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.
Antique Soignies Black Stone Tiles, Medieval Style, Belgium, 1860
Located in SAINT-OUEN-SUR-SEINE, FR
This set is composed of around 2500 of Soignies black stone square tiles. Each side be 35 cm. Total surface about 280m².
Stone
19th Century Heraldic Lion Tile by Minton
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
This 19th century Minton heraldic lion tile design is after a 13th century tile found in Westminster Cathedral. Produced by Minton circa 1842. The lion is a common theme in heraldry...
Clay
Set of 9 Reclaimed Gothic Style 6-Inch Geometric Tiles
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A set of nine 6-inch reclaimed tiles in the gothic style, decorated with interlinking circles, foliate roundels and stylised fish. Possibly in the style of Christopher Dresser, circa...
Clay
Set of 9 Antique English Gothic Style Encaustic Tiles
By Minton
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A striking set of nine ecclesiastical antique English encaustic tiles. Stamped with maker’s marks to the reverse, this collection includes eight buff and red terracotta tiles in the ...
Clay
Reclaimed Encaustic Tiles by W. Godwin of Lugwardine
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
These reclaimed encaustic tiles by W. Godwin of Lugwardine are presented as a set of twenty-five in a repeating foliate design. Dating from the mid 19th century, these reclaimed en...
Clay, Terracotta
English 14th Century Terracotta Medieval Encaustic Floral Tile
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An English terracotta Medieval encaustic tile of exceptional rarity. This tile would have been found in a monastery, church or abbey around the 14th to 15th century. With a distinc...
Terracotta
Set of 4 Minton Tiles Attributed to Edward Hammond
By Minton
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A set of four 19th Century Mintons tile attributed to the artist Edward Hammond. Modelled in relief, each 8-inch tile is decorated with a different musician in medieval dress picked...
Clay
Set of 9 Reclaimed Minton & Co Gothic Encaustic Tiles
By Minton
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A set of nine vibrant reclaimed gothic encaustic tiles by Minton & Co (stamped), circa 1840- 1860. Each 6-inch tile is detailed with buff and red terracotta tones to create an ornate...
Clay
Set of 9 Antique Gothic Encaustic Tiles by Minton & Co
By Minton
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A set of nine vibrant antique gothic encaustic tiles by Minton & Co (stamped), circa 1840- 1860. Each 6-inch tile is detailed with buff and red terracotta tones to create an ornate o...
Clay
Encaustic Tiles
Located in Dallas, TX
Beautiful tan, blue, and white encaustic tiles with floral borders. We have 105 sq ft of the field (520 pieces) + 77 linear ft of the borders (170 pi...
Cement
Reclaimed Antique European Oak Wooden Floor Boards, 19th Century
Located in Udenhout, NL
Very beautiful antique reclaimed wooden floor boards from European origin. With lengths varying and varying widths between 14 and 26 cm. The floor co...
Reclaimed Wood
Reclaimed Antique Carrara Marble Floor Tiles
Located in Udenhout, NL
These beautiful reclaimed antique Carrara marble floor tiles are recuperated out of old castles and mansions. They are from the 18th, 19th and 20...
Carrara Marble
Encaustic Tiles
Located in Dallas, TX
Blue and grey encaustic tiles with beautiful floral borders. Measures: Borders 2.75" x 5.75".
Cement
Moroccan Handcrafted Encaustic Cement Tile, Moorish Design, 1980
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Moroccan handcrafted and hand painted cement tile with traditional leaves design. These are authentic Moroccan encaustic tiles hand made by artisans in Fe...
Cement
$21,000 / set
H 0.75 in W 12 in D 12 in
Old Marble Flooring Tile Reclaimed Italian Carrara Antique Checkerboard floor
Located in Costa Mesa, CA
This old marble flooring is an Italian luxury reclaimed tile from the early 1900’s. All our exclusively showcased lines of tile are salvaged from ancient noble homes, large Mediterranean villas, vintage mansions and antique chateaux throughout Italy, Greece and their islands. Prior to displaying, we salvage each tile piece by piece securing over 50,000sqft for each line through a very laborious and meticulous process. We currently salvage and own the largest collection of Italian, Greek and Southern European antique flooring and cladding tile in the market. Reclaiming large volumes makes it possible for us to sell our clients antique marble and natural limestone tile for the price of new. Cherished by the connoisseurs in fine architectural elements, antique Italian marble is the ultimate "haut de gamme" in luxury flooring, reflecting royalty at its finest and most exclusive levels. The old Italian marble flooring...
Marble
Encaustic Tiles
Located in Dallas, TX
Beautiful encaustic tiles with borders (Measures: 3" x 6").
Cement
19th Century Heraldic Lion and Unicorn Statues
Located in Hastings, GB
An outstanding pair of cast statues on associated plinths, possibly cast in Portland Cement, of the Unicorn of Scotland and the Lion of England. S...
Cast Stone
Antique French Terracotta Tiles (17-18-19th Century)
Located in Saint-Gondon, Centre-Val de Loire
These reclaimed antique terracotta hexagonal, primarily from the17th-18th and 19th centuries, have been carefully salvaged from historic French home...
Terracotta
Set of 15 Campbell Tile Co Antique Floral Encaustic Tiles
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A set of 15 encaustic tiles with floral design in buff and brown tones by Campbell Tile Co (stamped); one of several sets of matching tiles we are selling in groups of fifteen as pi...
Clay
Beautiful Lot of Reclaimed Antique Carrara Marble Floor Tiles
Located in Haarlem, Noord-Holland
Beautiful Lot Of Reclaimed Antique Carrara Marble Floor Tiles. These large tiles come from a well sized entrance of a canal house in the city center of Amsterdam. The have a love...
Carrara Marble
18th Century French Tiles
Located in Stockbridge, GA
18th century French terra cotta tiles, hand-painted.
Terracotta
14th Century Medieval Encaustic Slip Glazed Floor Tile
Located in Pease pottage, West Sussex
Encaustic Medieval Floor Tile, with impressed and inlaid slip filled decoration. 14th Century, wear and condition commensurate with age, minor loss to one corner.
Stoneware
Rare Pair Of 15th Century Terracotta Tiles
Located in BARSAC, FR
Pair of tiles and their decorative elements in spandrels with molded decorations of medieval figures: a bearded man wearing a Phrigian cap on one and a woman with a headdress and bun...
Terracotta
Reclaimed English Encaustic Tiles by W. Godwin of Lugwardine
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
These mid 19th century antique encaustic tiles with fleur de lys pattern were reclaimed from a local Herefordshire church. We have around 125 tiles in the same design available, available for purchase in panels of 9 as pictured. Please enquire for more details. Dating from the mid 19th century, these reclaimed encaustic tiles are by W. Godwin of Lugwardine, Herefordshire UK. They are of a neo...
Clay
Late Medieval Terracotta Tile with Fleur De Lis Pattern
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A late medieval encaustic floor tile decorated with a fleur-de-lis design and dating from the 15th century. The tile is thickly made in a terracotta clay inlaid with a cream clay to ...
Clay, Terracotta
Cottageviertel Oak Parquet Panels
Located in London, GB
Reclaimed oak parquet panels from Cottageviertel, Vienna. Available to view at LASSCO Ropewalk