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.
Spanish Medieval Hand Forged Iron Candle Stand / Floor Candle Holder
Located in Barcelona, ES
Gorgeous handwrought torchère candle holder, Spain, 1940s This medieval style floor candleholder stands up on three legs tripod base. It has a terrific aged patina. It has a clean de...
Iron, Wrought Iron
Large Church Antique Torcheres Floor Candlestick for 19 Candles
Located in Antwerp, BE
Brass and enamel multi-light standing candelabra in the Gothic style. The foot is bulbous scroll pattern with enamelled cartouches sitting on three mythical beasts. The candle holder...
Bronze, Brass
Carved Oak Floor-Standing Pricket Candle Holder, Early 20th Century
Located in London, London
Carved Oak Floor-Standing Pricket Candle Holder, Early 20th Century An imposing oak floor-standing pricket candle holder, likely Continental, early 20th century. Hand-carved with a...
Oak
Antique French Neogothic Altar Torchère Candlestick Set w/ Jesus & Cross
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique French Neogothic Altar Torchère Candlestick Set w/ Jesus & Cross This set of antique French candle holders are decorated with im...
Brass
Early 20th Century 27 Light Gothic Cast Brass Floor CandleStick Torchere
Located in Germantown, MD
An exceptional Early 20th Century two tier 27 Light Gothic Cast Brass Floor CandleStick Torchere. Measures 9.5" in width, 9.5" in depth and stands 40" tall . Lower tier had 17 light...
Brass
$856Sale Price|20% Off
Set of 2 wood and brass torcheres, Netherlands 1950s
Located in ECHT, NL
Set of 2 floor standing candle holders. Made from wood and brass. They came from a monastery in Oirschot Netherlands The bases are made ...
Brass
Antique French Neogothic Altar Torchère Candlestick Set w/ Architectural Element
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique French Neogothic Altar Torchère Candlestick Set w/ Architectural Elements & Patina Decorate your mantlepiece, altar, church, or chapel with these large ornate candlesticks. ...
Brass
Early 20th Century 27-Light Gothic Cast Brass Floor Lamp Candelabra Torchere
Located in Germantown, MD
An exceptional Early 20th Century two tier 27 Light Gothic Cast Brass Floor Lamp Candelabra Torchere. Measures 10" in width, 10" in depth and stands 66" tall to the top of the finia...
Brass
Vintage French Neogothic Altar Torchère Candlestick Set w/ Black Porcelain
Located in Chicago, IL
Vintage French Neogothic Altar Torchère Candlestick Set w/ Black Porcelain These matching black porcelain candlesticks have bronze flourishes. The base of each candlestick has three...
Brass
Tall Pair of Wrought Iron Candleholders, Early 19th Century
Located in Isle Sur La Sorgue, Vaucluse
Elegant and rare pair of heavy wrought iron candleholders with a crown of flowers, raised on a tripod base. Probably from Italy.
$3,493 / set
H 30 in W 13 in D 6 in
Pair 19th c Italian Neoclassic Urn-Carved Candelabras w/5 Candle Pricket Holders
Located in Atlanta, GA
An Italian pair of Neoclassical style five light candelabras from the 19th century. These antique candle holders from Italy are have gesso and silvered/gilt over a carved wood base i...
Iron
Large Tree Shaped Candle Holder in Hand Forged Steel 1970s
Located in Meer, VAN
Large Tree Shaped Candle Holder in Hand Forged Steel 1970s This well sized hand forged candle holder is wonderfully shaped like a tree, it origins from Europe, 1970s. It is original...
Wrought Iron
Early 20th Century Polish Gold Plated Shabbat Candlesticks
Located in New York, NY
A pair of exquisite Early 20th Century Polish Gold-Plated Shabbat Candlesticks, crafted in Warsaw, Poland, in 1908. Each candlestick features an elegant, curvaceous form adorned with...
Gold Plate, Brass
$3,550 / set
H 35 in W 8.5 in D 8.5 in
Pair 19th Century French Silvered Louis XV Church Candlesticks with Wax Candles
Located in Dallas, TX
Add dramatic presence and liturgical elegance to any interior with this important pair of antique church candlesticks, crafted in France circa 1870. Each tall candle holder stands on...
Silver Plate, Brass
Spanish Colonial Carved Wood Torchere / Floor Candle Holder, 1940s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Sculptural floor standing candle holder in turned wood and iron nails, Spain, 1940s. Eye-catching floor candle holder in pine wood. It ha...
Wrought Iron
$360Sale Price|20% Off
H 55 in W 21.25 in D 16 in
Decorative Rustic Iron Candelabra Floor Candle Stand
Located in Chula Vista, CA
For your consideration, a decorative three (3) arm iron candelabra floor stand on tripod base freestanding. Made in the USA. Dimensions: 55 H x 21.25 W x 16 D Original vintage unrest...
Iron
Gunnar Ander, Candelabra, Brass, Metal, Sweden, 1950s
Located in High Point, NC
A brass and black-lacquered metal candelabra designed by Gunnar Ander and produced by Ystad-Metall, Sweden, c. 1950s. Holds 0.875” diameter candles
Metal, Brass
Gunnar Ander, Candelabra, Metal, Brass, Sweden, 1950s
By Gunnar Ander
Located in High Point, NC
A black-lacquered metal and brass candelabra designed by Gunnar Ander and produced by Ystad-Metall, Sweden, c. 1950s. Holds six 0.45” diameter candles Overall Dimensions (inches): ...
Metal, Brass
$1,105Sale Price|50% Off
H 8.67 in W 4.34 in D 3.94 in
Art Nouveau Hand Forged Iron Candlestick Candle Holder Majorelle Blossfeldt
By Carlo Rizzarda, Louis Majorelle, Karl Blossfeldt
Located in Bad Säckingen, DE
This hand-forged candle holder is an exquisite piece of the Arts & Crafts era. It depicts a thistle, and its design is attributed to the Ecole de Nancy made during the Art Nouvea...
Iron
Early 20th Century Italian Pricket Stick in Brown and White
Located in Troy, MI
Italian turned wood pricket stick with painted finish of antique white and light golden brown stands three feet high, circa 1900. Two available. Sold and priced individually.
Wood
Antique Silver plated France church candle sticks 1850s
Located in Den Haag, NL
Very nice pair of Silver Plated Church candle sticks .France 1850s Triangle shaped base . with Three saints Jesus Maria and Josef.. normal wear ...
Silver Plate
$814 / set
H 13 in Dm 3.94 in
Swedish Modern Brass & Sculpted Wood Wall Sconces by Gösta Ahrneberg, 1950s
Located in Stockholm, SE
A beautifully sculpted pair of mid-century Swedish wall sconces designed by Gösta Ahrneberg in the 1950s. These elegant pieces combine black lacquered solid wood with curved brass ca...
Brass
Antique French Neogothic Altar Torchère Candlestick Set w/ Griffins
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique French Ornate Gilt Bronze Ormolu Pricket Candlesticks - Pair This rare matching set of antique solid brass handcrafted candle holders rest on triangular shaped base with lio...
Brass
Gothic Style Wrought Iron Candle holder/Torchere
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a tall wrought iron candle holder/torchere that ends in a tripod base. Each leg of this base is adorned with large scrolls that...
Wrought Iron
Pair of Gothic Metal Chain Link Torchiere Candle Stands
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Imagine how amazing these torchiere's will look as the red candles Cascade and dry over the chain links. No vampires home is complete without these statement pieces. Perfect for book-ending a thrown...
Metal
Pair of Late 19th Century English Pillars
Located in High Point, NC
Pair of 19th century English oak pillars or torchieres with lovely carved tops over faceted columns and carved and faceted plinths.
Oak
Impressive Pair of Italian Wrought Iron Torchères
Located in Dronten, NL
Rare pair of large wrought iron floor candleholders, raised on a tripod base.
Wrought Iron
Sold
H 48.8 in Dm 16.5 in
Rare Hand Forged Pair of 19th Century Wrought Iron Candlesticks / Candleholders
Located in Lisse, NL
Handcrafted and highly decorative pair of antique floor candlesticks. These rare and hand forged, 19th century candlesticks will look partic...
Wrought Iron
Forged Iron Fleur-de-Lys Torchere from France
Located in Dallas, TX
This elegant forged iron fleur-de-Lis torchere is from France. The centre post is topped with a Fleur-de-Lis motif, and flanking its sides but lower, are shaped stems with candlehold...
Wrought Iron
Pair of Gothic Style Metal Chain Link Torchiere Candlestands
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Imagine how amazing these torchiere's will look as the red candles Cascade and dry over the chain links. No vampires home is complete without these statement pieces. Perfect for book-ending a thrown chair, flaking a bed, illuminating a library or accenting a den. Set a darkly romantic...
Metal