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.
19th Century Italian Frame in Renaissance Style Wood Marquetry.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
19th century Italian frame in Renaissance style wood marquetry. 19th century Italian Renaissance style wood marquetry frame. Frame: H: 25.5cm, W: 20cm, D: 1cm Interior view: H: 14,8...
Wood
16th Century Partly Gilt Carved Wood Frame
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
This rare Venetian frame entirely carved in high-relief shows a rich decor of scrolls, garlands, daisy flowers and thistles. At the four corners of the frame are depicted large acant...
Wood
Antique Rare Italian Gold Gilded Hand-Carved Frame Early 17th Century
Located in Doha, QA
A truly magnificent Italian Renaissance gold gilded hand carved frame. Amazing craftsmanship and a very good condition for its age. Painting which fits inside (painting opening), di...
Giltwood
Small shaped Picture Frame tiles of the Baptistery of Florence Salimbeni
By Salimbeni, Giorgio Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Frame in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with translucent fired enamels on guillochè. Shaping taken from the tiles of the North Door of the Baptistery of the Florence Cathedral ...
Sterling Silver, Enamel, Gold Plate
$3,440 / item
Renaissance period marble frame – 16th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Magnificent marble frame dating from the 16th century, from an ancient European church. This type of frame was used for the interior decoration of religious buildings during the Ren...
Marble, Bronze
"Set of 9, 18th Century Italian Engravings Feature the Portrait of Female Statue
By Giovanni Domenico Campiglia
Located in Los Angeles, CA
These Beautiful Italian 18th Century Black & White Engravings on Laid Paper Feature the Portrait of Female Statues, these pieces have been professionally Framed using all new Mat...
Paper, Textile, Linen, Wood, Paint
Picture Frame Silver Enamel with hand-engraved, fire-enamelled design Salimbeni
By Franco Salimbeni, Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Giorgio Salimbeni Gold-Plated Sterling Silver and Enamel Photo Frame, Florence, 1970 Elegant rectangular photo frame in 925/1000 sterling silver, gold plated, and richly decorated wi...
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Picture Frame in pure Florentine Renaissance style Salimbeni
By Salimbeni, Giorgio Salimbeni
Located in Firenze, FI
Large photo frame in 925/1000 sterling silver gold plated with painted fire enamels like lapis lazuli stone. Shaping taken from the tiles of the North Door of the Baptistery of the F...
Sterling Silver, Enamel, Gold Plate
$8,944Sale Price|36% Off
"The Three Ages of Man" Oil on Canvas After Titian 19th Century
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
This very beautiful oil on canvas is a reworking of the left part of the painting The Three Ages of Man" by the Italian Renaissance master of the Venetian school, Tiziano Vecellio, k...
Paint
$2,657Sale Price / set|20% Off
Antoine Lafrery Set of 6 Engraving "Speculun Romanae Magnificen" 16th Century
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Beautiful and very rare set of six engravings extracted from the work entitled “speculun romanae superbeiae” produced between 1554 and 1573 by An...
Paper
$18,359Sale Price|40% Off
Early 19th Venetian Rectangular Carved and Gild Mirror
Located in IT
This beautiful rectangular mercury mirror in carved and gilded wood frame was made in the early 19th century in Venetian area of Italy. The richly carved frame is characterized by a ...
Giltwood
Frame Carved Wood, Polychrome and Gold, 16th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Carved wooden frame, polychromed and gilded made with different elements of marked Renaissance influence, resulting in an architectural composition with staggered base, two ribbed pi...
Wood
Hand Carved Poplar Frame with Large Acanthus Leaf Corners
Located in New York, NY
Hand Carved Poplar Frame With large Acanthus Leaf Corners H. 44" x W. 35"
Poplar
20th Century Italian Sterling Silver Picture Frame
Located in VALENZA, IT
Sterling silver photo frame. The frame was made in Italy by the Argenteria Raddi of Florence. The design is typically Libeerty with the characteristic flowers, festoons and ribbons...
Sterling Silver
$750Sale Price|50% Off
H 43 in W 36.5 in D 2.5 in
19th Century Italian Water Giltwood Frame, Hand Carved, 36 x 30 in
Located in Douglas Manor, NY
8-154 hand carved Italian water giltwood frame Interior rabbit size 36 x 30".
Giltwood
$1,223Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 20.28 in W 8.27 in D 0.99 in
Renaissance Period Hand Carved Oak Panels, 16th Century
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Set of two 16th century oak panels, one representing a character accompanied by a dog, the other a character in flames, probably saints. These ...
Oak
$1,499
H 16.74 in W 13 in D 6.11 in
South American Sterling Silver Hand Made Embossed Picture Frame / Mirror 1940´s
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
South American sterling silver hand made / Embossed picture frame / mirror 1940´s. Marked hand-made and 925 (it´s the sterling mark in south america). Perfect for any Mexican Style h...
Silver, Sterling Silver
Early 20th Century Art Nouveau Mirror
Located in New York, NY
hand carved and gild early 20th century Art Nouveau mirror, made in Spain. Original water gilt surface is in excellent condition. Outside dimensions 30 1/4" x 24" This item can be ...
Giltwood
Large French 16th Century Renaissance Painted Framed Mirror
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Large super early French Renaissance painted and gilt carved framed mirror. Very large architecturally framed painted and carved wall mirror with stylized gilt carved and black paint...
Mirror, Wood
19th Century Italian Carved Frame
Located in New York, NY
Finely carved and gilded 19th century Italian frame. Features continuous pierced carving decorative design. Carved out of a solid piece of fruitwood, the example is in excellent cond...
Gold Leaf
American Hudson River School Gilded Wood Frame / or Mirror
Located in Chicago, IL
A nice early antique Hudson River School Design frame of quality construction and gilding. Large enough to make a nice wall mirror. the opening inside is 13.5" x 17.5
Wood
19th Century Italian Carved and Silver Gilt Frame
Located in New York, NY
Hand-carved and silver gilded Italian 19th century frame with sgrafitto and cross-hatch design.
$749Sale Price / item|20% Off
H 16.15 in W 13 in D 1.38 in
21st Century Sterling Silver Baroque Style "Cartagloria" Picture Frame
Located in VALENZA, IT
Sterling silver frame in Baroque style called Cartagloria. The Cartagloria was used starting from the sixteenth century. The Cartegloria was placed on the altar, usually inside a wooden or silver frame, which shows some Latin formulas of the Roman Missal...
Sterling Silver
$1,412
H 21.74 in W 15.95 in D 0.79 in
Antique Art Deco Forged Iron Forged Copper Flowers Mirror Frame Picture Frame
Located in Munich, DE
This elegant two tone frame was created in France in the beginning of the 1920's. A rectangular forged iron frame with ornamental surface is in the centre of this design. Three coppe...
Iron, Copper
$251Sale Price|25% Off
H 13.5 in W 9 in D 4 in
Early 20th Century Italian Carved Wood Art Nouveau Tabletop Frame
Located in Toronto, CA
A beautifully preserved early 20th century Italian carved wood tabletop photo frame, crafted circa 1915–1925 and notable for its substantial, large-scale presence. This elegant piece...
Glass, Wood
Sold
H 30.71 in W 25.6 in D 1.97 in
Italian Bolognese frame early 17th century Sculpted and Gilded Wood
Located in Pistoia, IT
Bolognese frame from the first half of the 17th century made of richly carved wood gilded with gold leaf. Carved profile with a pattern of bluebells and ribbons. Beautiful intact pu...
Wood
Sold
H 18.71 in W 16.15 in D 1.97 in
Antique 16th century Rare Venetian Hand-Carved Walnut Polychromed Frame
Located in Doha, QA
An outstanding 16th century Italian (Venetian ) solid walnut and partially polychromed frame. Beautifully hand carved birds and flowers, this style was typical for Venetian time of 1...
Wood
Italian Florentine Gold Black Gilded Wood Art Frame Mirror
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Florentine Black and Gold Gilded Frame, Italy. Fantastic art frame or potential mirror with incredible patina that would work with your favorite watercolor or oil painting. For an a...
Wood, Giltwood, Paint
Large Renaissance Frame, Florence, 16th Century
Located in Greding, DE
A magnificent rectangular frame from Florence, crafted in the 16th century. The frame is richly adorned with carved friezes in the form of scales and pearls, as well as winged cherub...
Wood
Italian Florentine Gold Black Gilded Wood Art Frame
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Florentine Black and Gold Gilded Frame, Italy. Fantastic art frame with incredible patina that would work with your favorite watercolor or oil painting. This frame certainly capture...
Wood, Giltwood, Paint
Sold
H 8.47 in W 7.09 in D 0.4 in
Italian Renaissance Style Frame in Finely Carved Wood, Partially Gilded.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Italian Renaissance style frame in finely carved wood, partially gilded, 19th century. 19th century Italian Renaissance style frame in finely carved and gilded wood. Frame: H: 21.5c...
Wood
Gilded Age Antique Round Glass and Brass Picture Frame
Located in New York, NY
This unique and elegant Gilded Age Round Glass and Brass Picture Frame originates from France, Circa 1900. Features a round composition framed in brass and joined with stylized fleur...
Brass
Italian Florentine Gold Black Gilded Wood Art Frame Circa 1950's
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
Mid-Century Florentine Black and Gold Gilded Frame, Italy. Sturdy and beautiful, this frame is ready for a picture and certainly captures that European vibe. Accommodates 16x20 artwork
Wood, Giltwood
Sold
H 19.375 in W 16.625 in D 2 in
Superb 16th Century Carved Wooden Frame with Pierced Grapevine Frieze
Located in Dallas, TX
Hand-carved by a master-level craftsman in the 1500s, this wonderful wooden frame features a pierced grapevine frieze encircling a thin cavetto interior molding. The highly detailed ...
Wood
Sold
H 15.36 in W 12.6 in D 3.94 in
Old frame with meerschaum hand-carved Madonna and child, 1880 France
Located in Oirlo, LI
Old frame with meerschaum hand-carved Madonna and child, 1880 France Statue in Oval Frame This is a beautiful black frame made around 1880 with a beautiful carving in meerschaum (a...
Blown Glass, Foam, Nutwood
"The Three Ages of Man" Oil on Canvas After Titian 19th Century
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
This very beautiful oil on canvas is a reworking of the left part of the painting The Three Ages of Man" by the Italian Renaissance master of the Venetian school, Tiziano Vecellio...
Paint
Italian Renaissance Style Gold-Decorated Frame
Located in Astoria, NY
Italian Renaissance style gold-decorated frame, in the 16th century taste centering a beveled mirror surrounded by carved scrolling foliate and harvest...
Mirror