Early 17th Century Medieval Handcrafted Black Iron Coffer or Box
Located in Brescia, IT
The iron coffer, fully original in every part of it, was forged and handcrafted in German in the 1610. Complete with key. Full working iron mechanisms. It is not easy to find a piece...
Iron
$13,200Sale Price|20% Off
Very Rare 15th C. Medieval English Carved Solid Oak Dowry Coffer with Drawer
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Exquisitely carved and well preserved Medieval England dowry coffer. Remarkable decorative "palm-arched" reliefs on the facade echo the design on the drawer at base (a rare feature).
Oak
Antique French Medieval Gothic Carved Oak Chest Coffer 17th Century Panels 1679
Located in Portland, OR
A fine antique 17th century French Gothic carved oak lidded chest or coffer, dated 1679. The chest was assembled in the mid 19th century with original carved panels from the 1600s. ...
Oak
German 16th Century Oak Coffer
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
An enormous German coffer-trunk from the 16th century (possibly the oldest antique in our entire 18,000 sqft. showroom!), handcrafted from thick oak planks and fitted with forged iro...
Iron
$1,757Sale Price|20% Off
Very large English antique solid oak mule chest coffer with drawers from 1790
Located in Leicester, GB
An unusually large antique mule chest / coffer with handsome panelling all around. This 18th century mule chest has the height to be a credenza whilst offering plenty of storage insi...
Iron
Unavailable
H 8 in W 12 in D 7 in
A Large Impressive 19th Century Bronze Jewelry Casket Box. Circa 1860
Located in London, GB
This large heavily cast bronze Jewelry box was made in France in the mid 19th century and is made in the form of a medieval coffer. It is superbly detailed with flowers Leaves Cheru...
Bronze
Unavailable
H 4.34 in W 7.49 in D 3.94 in
French Cast Bronze Jewelry Box Made in the Form of a Medieval Domed Top Coffer
Located in GB
This heavily cast bronze jewelry box was made in France in the late 19th century and is made in the form of a medieval domed topped coffer. It is superbly detailed with flowers and ...
Bronze
Early 16th Century Gothic Coffer Strongbox
Located in Vosselaar, BE
A fantastic medieval coffer. Made from 6 wide dovetailed planks from the same chestnut tree this coffer is a great example of haute epoque furniture.
Chestnut
16th Century Late Medieval Oak Linen Fold Coffer
Located in Hoddesdon, GB
A late medieval oak coffer , circa 1500 original planked lid , four panel early linen fold carved front , a nicely patinated honest coffer that hasn’t been restored , retaining all...
Oak
Gothic Oak Chest – Northern France, Circa 1320–1360
Located in Bilzen, BE
Rare medieval oak coffer carved with Gothic tracery, featuring lancets and quatrefoils characteristic of Northern French Gothic architecture (Picardy / Artois) in the 14th century.
Iron
Medieval 16th Century Solid Walnut Gothic Carved Coffer c. 1580
Located in Heathfield, GB
An extremely rare, large and beautiful 16th century medieval solid walnut coffer with superbly carved Gothic tracery to the front panel.
Walnut
16th Century Belgian Coffer - B
Located in Charlotte, NC
A coffer originating in Belgium in the 16th Century.
Metal
Antique Oak Coffer, 18th Century
Located in Redruth, GB
Antique oak coffer. 18th century carved oak coffer with hinged lid, plant hinged lid with three arcaded panels to the front and bracket feet. Quality craftsmanship and a very useful ...
Oak
Antique 16th Century Belgian Coffer - A
Located in Charlotte, NC
A coffer originating in Belgium in the 16th century.
Metal
A rare 17th c. Fir and Chestnut Coffer
Located in New York, NY
The rectangular plank top mounted with three iron strap hinges over the case centered by three recessed square panels set within a cross motif diaper work. Provenance: Huntington An...
Certified Maison Bagues Ship Chandelier - iron and crystal
By Maison Baguès
Located in Paris, FR
Certified Maison Baguès Chandelier - iron and crystal Finish: Gold or Silver gilding Re-edition of its old model "Le Bateau". UL listing available for an additional charge.
Crystal, Iron
Navagero Murano Glass Mirror
By Fratelli Tosi
Located in Milan, IT
Bold yet feminine, this exceptional mirror handcrafted by Venetian master glassmakers will be a splendid focal point in classic or eclectic decors. The indented frame in golden cryst...
Murano Glass
$61,253Sale Price|20% Off
H 2.1 in W 1.5 in D 1 in
Miniature illuminated manuscript on vellum with 12 full-page miniatures
By Francois-Jacques Boeri
Located in ZWIJNDRECHT, NL
A tiny and complete Parisian Book of Hours with a plethora of intricate illuminations. 91 x 65mm (3.6 x 2.6in). 190 leaves on vellum, additional 4 paper leaves after (plus 3 paper e...
Leather
$2,532
H 24 in W 11.3 in D 6.1 in
Antique Fine Handcarved Oak Gothic Revival Wall Shrine / Chapel for Statuette
Located in Lisse, NL
Rare and good condition, Gothic-art shrine for standing or wall-hanging. This handsome and decorative, Gothic wall shrine is completely hand-crafted out of solid oak and it will loo...
Brass
$23,912Sale Price|30% Off
H 6.3 in W 15.75 in D 5.91 in
Fossilised Skull of Prehistoric Marine Reptile the Mosasaur, 70Million Years Ago
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Upper Cretaceous, about 70-65 million years ago (Maastrichtian) Morocco The skull is reconstructed in good proportions with fossil pieces found in a phosphate mine in Morocco. I att...
Bone
$693Sale Price|20% Off
H 7.29 in W 5.52 in D 0.99 in
Antique Book, Days of King Arthur, Mythology, English, Fiction, Late Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique mythology book, Days of King Arthur by Charles Henry Hanson. An English language, hard bound fictional work with illustrations by Gustave Doré, dating to the late ...
Paper
$1,198Sale Price|20% Off
H 7.49 in W 5.12 in D 2.37 in
Antique Personal Diary Repository, Scottish, Brass, Keepsake Case, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is a fine antique personal diary repository, originating from Scotland during the Victorian period, circa 1870. This striking book form keepsake case showcases the craftsmanship...
Brass
$446,209
H 70.87 in W 125.99 in D 2.17 in
Giant Crocodile Fossil Wall Plate, Germany. 180 Million Years Old.
Located in London, GB
This outstanding fossilised skeleton is that of the ancestral crocodile species Steneosaurus bollensis that lived during the early Jurassic period. The skeleton, complete with armour...
Other
$290,000
H 136 in Dm 108 in
Exquisite Rotunda Structure Kiosk Copper & Carved Stone Bench Seating Columns
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Exquisite Rotunda Structure Kiosk Copper & Carved Stone Bench Seating Columns . Monumental Exquisite refined work King Charles X Period Rotunda rotundus building structure with a...
Stone, Copper
$16,000Sale Price|50% Off
H 52 in W 9 in D 32 in
15th C Gothic Tabernacle 4 ft.+ Rare Architectural Religious Art, Museum Quality
Located in Vero Beach, FL
15th century period Gothic Tabernacle, extremely rare (Medieval) architectural religious art, museum quality ecclesiastical altar piece. This is an absolutely stunning circa 1450 or...
Wood, Paint
Fabergé Silver Service
By Fabergé
Located in New Orleans, LA
This extraordinary 128-piece service by Fabergé is a rare treasure in more ways than one. Enclosed in its original oak chest, the exquisite service remains complete and in pristine c...
Silver
$4,476
H 21.7 in W 43.3 in D 17.5 in
Stunning Antique Gothic Revival Hand Carved Elm Wood Blanket Chest / Trunk 1750
Located in Lisse, NL
Great looking and patina antique Gothic trunk, made of solid elmwood. This impressive looking and practical size chest shows a number of deep and beautiful, hand carved Gothic eleme...
Wrought Iron
Large Medieval inscription
Located in Bruxelles, BE
Fragment of a Germanic Funerary Epitaph Sandy limestone · Holy Roman Empire · late 16th century The inscription is carved in Roman humanist capitals — a significant choice in the Ger...
Stone
$19,950
H 45 in W 26.5 in D 26.5 in
Large Antique Italian Church Carved Gilt Polychrome Tabernacle Altar Niche
Located in Forney, TX
A magnificent large rare and most impressive Italian baldachin tabernacle altar niche / altarpiece. circa 1800 Exquisitely hand-crafted in Italy in the early 19th century, this extr...
Enamel
$8,500
H 45 in W 52 in D 19 in
16th/17th Century Elizabethan Carved Oak Three-tier Court Cupboard Server
Located in Forney, TX
A scarce period late 16th / early 17th century with later elements Elizabethan carved oak three-tier court cupboard - sideboard server. English / Northern European; circa 1600 Ha...
Oak
$38,872
H 8.67 in W 19.69 in D 19.69 in
Italian Sterling Silver Chess Board, Chess Game, Sodalite Marble
By Arval Argenti Valenza
Located in VALENZA, IT
Impressive sterling silver chess board medieval style chess set. The chess board, made by ARVAL ARGENTI VALENZA, was made in white marble and sodalite is supported by a STERLING SIL...
Marble, Sterling Silver
The Middle Ages in Europe followed the end of the Roman Empire, and in this time of change, which preceded the Renaissance, furniture was simple and utilitarian, with most homes having only the necessities like chests and benches. Much of medieval furniture, which was often made in oak or walnut, was built for the elite, particularly the emerging merchant class who owned multiple homes.
Life for many in the medieval era was unstable, and furniture was designed to be functional and portable. Peasants worked the fields for affluent landowners and didn’t have access to literature in the way that nobles and people of the church did (women less so than men). The furniture in their modest dwellings was typically limited to cookware and a handful of stools. Foldable chairs, while uncommon in homes of the early Middle Ages and emblematic of wealth, like all other furnishings of the time, allowed for easy transportation of a household. Trestle tables with detachable legs and collapsible beds were designed to be simply moved from place to place.
Medieval blanket chests were among the most important furniture objects and could further serve as tables or even beds. Some ancient traditions were carried forward to build this sturdy furniture, such as turnery. Although the furniture was minimally designed, embellishments like carvings added elegance to the heavy wood pieces. These details sometimes reflected trends in religious art like rose windows.
By the later Middle Ages, storage pieces like chests of drawers were often adorned with high relief carvings, such as geometric and floral motifs. By the 14th and 15th centuries, design had developed to include more involved pieces like cupboards and desks, while benches frequently doubled as chests with hinged seats. Beds also changed in this era from basic boards to four-post designs with large drapes to keep the sleeper warm. These beds and other medieval bedroom furniture were significant status symbols, passed down through families and used as places to conduct business and receive visitors.
Surviving examples of medieval furniture are very rare, yet its distinctive aesthetics influenced later styles like William and Mary and Arts and Crafts.
Find a collection of medieval seating, garden elements, decorative objects and other furniture on 1stDibs.