Renaissance Decorative Objects
Spanning an era of cultural rebirth in Europe that harkened back to antiquity, the Renaissance was a time of change in design. From the late 1400s to the early 1600s, Rome, Venice and Florence emerged as artistic centers through the expansion of global trade and a humanist belief in the arts being central to society. Antique Renaissance furniture was ornately carved from sturdy woods like walnut, its details standing out against the tapestries and stained glass adorning the walls.
Renaissance chests, which were frequently commissioned for marriages, were often decorated with gilding or painted elements. Those that were known as cassoni were crafted in shapes based on classical sarcophagi. As opposed to the medieval era, when furniture was pared down to the necessities, a wide range of Renaissance chairs, tables and cabinets were created for the home, and the designs regularly referenced ancient Rome.
Large torchères of the Renaissance era that were used as floor lamps were inspired by classical candelabras, while marble surfaces evoked frescoes. The inlaid boxes being imported from the Middle East informed the intarsia technique, which involved varying hues of wood in mosaic-like patterns, such as those by architect Giuliano da Maiano in the Florence Cathedral.
Tapestry-woven cushion covers accented the variety of Renaissance seating — from conversation to study chairs — while bookcases for secular use reflected the migration of culture and knowledge from the church into the home. The aesthetics of the Italian Renaissance later spread to France through the publishing of work by renowned designers, including Hugues Sambin and Jacques Androuet du Cerceau. Centuries later, the 19th-century Renaissance Revival would see a return to this influential style.
Find a collection of antique Renaissance case pieces, decorative objects and other furniture on 1stDibs.
1980s French Vintage Renaissance Decorative Objects
Silver Plate
17th Century Dutch Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
17th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble
17th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
Early 1900s French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Brass
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Stucco
1910s Belgian Vintage Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
Early 20th Century European Renaissance Decorative Objects
Pine, Wood
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Maiolica
19th Century Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Giltwood, Paint
19th Century Unknown Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Metal
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble
20th Century Italian Renaissance Decorative Objects
Limestone
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
Late 20th Century Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble
Early 20th Century Unknown Renaissance Decorative Objects
Alabaster, Marble
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze, Ormolu
19th Century European Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze, Iron
16th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
1980s Italian Vintage Renaissance Decorative Objects
Sterling Silver, Enamel, Gold Plate
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Carrara Marble
17th Century Portuguese Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Ebony
Early 17th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Boxwood
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Terracotta
19th Century British Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Pewter
19th Century Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Paint
16th Century German Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Gesso, Wood
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Iron
Late 19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Iron
Late 19th Century Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble, Bronze
Early 20th Century Renaissance Decorative Objects
Metal, Brass
Early 20th Century Italian Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
20th Century Italian Renaissance Decorative Objects
Ceramic
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Majolica
21st Century and Contemporary Portuguese Renaissance Decorative Objects
Earthenware
1930s Italian Vintage Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
1890s French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Brass, Bronze
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
20th Century Renaissance Decorative Objects
Hardwood, Paint
Mid-20th Century Italian Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood, Giltwood
2010s French Renaissance Decorative Objects
Paper
17th Century Portuguese Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
Early 20th Century European Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood, Paint
16th Century German Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood, Pine
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble, Bronze
16th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Metal, Bronze
1890s French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble
Early 18th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Carrara Marble
16th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Oak
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Pewter
16th Century Belgian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
16th Century Belgian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Oak
1920s Vintage Renaissance Decorative Objects
Metal
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood, Giltwood
1870s Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Majolica, Paint