$271Sale Price|27% Off
H 10.63 in W 10.63 in D 2.37 in
One on a chariot Medieval Tile Gypsum Cast
Located in Slovak Republic, SK
Gypsum cast - medieval tile, from Central Europe. Adjusted in a frame, ready to hang or install.
Gesso
Medieval Forged Iron and Hardwood Wagon or Chariot Wheel Coffee Table
Located in Charlevoix, MI
Heavy sturdy wheel dating from the middle ages of European origin. Hand-forged riveted rim with iron cross straps on both sides. The tabletop is 18 inches tall at the edge and a diam...
Wrought Iron
Chinese Ming Dynasty Bronze Luan Chariot Bell
Located in Point Richmond, CA
and apertures on all four sides. In ancient China, the first horse-drawn chariots were used for daily
Bronze
One on a chariot Medieval Tile Gypsum Cast
Located in Slovak Republic, SK
Gypsum cast - medieval tile, from Central Europe. Adjusted in a frame, ready to hang or install.
Gesso
Late Medieval Forged Iron and Hardwood Wagon or Chariot Wheel
Located in Raalte, NL
Late Medieval chariot wheel made of hardwood with wrought iron bands fastened with wrought iron
Wrought Iron
Medieval Forged Iron and Hardwood Wagon or Chariot Wheel Coffee Table
Located in Charlevoix, MI
Heavy sturdy wheel dating from the middle ages of European origin. Hand-forged riveted rim with iron cross straps on both sides. Resting on a handcrafted contemporary wrought iron ba...
Wrought Iron
Medieval Forged Iron and Hardwood Wagon or Chariot Wheel Coffee Table
Located in Charlevoix, MI
Heavy sturdy wheel dating from the middle ages of European origin. Hand-forged riveted rim with iron cross straps on both sides. Also included is a handsome hand-wrought base, circa ...
Iron
$845,000
H 101 in W 56 in D 20 in
Palatial Louis XVI Style Ormolu Mounted Kingwood and Vernis Martin Style Vitrine
By Paul Sormani
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A superb quality palatial French Louis XVI style ormolu mounted, satinwood, kingwood parquetry and Vernis Martin style paneling three-door raised Vitrine Display Cabinet attributed t...
Bronze
A Pair of Fortuny Cushions in the Richelieu Pattern
Located in New York, NY
A pair of Fortuny cushions in the Richelieu pattern, bias striped silk edging and silk blend backing, the double lion motif pattern inspired by the 17th century style of the French c...
Cotton, Linen, Silk
$452,156
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
Liceu de Artes e Ofícios. 19th Century Daybed
Located in Sao Paulo, SP
This recamier/daybed was conceived and executed with utmost quality and expertise, showing a style that incorporates many influences from the eigtheenth and ninetheenth century. Made...
Wood
Pair of French Walnut Library Ladders
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of French (19th Century) walnut library ladders with side railings and steps leading to a top platform (on casters) (attributed to Napoleon III's personal library) (Related item...
Walnut
$400,000
H 70 in W 73 in D 14 in
Important 19th Century Bronze Mounted Fireplace - “Salon d’Hercules” Versailles
Located in Long Island City, NY
Very Important Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Palatial Fireplace Surround – “Salon d’Hercules” Versailles The beautiful and rare Breche de Violette marble fireplace frieze is...
Marble, Bronze, Ormolu
French late 19th century Art Nouveau Period Ormolu box
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A stunning and high quality French late 19th century Art Nouveau Period Ormolu box. This exceptional box is raised on four foliate feet below large scale scrolled acanthus leaf corne...
Ormolu
Art Deco Settee, France, circa 1920s
By Paul Follot
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Very pretty Art Deco loveseat or sofa. The wood structure is carved with a rope and tassel decor on a fluted background, and painted in the original green/blue color, with details pi...
Velvet, Wood
$60,000
H 3.75 in W 3.5 in D 1 in
Pre-Columbian Rare Gold Veraguas/Diquis Supernatural Drummer Pink Tourmaline
Located in San Pedro Garza Garcia, Nuevo Leon
Natural pink tourmaline necklace (167 gms) with rare gold Veraguas/Diquis supernatural drummer. Very fine example of ancient, Precolumbian goldwork form Central America, either Costa...
Gold
$1,750
H 6.25 in W 7.5 in D 7.5 in
Early 1900's French Nouveau Gilt Bronze & Onyx Figural Cameo Jewelry Box
Located in Philadelphia, PA
French Art Nouveau Gilt Bronze Jewelry Box with Green Onyx Base and Figural Cameo Mounted Lid. Item features beautiful art nouveau form, gilt bronze construction, figural cameo resti...
Onyx, Ormolu
19th Century Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom
Located in London, by appointment only
Scottish, after 1837. This particular carving of the Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom as used in Scotland is marvellous for the tremendous vitality of the Unicorn and Lions. It ...
Wood, Paint
$41,737 / set
H 30.12 in W 28.75 in D 34.65 in
PAiR OF ANTIQUE HOWARD & SON'S BRIDGEWATER CHESTERFIELD GREEN LEATHER ARMCHAIRS
By Howard & Sons Ltd, Howard Chairs Ltd., Howard and Sons
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this stunningly rare, original pair of fully restored Regency Green leather, Victorian Mahogany framed Howar...
Leather
$34,500 / set
H 1 in Dm 10.63 in
Minton for Tiffany Complete Dinner Service for 12 Caramel, White & Raised Gold
By Minton
Located in Great Barrington, MA
As we approach the holiday season, this complete Minton for Tiffany dinner service for 12 will work with many decorating themes to dress up any event. The warm butterscotch border fr...
Porcelain
$120,000
H 1.5 in W 64 in D 71.75 in
Cutler & Girard, Sailing Ships, Inlaid Three-panel screen, Italy, 1902
By Cutler & Girard
Located in New York, NY
An Italian folding screen in the Liberty Style (the Italian equivalent of Art Nouveau) by the Florentine furniture makers Girard & Cutler who earned the Gold Medal during the Turin E...
Mahogany, Maple, Walnut
$6,886
H 16.15 in W 29.93 in D 16.54 in
FINE EARLY 17TH CENTURY GERMAN WROUGHT IRON SAFE CHEST TRUNK WiTH ORIGINAL KEY
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this stunning, early 17th century German Wrought Iron painted safe chest with the original key Please note...
Wrought Iron
Spanish Colonial Screen
Located in Mexico, DF
Fantastic Spanish Colonial school screen. Probably from Peru. This screen, with a kind of European landscape, give us an idea of the influence of Europe, especially Spain, in the Col...
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.