Medieval Coffer
Antique Early 17th Century German Medieval Decorative Boxes
Iron
Antique 15th Century and Earlier English Medieval Blanket Chests
Oak
Recent Sales
Antique 1880s French Figurative Sculptures
Bronze
Antique 19th Century French Medieval Jewelry Boxes
Bronze
Antique 16th Century Spanish Gothic Blanket Chests
Chestnut
Antique 16th Century British Medieval Blanket Chests
Oak
Antique 16th Century Gothic Blanket Chests
Walnut
Antique 16th Century Belgian Medieval Blanket Chests
Metal
Antique 18th Century Great Britain (UK) Medieval Blanket Chests
Oak
Antique 16th Century Belgian Medieval Blanket Chests
Metal
Antique 18th Century and Earlier Spanish Medieval Cabinets
People Also Browsed
Antique 18th Century Other Dinner Plates
Enamel
2010s American Modern Chandeliers and Pendants
Bronze
Antique Early 1900s English Arts and Crafts Apothecary Cabinets
Oak
2010s British Cabinets
Copper
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Italian Decorative Bowls
Rock Crystal
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Animal Sculptures
Crystal, Gold Plate, Brass
20th Century French Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
Enamel, Gold
Early 20th Century English Edwardian Desks and Writing Tables
Brass
Antique Mid-19th Century English Jacobean Decorative Art
Wood, Oak
Early 20th Century European Arts and Crafts Chandeliers and Pendants
Alabaster, Brass, Bronze, Wire
Antique 1880s English Victorian Lounge Chairs
Hardwood
Antique 18th Century French Rustic Flooring
Limestone
Mid-20th Century French Vases
Glass
Antique Late 19th Century French Napoleon III Jewelry Boxes
Bronze, Enamel, Ormolu
Antique 19th Century French Candle Holders
Crystal
Antique 17th Century German Renaissance Cabinets
Mother-of-Pearl, Oak
Medieval Coffer For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Medieval Coffer?
A Close Look at Medieval Furniture
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.