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.
Early 20th Century Decorative Box - Brass - Gothic Tristan and Isolde Theme
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A beautiful decorative box, made of brass. The box is richly decorated with elegant motifs and representations of the classic story Tristan and Isolde. The box was probably made in B...
Brass
Early 20th Century Italian Gothic style Decorative Boxe or Small Trunk
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
We present this beautiful and rare small trunk made in the early 20th century. Made entirely of iron with brass decorations, this trunk has a Gothic-inspired design. A unique decora...
Iron
Spanish Alms Box / Wall Decoration with Carved Saints Detail, 18th Century
Located in Barcelona, ES
Carved wood hand painted donation / offering ALM Box, Spain, 18th century. Polychromed carved wood church collection offering donation money box as wall decoration. This alms box is made of pine wood painted in shades of blue and gray with carved saint figures onamentations decorating the top. Wall hanging collection / donation money box. Originally used to collect donations at Christian churches/chapels. Interesting to be used as key box or key cabinet or as wall decoration Rare find. Provenance: Private collection. No key avaliable. Overall Measures: Saints Box: 33 cm H x 37 cm W x 14 cm D Poor...
Wood, Pine
Georgian Architectural Model
Located in Greenwich, CT
Very fine English early 19th century mahogany architectural model of a church, the multiple steeples flanking a faux carved slate shingled room, wh...
Mahogany
Very Rare Casket Minnekästchen or Box, Germany or Italy, 15th Century
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Wooden coffret, call minnekästchen, engraved with a dog, a hare and foliage with polychromy remains. During the Middle Age, the hare is a symbol of fertility, joy and represents the Christ...
Iron
Late 19th Century French Gothic style Walnut Cigar cabinet
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
Elegant 19th-century French cigar cabinet in the Gothic style. This beautifully crafted piece features a tambour roll-top door that opens to reveal compartments for cigars and two sm...
Brass
Danish Cast Iron and Bronze Jewelry Box or Dresser Box, Circa 1940s
Located in South Bend, IN
A beautiful casket form cast iron and bronze dresser box, jewelry box, cigar box, or decorative box with interior cedar lining. The front depicts a scene from the 1219 Battle of Lynd...
Bronze, Iron
18th Century Gothic Reliquary Casket
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An 18th Century Gothic Reliquary Casket. Possibly of European origin, this ancient treasure chest has parts dating back as far as the 17th century. Painted and gilded to all sides ...
Wood, Giltwood
Stunning Handcrafted Late 1800s Gothic Casket with Peacock & Gargoyle Sculptures
Located in Lisse, NL
Beautiful and rare Gothic Revival treasure box with bronze handle. If you are a collector of antique boxes and/or if you are looking for an extraordinary jewelry box to grace your credenza or side table then this unique and top quality made specimen in the Gothic style could be perfect. Gothic Revival boxes are very hard to find and we have never seen one with such prodigious carvings on all sides. The unique and cat-like dragon gargoyles (with fangs) that look like they are carrying this casket, are just some of the stunningly carved and detailed sculptures that make this antique rarity even more artistic and impressive. Another great feature are the peacock sculptures. In Christianity the peacock is the symbol of purity. Christians believe that once someone has passed their soul rises and goes to heaven. This is why in earlier times Christians would spread the feathers of a peacock over the deceased since it symbolized a pure soul that was immune to corruption. The peacock also represents immortality, resurrection, and the spiritual teachings of Jesus Christ and the Christian church. Have you also noticed the top quality details on both ends of the bronze handle on top? The quality of that ornamental work is of the absolute highest standard also. There are many more incredibly beautiful, hand carved details and together they show that no expense was spared to create one of the most amazing Gothic caskets...
Bronze, Iron
Antique Bronze Box from Belgium Gothic Style
Located in Miami, FL
Gothic Style, very detailed crafted antique bronze box. Marked underneath, made in Belgium. In original good condition. A-444-335
Bronze
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 1610. Complete with key. Full working iron mechanisms. It ...
Iron
Small Bronze Casket, 19th Century, with the Twelve Apostles and Zodiac signs
Located in NICE, FR
Rare small nickel-plated bronze casket, dating from the 19th century, decorated with a fascinating iconographic program: the Twelve Apostles paired with the Zodiac signs. This association, recurrent in the Middle Ages, reflects a symbolic re-interpretation that bridges the human and the divine, time and eternity. It recalls medieval reliquaries, such as 9th-century ivory caskets...
Bronze, Nickel
French Gothic Oak Coffer Chest
Located in Queens, NY
French Gothic-style (19/20th Century) oak coffer chest on stand with tracery carved panels and a domed lid with iron strap work
Iron
American Bronze and Enameled Box/Humidor by E.F. Caldwell, New York, 1900s
Located in New York, NY
An American Gothic Revival bronze and enamelled box/humidor. By Edward F. Caldwell & Co. Inc., New York, first quarter of 1900s. The rectangul...
Bronze, Enamel
19th Century French Gothic Polished Black and Silver Cast Iron Strongbox Safe
Located in Dallas, TX
Keep your jewelry or important documents locked up in this small antique safe from Northern France. Crafted, circa 1880, the 52 pound cast safe has a chic two-tone black and silver paint finish. The heavy...
Iron
Chest, Leather, Wrought Iron, Textile, Wood, Spain, circa 1500
Located in Madrid, ES
Rectangular body casket with semicircular lid made of carved wood and covered with a worked leather that has been reinforced with a series of forged iron fittings, material in which ...
Wrought Iron, Other
Early Heavily Embossed Brass Box This is a large and heavy chest
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
Early Heavily Embossed Brass Box This is a large and heavy chest is made in Brass with a wooden lining, the beaten brass is embossed with decorativ...
Brass
19th C. French Painted Bauche Fireproof Strongbox with Two Letters Combination
By Bauche
Located in Dallas, TX
This antique French safe was crafted circa 1880 in the Champagne-Ardenne region by Bauche, renowned for their patented “Système Incombustible” fireproof designs. Weighing 78 pounds, ...
Brass, Iron
Neo Gothic Style Bronze Box, circa 1900
Located in Mouscron, WHT
Neo gothic style bronze box circa 1900.
Bronze
19th Century Spanish Walnut Wedding Coffer or Marriage Chest
Located in Winter Park, FL
An early 19th century Spanish Baroque style carved walnut marriage chest, or wedding coffer. Fine hand-carving with architectural elements typical of 18th century Baroque or Renaissa...
Walnut, Cast Iron
Indian carved wood spice box, late 17th century, circa 1790
Located in Central England, GB
This superb Indian spice box is of a larger scale than normally seen. It is highly decorative and original. It is made from a solid block of dense woo...
Wrought Iron
Vintage Original Mixed Media Sculpture Box
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
This striking original mixed media sculpture is a masterclass in curiosity-inspired decor. Utilizing a repurposed vintage wooden box as its canvas, the artist has created a detailed ...
Wood
$316Sale Price|61% Off
Bronze Casket Box with Medieval Scenes, Hardwood Liner, Circa 1880
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a cast bronze metal box modelled as a casket with a wood liner and depicting medieval scenes. We date this box to the late 19th Century. The box is made of a cast metal (b...
Bronze
Brass and Copper Textured Lidded Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Textured copper box with brass detailing. The exterior of the box features pebbled like texture, perfectly patinated with brass hinges, ball feet and detailing. The hinged box is per...
Brass, Copper
Bone and Stone Lidded Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Metal decorative box with bone and stone inlay. The exterior of the box showcases a mosaic bone inlay adorned with turquoise and red stones set in pewter. The inside of the box is li...
Multi-gemstone, Metal, Pewter
Spanish Alms Box / Wall Decoration in Blue & Yellow Patina, 18th Century
Located in Barcelona, ES
Carved wood hand painted donation / offering ALM Box, Spain, 18th century. Polychromed carved wood church collection offering donation money box as wall decoration. Wall hanging collection / donation money box. Originally used to collect donations at Christian churches/chapels. Interesting to be used as key box or key cabinet or as wall decoration Rare find. Provenance: Private collection. No key avaliable. Overall Measures: 46 cm H x 31,5 cm W x 14 cm D Poor box...
Wood, Pine
19th Century Carved Oak Correspondence, Post or Letter Box
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
19th Century Carved Oak Correspondence, Post or Letter Box This very attractive Carved Box is made in Oak, it is carved on the top with 2 letter slots, one for UNANSWERED and the ot...
Oak
$1,250
H 14.5 in W 18.75 in D 11 in
Early 19th Century French Empire Apprentice Commode in Walnut with Lift Top
Located in Atlanta, GA
Early 19th century French Empire Apprentice Commode in walnut with lift top. Table top item.
Walnut
Antique French Silver Mussel Vesta Case, Late 19th Century
Located in Jesmond, Newcastle Upon Tyne
An exceptional, fine and impressive antique French silver vesta case in the form of a mussel; an addition to our diverse smoking related silverware collection This exceptional antique French silver vesta case has an elongated asymmetrical form, realistically modelled in the form of a mussel shell. The anterior and posterior surfaces of the vesta are embellished with engraved decoration replicating the contours of the natural shell. This fine antique silver vesta...
Silver
Early 20th century French Wood and Brass Musical Cigar Boxe, 1920s
Located in LEGNY, FR
Magnificent Napoleon III style musical cigar humidor dating from the beginning of the 20th century in lacquered wood and garland of brass beads. A lyre adorns each door. By turning t...
Brass
Miniature 19th Century Victorian Figured Mahogany Chest of Drawers
Located in Morristown, NJ
19th c. Charming antique miniature chest of drawers. The chest has a marble top. The case is figured mahogany, with four stacked drawers, the ...
Marble, Brass
Early 18th Century Italian Carved and Dovetailed Walnut Alms Box
Located in San Francisco, CA
Early 18th century Italian carved and dovetailed walnut alms box, circa 1725 Large dovetails and old handwrought nails give this small scale box a hea...
Iron
$2,048Sale Price|20% Off
H 5.12 in W 6.7 in D 4.34 in
20th Century Italian Solid Silver Trunk-Shaped Box with Squirrel Knob
Located in VALENZA, IT
Solid silver 800 box the shape of a tree trunk. The feet are oak leaf and the knob depicts a squirrel on two oak leaves holding an acorn in his hands. The hinged box is gold-plated ...
Silver
$1,500
H 4.73 in W 3.75 in D 1.97 in
Mid-20th Century Tin Charity Container by Alfred Zaltsman, Jerusalem
Located in New York, NY
The front of the box is inscribed with Hebrew and German: "Rabbi Meir Baal Ha' Ness charity collecting funds for Shomrei Ha' Chomot Kolel" and decorated with two images; Hatam Sofer ...
Metal
$886Sale Price|49% Off
H 6.7 in W 17.72 in D 9.06 in
19th Century French Walnut and Brass Writing Boxe
Located in LEGNY, FR
Beautiful walnut desktop box which opens into a writing slope. Decorated on the outside with 2 decorative inlaid tunbridge ware bands. Box opens out to a beige fabric writing slo...
Brass
$1,026
H 4.34 in W 11.82 in D 7.88 in
Early 19th Century German Biedermeier Casket Birchwood around 1830
Located in Münster, DE
Casket Biedermeier, circa 1830, birch veneer, lockable, small knob handle, interior lined with handmade paper, shellac finish Dimensions: Height 11 cm, Width 30 cm Depth 20 cm
Birch
$5,040
H 22.75 in W 26.5 in D 19 in
18th Century Spanish Iron-Clad Strong Box in Working Condition with Original Key
Located in Atlanta, GA
A Spanish strong box from the 18th century. This antique safe from is constructed or iron clad wood, and is handsomely adorn in domed iron nailhead trim throughout it's top, front, a...
Iron
French Late 19th Century Onyx Champlevé Jewelry Box
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful onyx and gilt bronze champlevé enamel jewelry box in a chest design; made in France in the Late 19th Century, having a soft red velvet interior and impeccable hand-painted ...
Onyx, Bronze
20th Century Belgian Carved Box With Floral Details
Located in High Point, NC
This charming 20th century Belgian carved wooden box showcases traditional craftsmanship and decorative floral detailing. Hand-carved from solid wood, the rectangular form is embelli...
Wood
Sold
H 23.25 in W 16.25 in D 14 in
19th Century French Polished Cast Iron Safe with Key and Two-Letter Combination
Located in Dallas, TX
Keep your jewelry and important documents locked up in this elegant, antique safe from the Champagne-Ardenne region of France. Crafted circa 1880, and built in cast iron, this heavy ...
Brass, Iron
Gothic Oak Chest – Northern France, Circa 1320–1360
Located in Bilzen, BE
Rare medieval oak coffer carved with Gothic tracery, featuring lancets and quatrefoils characteristic of Northern French Gothic architecture (Picardy / Artois) in the 14th century. ...
Iron
Antique Gothic Style Chip Carved Walnut Keepsake Box C1860
Located in Big Flats, NY
Antique Gothic Style Chip Carved Walnut Keepsake Box C1860 Measures - 9.5"H x 15.25"W x 9.5"D This keepsake box, dating to circa 1860, showcases the Gothic style chip carving typical...
Walnut
Sold
H 7.5 in W 15 in D 10.25 in
19th Century French Polished Bauche Fireproof Strongbox with Royal Coat of Arms
By Bauche
Located in Dallas, TX
This French fireproof strongbox, crafted circa 1880 by Bauche in the Marne region, showcases the period’s finest industrial security design. Constructed in heavy cast iron and weighi...
Iron
Sold
H 17.72 in W 10.24 in D 8.27 in
Spanish Church Alms Box / Wall Decoration with Carved Nun Detail, 18th Century
Located in Barcelona, ES
Carved wood hand painted donation / offering ALM BOX, Spain, 18th century. Polychromed carved wood church collection offering donation money box as wall decoration. This alms box is made of pine wood painted in terracotta hues. A nun carved ornamentation decorates the top. Wall hanging collection / donation money box. Originally used to collect donations at Christian churches/chapels. Interesting to be used as key box or key cabinet or as wall decoration Rare find. Provenance: Private collection. No key avaliable. Overall Measures: 45 cm H x 26 cm W x 21 cm D Poor box...
Wood, Pine
Vintage Brass Cigar Box with Medieval Micro-Cosmos, 1950s
Located in Esbjerg, DK
A unusual brass cigar box embossed with medieval scenes to its lid and sides. Cedar wood panneling to its inside making in suitable as a humidor for storing cigar, pipe tobacco or ci...
Brass
19th Century French Silver Metal Lidded Box
Located in Scottsdale, AZ
19th Century French Silver Metal Lidded Box Unique piece purchased in France. Mid 19th Century. Gorgeous, see detailed photos.
Silver
Bronze Cigar Box w. Scene from The Bayeux Tapestry by N. Dam Ravn
Located in Esbjerg, DK
- Heavy bronze box with a scene from The Bayeux Tapestry in relief. Latin text: ISTI PORTAN:ARMAS ADNAVES: EIHIC:TRANVNT CARRVM: CVMVINO:ETARMIS - The Bayeux Tapestry tells the stor...
Bronze
Early 20th Century Decorative Box - Gothic Style - Brass
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A beautiful antique decorative box, made of brass. Nicely decorated in Gothic style. Estimated age and origin: France, circa 1920. The box is ...
Brass
Viking Treasure Chest in Bronze by Edward Aagaard, 1950s
By Edward Aagaard
Located in Esbjerg, DK
Vintage Danish Bronze Casket Box by Edward Aagaard w/ Thyra Dannebod. This Box was made by renowned Danish artist Edward Aagaard who was active in the mid 1900s. He specialized in ar...
Bronze
20th Century French Gothic Decorative Storage Box with Foliage Motifs
Located in Dallas, TX
This beautifully executed square box crafted circa 1990 is embellished with a handle made into a twisted branch form with a leaf accented on either side, a latch on the front firmly ...
Iron
Antique Brass Decorative Box - Gothic Style
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A nice antique brass box, with beautiful Gothic style scenes. The box is in good condition. Beautiful color and old patina. Estimated age and origin:...
Brass