FRENCH

DIRECTOIRE

THE DIRECTOIRE

PERIOD (1789-1804) This fifteen year period was the most

troubled in French history.

Everything associated with the old regime - royal luxury, aristocratic power and privilege- was condemned.

The revolutionaries of this time suppressed

the furniture guilds, which could no longer guarantee the level of craftsmanship.

On the other hand, the growing number of

personal fortunes led to an increase in demand.

However, the limited sophistication of the new clients made them less than exacting: they were often satisfied with surface glitter and placed a high priority on rapid execution.

Only after Bonaparte's seizure of power would France again cultivate a grand style.

FURNITURE

The troubled economic situation had a direct impact on contemporary furniture production.

Elegant and gracious, imbued with antique references, Directoire furniture heralds the Empire style but is less ponderous and sumptuous.

Seating was the only are of furniture production characterized by invention in this period.

Chairs, daybeds and settees were light, elegant and slender without being fragile.

Began to show structural forms borrowed from ancient greece.

Greek curves were on the chairs. Slight backwards rools at the top of chair.

Klismos chair had a tilt back , outward curve and Chairs were also rolled back.

Chairs: Front legs were carved forward and rear legs were curved

and tapered.

Case Furniture: Slightly Outward Flair Occurred in Short

Supports. Straight Turned Legs were used by

persian cabinet makers.

Structural Ornamental Forms: Egyptians’s or Greeks head used square

legs, tapered and slightly reduced in section at bottom and ended with the two human feet.

Sofa Arms :Curved Out were influenced from Greek style furniture and this period is seen as a transition between neo classic and empire period.

Head of Board Of Beds:Beds Were crested with a low pitched pediment forms and the upper right side of head boards were given a slight curved outward at the top.

MATERIALS &

TECHNIQUESMost furniture from the period was solid wood: elm,

walnut, fruitwood, or beech.

Only luxury work was made of solid and carved mahogony.

Painted pieces, usually made of beech, were common (gray, white, sea green, lime green).

There was a revival of inlay decoration, using ebony, citronnier, copper and brass.

Marquetry was almost totally absent due to economic restraints. Bronze fittings became rare.

ORNAMENTATION

Ornamentation was spare and light, inspired by Greek and Pompeian models, and would never obscure a pieces basic structure.

Squares and rectangles were pervasive and palmettes were common.

Antique motifs such as tureens, urns, swans and winged lions were used repeatedly. Sphinxes, scarabs and pyramids were also used.

Antiques Motifs which were repeatedly used are :

SWANSWINGED LION

TUREENSSPHINX

ARROW FLAIL

MOTIFSNew Ornamental Motifs were introduced to reflect the grouping power of the agricultural classes. Such as: Arrow , Flail , Scythe , Sheaves of Wheat , Star and Etc.

STAR

SHEAVES OF WHEAT

THANK YOU

MADE BY :- DEEPANSHU

MEHNA