$18,950
H 10.24 in W 15.75 in D 8.67 in
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
Iron
$13,200Sale Price|20% Off
H 28 in W 47 in D 19.5 in
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
Oak
$3,200
H 32 in W 34 in D 23 in
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
Oak
$2,191
H 31.89 in W 53.55 in D 20.48 in
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
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
in the form of a medieval coffer. It is superbly detailed with flowers Leaves Cherubs and decorative
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
form of a medieval domed topped coffer. It is superbly detailed with flowers and decorative strapwork
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
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
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
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
Walnut
16th Century Belgian Coffer - B
Located in Charlotte, NC
A coffer originating in Belgium in the 16th Century. This trunk was recovered from the ruins of a
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
Oak
Antique 16th Century Belgian Coffer - A
Located in Charlotte, NC
A coffer originating in Belgium in the 16th century. This trunk was recovered from the ruins of a
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
$39,109
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
$34,368
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
$94,810
H 98.43 in W 27.56 in D 23.63 in
Set of Extraordinary Italian Stone Statues Representing the Four Seasons
Located in Rome, IT
Four season ,monumental classically draped female figures and their distinguishing symbols on a square base. Autumn, winter, spring and summer. Timeless classical decoration for you...
Limestone
$691Sale 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
Arched Gothic Oak Cathedral Door
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
Sourced from a cathedral in the south west of England, this arched gothic front door dates from the mid 1800s. On the front, it features vertical oak plank batten construction detail...
Iron, Wrought Iron
$77,033
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
$2,695
H 48 in W 19.75 in D 22 in
Antique 18th English Century Georgian Carved Oak Wainscot Chair Yorkshire 1720
Located in Portland, OR
A good antique carved oak English George I wainscot chair, Yorkshire, circa 1720. The chair with a carved back crest with scrolled interlaced carving below and a pair of turned finia...
Oak
$445,100
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
$203,000Sale Price|30% Off
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
$9,481Sale Price|20% Off
H 24.02 in W 64.57 in D 24.02 in
Antique 17th century Italian Renaissance Solid Walnut handcarved Cassone Chest
Located in Casteren, NL
This richly carved wooden chest is a fine example of an Italian cassone from the 17th century. The cassone, also known as a bridal chest, was an essential piece of furniture in the h...
Iron
Maison Maire travel necessities Paris 1825-1830 ca
By Non-Standard Furniture and Lighting
Located in Milano, IT
Charles X-era travel nécessaire consisting of citronnier wood case, decorated with small polished steel studs and fitted with key, containing chiseled gold, turquoise (insets) and mo...
Gold
$6,984Sale Price|25% Off
H 59.45 in W 65.75 in D 21.66 in
Late Elizabethan Oak Court Cupboard Circa 1600
Located in Hoddesdon, GB
Elizabethan , Joined Oak , Court Cupboard Circa 1600 . Elizabethan carved cup and cover columns , original candle shelf , two upper doors and central panel beautifully inlaid with ho...
Oak
$104,000Sale Price|35% Off
H 124 in W 105 in D 20 in
Grand 17th C. Viennese Baroque Archway Wood Door Surround Architectural Element
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Grand 17th C. Viennese Baroque Archway Wood Door Surround Architectural Element . Outstanding workmanship of the Masters of the Craft. Large Carved wood black, tone down red and Gilt...
Wood, Giltwood
Wood Low-Relief Depicting a Werewolf and Saint George
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Exceptional polychrome wood low-relief depicting a werewolf and saint george after a woodcut by lucas cranach (“DER WERWOLF” 1512) Provenance : collection Brimo de Laroussihle colle...
Wood
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.