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.
Antique Relief Tile Panel in the Style of J. Parentani, 1890
Located in Rijssen, NL
Stunning Art Nouveau/ Arts & Crafts tile panel from the superb firm, Craven Dunnill, & Co., Ltd, Jackfield Salop, England, circa 1905, in a bright celadon. This quantity original jug...
Earthenware, Pottery
Castle Hedingham William II Medieval Style Art Pottery Jug
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
An unusual Castle Hedingham medieval style pottery jug marked for William Rufus (William II, son of William the Conqueror) and made by Edward Bingham ...
Pottery
$1,516Sale Price|20% Off
H 9 in Dm 11 in
19th Century Lewis Jones Pittston Cobalt Blue Decorated Crock
Located in Los Angeles, CA
19th century Lewis Jones Pittston PA. Fine 3-gallon blue cobalt decorated stoneware crock. Stamped with maker’s mark. Hand Brisked cobalt floral decor...
Pottery
$450 / set
H 0.44 in W 8 in D 8 in
Pair of Antique 19th Century John Moyr Smith Ceramic Tiles, Circa 1877
By Minton
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
A pair of large Victorian hand painted Minton China Works in Stoke-upon-Trent, England, English tiles based on Scott's popular Waverly Novels, designed ...
Ceramic, Earthenware
Antique Asian Architectural Relief Carved Stone Frieze Panel
Located in Forney, TX
An exceptional architectural high relief hand carved stone band of running scroll decoration frieze panel, with beautiful scrollwork, representing wind or water, and mythological creature, perhaps a dragon or grotesque griffin. The characters in the center may be Asian hieroglyphs (Japanese kanji). The top side has a dovetail joinery cutout from where it would have attached and fit into place before cementing it in place. 19th century or earlier. This antique architectural salvage building element is a beautiful and artful display of history, and a quick way to add texture, character, rustic charm and interest. Will make a wonderful decorative object within your home or office. Provenance: Personal property of Genshiro Kawamoto. A Japanese real estate billionaire and avid art collector who owned numerous multi-million dollar properties in Hawaii and was building one of the most expensive homes in Hawaii prior to his tax evasion arrest, followed by prison sentence in Japan. He had bought multiple properties to convert into museums in order to display his personal decorative arts collection, but due to his legal and financial problems, his items were all auctioned...
Stone
19th C Sponge Pottery Butter Crocks -3
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Each crock measure approximately 6 inches in diameter x 3.5 inches in height.
Pottery
Collection of Nine Antique Delft Tiles
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A collection of nine 5-inch antique Delft tiles depicting Dutch scenes with windmills, maidens and soldiers, all of which are in expressive blue colourin...
Clay
Arts & Crafts Nature Scene on a Raised Relief Glazed Tile
Located in San Francisco, CA
This rarely available Arts & Crafts-period glazed tile features a stag standing on the lakeshore against a mountain backdrop. Its more-than-foot-long size makes it ideal for placemen...
Ceramic
Italian Glazed Vase with Equine Design
By Bitossi
Located in Denton, TX
Avocado and spruce colored glaze surround this vase with horse and tree design. Made in Italy.
Clay
$1,995 / set
H 2 in Dm 1.75 in
Harrison Mcintosh Signed Mid-Century Modern Set of 6 Pottery Sake Liqueur Cups
By Harrison McIntosh
Located in Studio City, CA
An exquisitely formed and deeply blue glazed set of six ceramic sake/ liqueur cups by renowned American West Coast Californian master ceramist Harrison McIntosh who was famed for his Mid-Century Modern designed ceramics. Mcintosh's works have been exhibited in such acclaimed venues as the Smithsonian in the United States the Louvre in France. Over his more than 60-year career, McIntosh had some 43 solo exhibitions from Los Angeles, New York, Belgium, Cannes, France to Japan. His work can be found in numerous collections and museums throughout the world including: Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, France The National Museum of Art, Tokyo, Japan Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts Mingei International Museum, San Diego, California The Huntington Library, San Marino, California American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, California Alfred Ceramic Art Museum, Alfred University, Alfred, New York American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, California Arizona State University Art Museum, Tempe, Arizona Belgian...
Ceramic
$2,495
H 0.75 in W 2.75 in D 2.75 in
Doyle Lane Mid-Century Modern Rare Colored Glass Ceramic Pottery Square Form
By Doyle Lane
Located in Studio City, CA
A rare, beautifully designed glass or ceramic form by famed midcentury American artist or potter Doyle Lane. Lane was a glaze specialist much like Glen Lukens and Otto Natzler. His colorful glazes would melt, bubble and crack over his pieces creating a very tactile look and feel. His work ranged from beaded necklaces and pendants to small, delicate vases or weed pots to ceramic sculptures, clay paintings, and large scale wall mosaics (including his most well-known work - an 18-foot mosaic or mural known as the orange wall which was commissioned by architect Welton Becket...
Ceramic
Pair of Antique Minton & Co Tile Panels
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A pair of antique glazed Minton tile panels. This pair have a desirable crazing creating a characterful time worn look. With all their elements combined, they make the perfect decora...
Clay
Moroccan Encaustic Cement Tile in Antique White Color
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan handcrafted and hand-painted cement tile in antique white color. These are authentic Moroccan encaustic tiles handmade by artisans in Fez ...
Cement
$249
H 2.5 in W 5.5 in D 4 in
Peter Shire Exp Signed Post Modern Ceramic California Pottery Splatter Cup, 1979
By Peter Shire
Located in Studio City, CA
A wonderful work by famed Los Angeles (Echo Park), California-based artist Peter Shire who was a founding member (along with Italian designer Ettore Sottsass and others) of The Memph...
Ceramic, Pottery
19th Century Set of 25 Authentic Ceramic Relief Fire Place Tiles, France
Located in Rijssen, NL
A most unique and unusual piece of wall art. There are 25 individually tiles. Each pattered tile is a work of art in itself. 13 patterned tiles and 12 solid tiles. Each tile is indiv...
Earthenware, Pottery