mirror itself is cloudy.
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Wood
French Directoire Round Giltwood and Ebonized Wall Mirror
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
This is a beautiful ebonized and gilded wall mirror in the directoire taste. The mirror measures 33.25 x 33.25 x 4.5 deep.
Category
1970s Unknown Vintage Directoire Mirrors
Materials
Mirror
French Louis XVI Style Gold Gilt Octagonal Beveled Glass Wall Hanging Mirror
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Dimensions- H: 40 1/4in W: 28 1/4in D: 1in
This French Louis XVI Style Gold Gilt Octagonal Beveled Glass Wall Hanging Mirror is truly exceptional! If you take a look at the photos provided you'll see the exceptional attention to detail within the carved gilt frame. One dead give away that this piece is quality is by looking at the beveled mirror. Beveled mirror is much more expensive than plain mirror lower end furniture companies did not bother to put higher end materials into their product as it would cost them more money. This mirror is perfect to be used as a vanity mirror, Bathroom Mirror, Bedroom mirror, entryway mirror, or kitchen mirror...
Category
Late 20th Century American Directoire Mirrors
Materials
Composition
19th Century French Directoire Mirror
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
19th Century French Directoire Mirror. Gorgeous striking piece for any wall.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Mirrors
Materials
Wood
Trumeau Mirror carved wood 19th century
Located in BORDEAUX, FR
"Trumeau Mirror Hunting Carved Wood 19th"
Very pretty Trumeau in wood carved with hunting attributes in high relief. Decorated with oak branches, rifle, saber, bugle and game bag rev...
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Mirrors
Materials
Oak
French Directoire Trumeau Mirror with a Painted Green, Purple and Gold Finish.
Located in Dallas, TX
A small scale French Directoire trumeau mirror with a gilded and painted green, purple and gold finish. This Etruscan style mirror, depicting Phaedrus is a lovey size and has wonder...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Mirrors
Materials
Gold Leaf
French Antique Mirror Period Directoire, 18th Century
Located in Paris, FR
Rare French antique mirror period Directoire (1789-1804). Carved wood ornament bay leaves, original gilding. Mercury glass mirror. Antique wood ba...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Mirrors
Materials
Giltwood
French Directoire Mirror in Gold Giltwood and Mercury Glass 18th Century
Located in Milano, IT
A French Directoire mirror in gold giltwood and original mercury glass. Slight crack in original glass but overall beautiful l time worn condition.
Category
18th Century French Antique Directoire Mirrors
Materials
Mercury Glass, Giltwood
French Directoire Style Gold Gilt Rectangle Wall Hanging Mirror
Located in Swedesboro, NJ
Dimensions- H: 45 1/4in W: 36in D: 1in
This French Directoire style gold gilt rectangle wall hanging mirror is a prime example of luxury decor! This piece is made of the highest qua...
Category
Late 20th Century American Directoire Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Wood, Giltwood
19th Century, French, Directoire Parcel Gilt Mirror
Located in Winter Park, FL
An early 19th century French directoire period parcel gilt mirror. Architectural green painted frame with three dimensional fluted columns and a gilt frieze...
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Mirrors
Materials
Giltwood, Mirror, Paint
19th C. French Directoire Trumeau Mirror, 7 Ft Tall
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French Directoire style trumeau mirror from the 19th century. This antique mirror from France features a classic trumeau design with woode...
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Wood
19th Century Gilt Baguette Directoire Mirror
Located in Washington, DC
This mirror is in exceptionally good condition. The gilding on this mirror in in very good condone. This mirror could be hung vertically or horizontally,
Category
18th Century French Antique Directoire Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Wood
French Directoire Period Trumeau Mirror, Interior Scene, Circa 1800
Located in Doylestown, PA
A French Directoire Period trumeau mirror with charming painted scene of a well-to-do family in a sitting room engaged in various activities, circa 1800, oil-on-canvas, and retaining...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Directoire Mirrors
Materials
Canvas, Mirror, Paint
Directoire Style French Hand Carved Gilded Patinated Frame Wall or Table Mirror
Located in Plainview, NY
A lovely Directoire style French wall or table mirror. The Frame is finely carved and made of giltwood with a patinated off-white design. The mirror glass is beveled and the overall ...
Category
20th Century Directoire Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Wood, Giltwood
French Period Directoire Trumeau Mirror with Distressed Paint, Late 18th Century
Located in Atlanta, GA
A French period Directoire trumeau mirror from the late 18th century with gilded accents, carved urn, distressed paint and mirror. This French Directoire mirror...
Category
Late 18th Century French Antique Directoire Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Wood
19th Century French Oval Mahogany Dressing Mirror
Located in London, GB
A large mid 19th century French oval mahogany dressing table Mirror surmounted by urn, supported by carved & scrolled eagle heads with central paterae, ending on possibly replaced pl...
Category
Mid-19th Century French Antique Directoire Mirrors
Materials
Mahogany
18th Century French Directoire Trumeau Mirror with Gilt Frame and Oil Painting
Located in Dallas, TX
A French Directoire trumeau mirror with a gilded frame and oil painting.
This late 18th century trumeau has a gilt frame with beading and a finely done oil painting depicting a love...
Category
1790s French Antique Directoire Mirrors
Materials
Wood, Paint, Mirror
Pair of Directoire Style French Mirrors
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Directoire style French mirrors. Mirrors have a decorative metal frame with a gold painted finish. Back of the mirrors is wood.
Measures: 37 H x 24 W (at its widest).
Category
1950s French Vintage Directoire Mirrors
Materials
Metal
French 18th Century Classicistical Directoire Trumeau/Mirror in White/Gold Paint
Located in Salzburg, AT
French, Classic Directoire Trumeau 18th century gold / white
Very fine representation of an antique chariot with handlebar.
Framed with pearl frieze ...
Category
1790s European Antique Directoire Mirrors
Materials
Wood, Mercury Glass
French Directoire Dark Green and Gilt Painted Vine Design Trumeau / Wall Mirror
Located in New York, NY
French Directoire (l8th /19th Century) dark green painted trumeau / wall mirror with gilt vinework decorated frame.
Category
Early 19th Century French Antique Directoire Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Giltwood
Set of Four 1940s Directoire Style Mirrors, France
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Chic and understatedly elegant set of four Directoire-style rectangular walnut mirrors, from the 1940s. The corners are embellished with a simple diamond-shape ebonized wood cabochon...
Category
Mid-20th Century French Directoire Mirrors
Materials
Wood, Walnut
Empire Period Painted & Parcel-Gilt Trumeau Mirror
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Empire period blue/grey painted and parcel-gilt trumeau mirror.
For many more fine antiques, please visit our online.
William Word Fine Antiques: Atlanta's source for anti...
Category
Early 1800s French Antique Directoire Mirrors
Materials
Mirror, Giltwood, Paint
French Painted and Gilt Mirror
Located in Stamford, CT
A wonderful French painted and gold leaf architectural Directoire - Empire period mirror from a chateau in Aix-en-Provence.
Category
18th Century and Earlier French Antique Directoire Mirrors
Materials
Wood, Glass
19th Century Directoire Mirror with Reeded Frame
Located in Houston, TX
Gilded Ribbed Empire Mirror France. Circa 1820.
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Mirrors
Materials
Mercury Glass, Giltwood
19th Century French Directoire Style Mirror
Located in Dallas, TX
Very fine 19th century Directoire style gold gilt mirror. This piece has a beautiful patina. A classic mirror that is great for a variety of decors! Lovely!.
Category
19th Century French Antique Directoire Mirrors
Materials
Giltwood
Monumental French Directoire Style Ebonized Mirror Beveled With Brass Accents
Located in Stamford, CT
A Monumental French Ebonized and parcel-gilt mirror in the style of Directoire, circa 1950s, the rectangular beveled looking glass with a panelled frame decorated by brass accents.
Category
1950s French Vintage Directoire Mirrors
Materials
Wood
Directoire mirrors for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Directoire mirrors for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the Late 20th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage mirrors created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include mirrors and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, glass and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Directoire mirrors made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Unknown 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 mirrors differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $575 and tops out at $11,200 while the average work can sell for $3,500.
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