Medieval Asian Art and Furniture
MEDIEVAL STYLE
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.
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Style: Medieval
Carved Sandstone Jain Family Group, 6th-7th Century, Uttar Pradesh, India
Located in Austin, TX
A fine and rare Indian carved sandstone stele of a Jain family group, Sarnath style, early Indian Medieval period, 6th-7th century, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Carved from a single block of buff sandstone, the stele features a Jain family group comprised of a father, mother, and two children. The family group is portrayed upon a lotus pedestal under a tall palm tree. The mother and father both seated in a relaxed pose known as lalitasana, or royal ease pose, a jovial expression on their faces. The mother holds the daughter in her lap. The younger son scampers mischievously up the trunk of the palm tree, his head turned to look back at his parents.
Above the family, nestled in a niche amongst the palm fronds, an image of a Jain Tirthankara...
Category
15th Century and Earlier Indian Antique Medieval Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Sandstone
17th Century Italian gothic gilt decorated walnut Cassone-chest
Located in Chipping Campden, GB
17th Century Italian Cassone
Gilt and polychrome decorated standing on a high molded plinth with Gothic architectural elements, such as a pointed arc, flanked by rose windows. The ...
Category
17th Century Italian Antique Medieval Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Gold Leaf
Ancient Jain Altarpiece with Three Standing Jina's, Gujarat, India 16th Century
Located in Antwerp, BE
An authentic, ancient and exceptional Three Jina Shrine. For it’s age the altarpiece is in a very good condition and rather large. The image of three standing, nude Jinas flanked by the other 21 seated Jinas is rare. The lintel of the shrine is showing the nine comets and three seated figures...
Category
16th Century Indian Antique Medieval Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Momoyama period Japanese Screen. Crows on Pine. Studio of Hasegawa Tohaku.
Located in Kyoto, JP
Studio of Hasegawa Tohaku (1539-1610)
“Crows on Pine”
Momoyama period. Early 17th Century.
A six-panel Japanese Screen. Ink on paper.
The early 17th century Momoyama period scree...
Category
Early 17th Century Japanese Antique Medieval Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Paper
Indian Carved Sandstone Frieze of Lakshmi, Central India, 10th-11th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A large and impressive Indian carved sandstone architectural frieze featuring a central image of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi flanked by two atten...
Category
15th Century and Earlier Indian Antique Medieval Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Sandstone
China 960 Ad Song Dynasty Very Rare Imperial Period Offering Vessel in Bronze
Located in Miami, FL
Offering vessel from the Chinese Song Dynasty (960/1279 AD ).
A beautiful "offering spiritual vessel" from the Yunnan province region in the ancient China. This rare vessel was created in red bronze during the Song Dynasty period. between 960/1279 AD.
This is one of the most unusual forms of red bronze jar. A large vessel, the sides are virtually perpendicular to the base. The stepped lid design is also among the more rare types. The predominant lid design among the Yunnan offering bronzes is the "wheel" pattern, with a few lids having the lotus design. This is also one of the few bronzes displaying clear riveting of a two-part vessel body, with the original twisted elements
Has a combined measures including the lid of 12.5 by 8.75 inches (31.75 x 22,23 Cm).
The Song Dynasty, was an imperial dynasty of China that began in 960 and lasted until 1279. The dynasty was founded by Emperor Tizu of Song following his usurpation of the throne of the later Zhou, ending the Five-Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. The Song often came into conflict with the contemporaneous Liao, Western Xia and Jin dynasties in northern China. After decades of armed resistance defending southern China, it was eventually conquered by the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty.
The dynasty is divided into two periods: Northern Song and Southern Song...
Category
15th Century and Earlier Chinese Antique Medieval Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Bronze
Chinese Ming Dynasty Bronze Luan Chariot Bell
Located in Point Richmond, CA
Cast with a globular top with a central aperture on both sides, pierced with radiating petals to one side, supported on a tall spreading foot of rectangular section cast with raised ...
Category
15th Century and Earlier Chinese Antique Medieval Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Bronze
3rd Century Indian Red Sandstone Elephant Carving
Located in Dallas, TX
PRESENTING a STUNNING piece of Indian Antiquity namely, a 3rd Century Red Sandstone Elephant carving.
From Central India.
The piece was purchased by a ...
Category
15th Century and Earlier Indian Antique Medieval Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Sandstone
16th century stone architectural fragment
Located in Vosselaar, BE
A 16th century Spanish slate stone architectural fragment. Probably part of a commerative plaque. The Latin inscription only partly present but most likely being a religious referenc...
Category
16th Century Spanish Antique Medieval Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Slate
A Stucco Torso of the Buddha, Gandhara, 4th-5th Century
Located in Dallas, TX
PRESENTING a STUNNING piece of Indian Antiquity from circa the 4th-5th Century, namely, A Stucco Torso of the Buddha, Gandhara.
Ancient Gandhara is located in the rugged foothills of the Himalayas in what is today northwest Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan, was for centuries a thriving center of trade along the Silk Road linking China, South Asia, and the Mediterranean.
The piece was purchased by a Private Collector at Sotheby’s, or more probably, Christies of New York Auction pre-2000. The paper label on the wooden base is “7281/465” for Sale Number 7281, Lot No. 465.
Sotheby’s and Christies operate a twice yearly auction of Southeast Asian Art & Antiquities in New York in the months of March and September.
The Sale Number is more like a ‘Christies;’ Sale Number but we cannot locate any records for this sale online as it was pre-2004.
The sculpture is a Gandharan stucco headless bust...
Category
15th Century and Earlier Afghan Antique Medieval Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Stucco
2nd Century Indian Red Sandstone Fragment of a Woman
Located in Dallas, TX
Presenting a stunning little piece of Southeast Asian Indian Antiquity, namely, a Double-sided 2nd Century Red Sandstone Fragment of a Woman.
From India, Uttar Pradesh, Mathura.
This piece has impeccable Provenance !
It was purchased by a Private Dallas Collector at Christie’s New York Auction on 31st March 2005. Sale Number 1492, Lot No. 43.
Christie’s operate a twice yearly auction of Southeast Asian Art & Antiquities in New York in the months of March and September.
The sculpture was described as “Property of a European Estate. A Double-sided Red Sandstone Fragment of a Woman. India, Uttar Pradesh, Mathura, Circa 2nd Century.”
“Both sides similarly depicting the lower body with a flared sash at left and remains of chained belt: marked with an accession number 1931 on reverse. 8 in (29.2 cm.) high”
Provenance: Collection of Prince and Princess Aschwin zur Lippe-Biesterfeld, acquired on 1958?.
It carried an Auction estimate of USD 3,000 to USD 5,000 and Sold for USD 2,880 (not including Buyers Premium).
Allowing for inflation alone this would be over $6,300 in today’s value.
It has substantially increased in value over the years as a RARE piece from a prestigious Collection and a RARE piece of antique Asian antiquity...
Category
15th Century and Earlier Indian Antique Medieval Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Sandstone
Large Standing Goddess, Volcanic Stone, 13th Century.
Located in PARIS, FR
Large standing goddess holding various attributes with her six arms resting on a recumbent buffalo, accompanied by a worshipper.
Height 72 cm.
Category
15th Century and Earlier Javanese Antique Medieval Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Stone
Terracotta Buddha head, Shan State Kingdom, Burma, 16th/18th century
Located in NICE, FR
Stoneware Buddha head, Shan State Kingdom, Burma, 16th/18th century
Buddha head from a temple facing built entirely of mud bricks during the 16th/18th century. Maravijaya Buddha. Sh...
Category
17th Century Burmese Antique Medieval Asian Art and Furniture
Materials
Terracotta, Lacquer
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Notes From approximately the sixteenth century, skulls were commonly used to remember death as they symbolise the transience of human life. Memento Mori literal Latin translation means remember that you [have to] die. The concept has its roots in the philosophers of classical antiquity, and appeared in funeral art and architecture of the medieval period. Memento Mori jewellery...
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Medieval asian art and furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a broad range of unique Medieval asian art and furniture for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 19th Century, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage asian art and furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include asian art and furniture, decorative objects and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with stone, sandstone and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Medieval asian art and furniture made in a specific country, there are Asia, India, and South Asia pieces for sale on 1stDibs. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for asian art and furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $973 and tops out at $37,500 while the average work can sell for $8,500.