Spanning an era of cultural rebirth in Europe that harkened back to antiquity, the Renaissance was a time of change in design. From the late 1400s to the early 1600s, Rome, Venice and Florence emerged as artistic centers through the expansion of global trade and a humanist belief in the arts being central to society. Antique Renaissance furniture was ornately carved from sturdy woods like walnut, its details standing out against the tapestries and stained glass adorning the walls.
Renaissance chests, which were frequently commissioned for marriages, were often decorated with gilding or painted elements. Those that were known as cassoni were crafted in shapes based on classical sarcophagi. As opposed to the medieval era, when furniture was pared down to the necessities, a wide range of Renaissance chairs, tables and cabinets were created for the home, and the designs regularly referenced ancient Rome.
Large torchères of the Renaissance era that were used as floor lamps were inspired by classical candelabras, while marble surfaces evoked frescoes. The inlaid boxes being imported from the Middle East informed the intarsia technique, which involved varying hues of wood in mosaic-like patterns, such as those by architect Giuliano da Maiano in the Florence Cathedral.
Tapestry-woven cushion covers accented the variety of Renaissance seating — from conversation to study chairs — while bookcases for secular use reflected the migration of culture and knowledge from the church into the home. The aesthetics of the Italian Renaissance later spread to France through the publishing of work by renowned designers, including Hugues Sambin and Jacques Androuet du Cerceau. Centuries later, the 19th-century Renaissance Revival would see a return to this influential style.
Find a collection of antique Renaissance case pieces, decorative objects and other furniture on 1stDibs.
$1,055Sale Price / set|52% Off
Pair of French 17th Century Weathered Oak Renaissance Ornaments
Located in Buisson, FR
Beautiful weathered oak Renaissance ornaments that most likely once adorned a half timbered house in Normandy. France, 17th century. Weathered, small losses Measurement here below a...
Oak
16th Century Italian Pair of Antique Corinthian Capitals
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An antique Italian pair of Corinthian Capitals from the Renaissance period, hand carved in limestone. Minor fading, scratches due to age. Wear consistent with age and use. Circa 1500...
Limestone
$25,500 / set
Pair of Italian Renaissance Oak Pedestal Figures
Located in Queens, NY
Pair of Italian Renaissance style (19th Cent) carved oak life size pilaster form pedestals of Greek man and woman (torso) on square base with floral carving
Oak
Italian Neo-Renaissance Walnut Fireplace Mantel, Attributed to Valentino Besarel
Located in Montreal, QC
This extraordinary mantel is superbly carved, firstly with a simple dentil cornice; above a front panel, carved in high-relief with birds, scrolling leaves and tendrils. The jambs ar...
Walnut
Renaissance Style Mantel from the 18th Century of French Limestone
Located in Made, NL
A magnificent antique French limestone fireplace in Renaissance style! This historic mantel (fireplace) dates from the 18th century and exudes a lot of allure due to its robustness a...
Limestone
Renaissance Carved French Oak Panel
Located in Denton, TX
Weathered Renaissance carved oak panel, originally from a piece of furniture.
Wood
Large Antique Italian Renaissance Style Stone Frieze
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A large antique Italian stone chimney piece frieze dating to circa 1800. Originally salvaged from a monumental scale fireplace, this frieze displays fine carving in relief depicting...
Stone
19th Century Tuscan Renaissance Fragment
Located in San Angelo, TX
This is a beautiful 19th century Tuscan Renaissance fragment. Perfect for placement above your mantle, stove, a bed, or use it to dress up a wall b...
Wood, Paint
18th Century Italian Frieze Carved Painted Wall Panel #1
Located in Bradenton, FL
18th century Italian wall decorative panel frieze with stunning hand-carved gilded relief. The decorative gilt relief motif is very classical, hand-carved with alternating love knots...
Wood
18th Century Italian Frieze Painted Wall Panel #2
Located in Bradenton, FL
18th century Italian wall decorative panel frieze with stunning hand-carved gilded relief. The decorative candelabra gilt relief motif is very classical, hand-carved with alternating...
Wood
Antique French Zinc Architectural Building Element
Located in Sheffield, MA
Neoclassical style building element in the neoclassical taste. Antique French long segment of zinc metal architectural fragment that will make a unique wall decor...
Zinc
Antique Wrought Iron Signage Bracket
Located in Sheffield, MA
The antique wrought iron bracket is decorated with curls and a spear-like tip. Holes on the side bar can be used to secure to the side of...
Wrought Iron
Venetian 16th Century Wellhead
Located in Zedelgem, BE
16th century wellhead from Venice, rare find, museum quality that needs a bit of restoration, done by us. The stone it's made out is Italian Pietra Serena.
Limestone
$11,200Sale Price|30% Off
Hand Carved Stone Capital Base Side Coffee Table Garden Pedestal Antique element
Located in West Hollywood, CA
Hand Carved Stone Capital Base Side Coffee Table Garden Pedestal Antique element . LARGE and Very rare Renaissance hand carved capital of the 16th century corner carved limestone Cha...
Stone, Limestone
Double Eagle Cartouche Plaque in Carved Limestone
Located in Dallas, TX
Reminiscent of a late 15th century coat of arms, this double eagle cartouche plaque has been hand-carved in limestone in Italy. A square top shield wi...
Limestone
16th Century French Fireplace Mantel
Located in Vosselaar, BE
A monumental 16th century sandstone Renaissance fireplace mantel. Finely sculpted with a moulded beam and colomn supports. Decorated with flower motives, guirlandes and cirkels. Lov...
Sandstone
16th Hand Carved Stone Relief Renaissance Building Façade
Located in Marbella, ES
16th Hand Carved Stone Relief Renaissance Building Façade. Modern Iron Foot
Stone
17th Century Architectural Monumental Italian Corinthian Columns on Pedestals
Located in Dallas, TX
Sold as a PAIR. Over three centuries in age and hailing from Italy, this exquisite pair of Corinthian columns has been handcrafted and conscientiously rendered as pure representation...
Walnut
Large Stone Italian Fireplace Mantel in the 18th Century Style
Located in London, GB
A fine quality 18th century style Italian fireplace carved in Portland stone. The frieze of isometric design with diamond panelled paterae interspersed with panelled husks, carved wi...
Stone
Vintage Cast Brass English Chester Imp Door Knocker
Located in Elkhart, IN
A wonderful solid cast brass door-knocker fashioned as a horned imp or devil. The design is based on one found at the 1000 year old Chester Cathedral in England where the imp in question was said to wrought his havoc. Restoration teams discovered a mysterious demonic carving, bound in chains, close to a window in the Cathedral nave. Historians are now labelling the mystery carving as “The Chester Imp...
Brass
$1,250 / item
Italian Renaissance Style Narrow Iron Gates
Located in Queens, NY
8 Italian Renaissance style (19/20th Century) narrow iron gates with open scroll design. (PRICED EACH)
Iron
Carved Italian Renaissance Fireplace
Located in London, GB
A heavily carved Italian stone fireplace. The frieze with heraldic lion juxtaposed by winged figures, birds and foliage, the jambs with putti, ...
Stone
Large 19th Century Italian Limestone Fireplace
Located in London, GB
A well carved Renaissance style fireplace in limestone, with a centre keystone to frieze, and deeply carved drops of ribbons and flowers to...
Limestone
Monumental Fireback with the Châtelet Coat of Arms
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
This exceptional iron cast fireback of 750 kg, richly decorated, was made at the end of the Renaissance, around 1624. It bears in its center a shield wit...
Iron
$1,800 / set
Pair of English Renaissance Carved Oak Panels
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of English Renaissance style (19th Century) narrow carved oak linenfold panels (PRICED AS PAIR).
Linen
Italian Renaissance Style Iron Scroll Gate
Located in Queens, NY
Italian Renaissance style (19/20th Century) iron gate with open scroll and arch design with a rosette form border.
Iron
15th or 16th Century Marble Gargoyle Fountain Spout from Arezzo, Italy
Located in Dallas, TX
Although when most people hear the word “gargoyle”, they probably envision small, winged creatures with grotesque visages. However, the phrase has a deeper meaning, encompassing any carved head (animal or human) that function as waterspouts. From the Early Renaissance (late 1400’s/early 1500’s), our gargoyle fountain spout features a human-like face with pointed ears, possibly representing a centaur or a satyr. The roughly rectangular block of marble was hand-carved in Arezzo, in the Tuscany region of Italy. All sides except the front of the cream-colored stone have a sawed finish, resulting in a rough texture. The back has been excavated, adding to the character of the gargoyle. A 1 ½” diameter hole has been cut all the way through, forming an open mouth of the gargoyle. The gaping mouth was often a symbol used to conjure images of devouring giants and used to remind people that they are susceptible to certain forces. Our 15th/16th century marble...
Marble
$1,160Sale Price|20% Off
17th Century English Carved Oak Corbel “the Green Man”
Located in Vero Beach, FL
17th Century English carved oak corbel “The Green Man”. Rare antique decorative architectural ornament of the enigmatic Green Man. Images and carvings ca...
Oak
Frieze, Polychromed Pine Wood, 16th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Rectangular frieze in carved pine wood, gilded and polychrome decorated with figurative reliefs. An architectural piece with garland serves as the axis for the symmetrical compositio...
Pine
Very Large 19th Century Carved Stone Renaissance Fireplace Mantel
Located in London, GB
A very rare, 19th century carved stone Renaissance fireplace. The bracketed jambs with crouching lions, ionic capitals, carved male and female masks and basket of fruit to plinths. T...
Stone
Antique Painted Cartouche
Located in Sheffield, MA
The antique architectural salvaged building element with cartouche design is molded cement and glazed and painted orange and green. The b...
Cement
$2,200 / set
Pair of Small Dutch Brass Andirons, 17th Century
Located in Haarlem, Noord-Holland
Busts of a queens on spreading mermaid legs, with turned vases on top.
Brass, Iron
Very Fine Statuary White Marble Fireplace in the Italian Renaissance Manner
Located in London, GB
A very fine statuary white marble fireplace in the Italian Renaissance manner. The carved jambs featuring classical amphorae surmounted by fruit, acorns, ribbons and foliage topped w...
Marble
Set of Four Carved Stone Medallions Depicting Satyr Faces
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Set of Four Carved Stone Medallions Depicting Satyr Faces Architectural elements from the late 18th to early 19th century. Each medallion features a fantastical satyr’s face—mythical...
Stone
Fireback from 1561 with the Alliance Arms of Jacques De Tige and Blanche De Vill
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
Fireback from 1561 with the coat of arms of Jacques de Tige, son of Gobert de Tige and Catherine de Serainchamps, and Blanche de Villelongue, daughter of Jean de Villelongue and Clau...
Iron