Medieval Corbel
Antique 15th Century and Earlier British Gothic Figurative Sculptures
Sandstone
Antique 15th Century and Earlier English Medieval Figurative Sculptures
Oak
Recent Sales
Antique 1880s English Medieval Architectural Elements
Oak
Antique 15th Century and Earlier British Gothic Sculptures and Carvings
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2010s African Modern Abstract Sculptures
Brass, Steel
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
Textile
21st Century and Contemporary Mexican Mid-Century Modern Floor Lamps
Textile, Wood, Linen, Fiberglass
Antique 18th Century European Neoclassical Revival Decorative Boxes
Metal, Other
Antique 15th Century and Earlier Hong Kong Ming Antiquities
Pottery
20th Century European Other Beds and Bed Frames
Other
2010s American Modern Stools
Sheepskin, Wood, Oak
Antique 17th Century French Baroque Western European Rugs
Wool, Silk
Antique 19th Century French Napoleon III Stairs
Walnut
Vintage 1960s English Late Victorian Fireplaces and Mantels
Teak
2010s Turkish Classical Greek Busts
Statuary Marble
1790s Old Masters Nude Drawings and Watercolors
India Ink
Vintage 1970s American Coffee and Cocktail Tables
Metal
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
Travertine
Vintage 1980s American Mid-Century Modern End Tables
Parchment Paper
2010s Turkish Classical Greek Busts
Statuary Marble
Medieval Corbel For Sale on 1stDibs
How Much is a Medieval Corbel?
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.