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.
Antique Emmanuel Villanis "Saida" Pewter Clad Female Bust Sculpture Statue
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Antique Emmanuel Villanis "Saida" Pewter Clad Small Female Bust Sculpture Statue on Marble Base. Circa Early 20th Century. Measurements: 11" H x 7" W x 5" D.
Pewter
Isabella d'Este and Francesco II Gonzaga Majolica Busts by Angelo
Located in New Orleans, LA
These two busts, monumental in both their size and artistry, come from the renowned Italian majolica workshop of the famed Angelo Minghetti. Depicted are the Renaissance political an...
Enamel
Pair of 16th Century Carved Wooden Terms or Beam Supports from Northern Europe
Located in Dallas, TX
A fascinating bit of history, this pair of carved wooden terms dates to the High Renaissance during the 1500s. A term is a beam support in the form of a human head where the bust con...
Metal, Iron
A Monumental 16th Century Renaissance Carved Oak Bust of Jesus Christ
Located in Long Island City, NY, NY
Magnificent and Monumental 16th Century Renaissance Carved Oak Bust of Christ, Flemish Netherlandish, C. 1550 A powerful and deeply expressive Renaissance carved oak bust of Jesus C...
Oak
16th Century Polychrome Reliquary of a Monk
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
The monk is depicted with an oval face, marked with high and strong cheekbones, sunken cheeks, strong jawbones and a cleft chin. His almond shaped eyes are opened under very strong a...
Wood
$14,177Sale Price|20% Off
Calzetta Da Ravenna Severo Candlestick Depicting a Kneeling Satyr
By Severo Calzetta da Ravenna
Located in Milano, IT
Calzetta Da Ravenna (Attivo Tra IL 1496 E IL 1543 circa) Severo. Circle of. Candlestick depicting a kneeling satyr. The model of the present bronze is the ""kneeling satyr"" attributed to Severo Calzetta da Ravenna, one of the main Paduan bronze sculptors of the first half of the 16th century, whose figure was rediscovered by Planiscig in 1935 (L. Planiscig, ""Severo da Ravenna...
Bronze
19th Century French Renaissance Revival Bronze Bust by Alexandre Duchoiselle
By Duchoiselle
Located in Dallas, TX
Circa 1880, this elegant antique French bronze bust portrays a refined Renaissance gentleman with a contemplative expression. The figure is modeled wearing a soft period cap and rich...
Bronze
French Bisque Porcelain Portrait Bust in the Renaissance Manner
By Paul Duboy
Located in London, GB
French bisque porcelain portrait bust in the Renaissance manner. French, 19th Century Measures: height 65 cm, width 40 cm, depth 22 cm. Th...
Porcelain
Renaissance Style Cast Bronze Bust of a Child after Desiderio
By Desiderio da Settignano
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A very fine copy of the Renaissance sculpture entitled 'A Little Boy'. After Italian Renaissance sculptor Desiderio da Settignano, or Desiderio de Bartolomeo di Francesco detto Ferro. In cast bronze. Simply a wonderful bust! Date: 20th Century Overall Condition: It is in overall good, as-pictured, used estate condition. Condition Details: There is rubbing to the patina on the crown of the head...
Bronze
Bronze Mother and Child by Faure De Brousse
By Vincent Désiré Fauré de Broussé
Located in London, GB
This beautiful sculpture of a mother and child was created in circa 1900 by the French sculptor, Vincent Desire Faure de Brousse. Faure de Brousse was...
Bronze
$2,120Sale Price|20% Off
Rebecca at the Well Marble Bust Sculpture Statue After Antonio Piazza 27"
Located in Dayton, OH
An impressive marble bust of "Rebecca at the Well" after Antonio Piazza (Italian 1875-1925). The sculpture is executed in a beautiful beige marble showcasing Rebekah with her arms ...
Marble
Michelangelo David Ceramic Sculpture by Andrea Salvatori, Italy, Contemporary
Located in London, GB
Andrea Salvatori, "Davidiera", 2015 glazed earthenware, measures: H 68 x 25 x 18 cm Michelangelo's David becomes a teapot in this witty reinterpret...
Ceramic
Antique Catholic German Renaissance Carving Bust Stephan Rottaler Landshut 1500
Located in Portland, OR
An exceptionally rare antique German Renaissance carving by Stephan Rottaler (1581-1533), Bavaria circa 1500. The carving is by Stephan Rottaler, Landshut, Germany, an architect who ...
Gesso, Wood
Plaster Bust of Infant Bacchus After Claude Michel Clodion (1738-1814)
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
A PLASTER BUST OF INFANT BACCHUS AFTER CLAUDE MICHEL CLODION (1738-1814) First half of 20th century Depicted with ringletted hair adorned with vine leaves and grapes on a circular f...
Plaster
16th Century Italian Renaissance Bronze Bust of a Roman Emperor
Located in London, GB
North Italian, 16th century Bust of the emperor Vitellius Bronze, on later bronze socle, lead support to reverse 18 cm. / 7 ins (the bust), 23 cm. / 9 ins overall This fine and apparently unique all’antica Renaissance bronze is inspired by a bust in Venice thought to depict the Roman emperor Vitellius (15-69 AD), who ruled for only eight months in 69 AD before he was overthrown by Vespasian. The Vitellio Grimani, also known as the pseudo-Vitellius, was discovered in Rome in 1505 during excavations on the Quirinale on land owned by the Venetian cardinal Domenico Grimani (1461-1523). On the death of Grimani the Vitellius was sent to Venice and bequeathed to the Republic of Venice, where it was displayed at the Palazzo Ducale from 1525 to 1593. It is now in the Museo arceologico nazionale di Venezia (inv. 20) and regarded as a portrait of an unknown Roman from the first half of the second century AD. The present small bust, with its rough, waxy surface and imaginative adaptation of the antique model on which it is based, bears all the hallmarks of Renaissance bronze modelling in the north of Italy. Indeed, the vigorous modelling is reminiscent of the works by Andrea Briosco, called Il Riccio (1470-1532), who worked in Padua in the Veneto and specialised in small bronzes based on antique subjects. See, for example, his head of Bacchus (private collection, offered at Sotheby’s London in 2021), which has a similarly waxy treatment of the hair. The fantastical lion-mask on the breastplate, with its stylised face and unusual braids of hair, is also typical of the imaginative re-working of antique motifs by Renaissance artists. This indicates that the present bust is probably by a follower of Riccio working in Padua or another centre of classicism in the Veneto. RELATED LITERATURE: L. Planiscig, 'Andrea Riccio...
Bronze
Carved Renaissance Style Cararra Marble Bust of a Child after Desiderio
By Desiderio da Settignano
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A very fine copy of the Renaissance sculpture entitled 'A Little Boy'. After Italian Renaissance sculptor Desiderio da Settignano, or Deside...
Carrara Marble
$1,040Sale Price|20% Off
Alabaster and Marble Bust of Saint Clare of Assisi
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is an alabaster and marble bust of Saint Clare of Assisi. It depicts a young lady head/face covered with a cloak. She is looking down, very peacefully...
Alabaster, Marble
$17,013Sale Price|20% Off
Terracotta Bust of Christ as the Redeemer, 15th Century
Located in Bruxelles, BE
A terracotta bust of Christ as The Redeemer Tuscany or Emilia Romagna, late 15th century Measures: 46 x 43 x 21 cm This powerful, moving bust of...
Terracotta
French Grand Tour Bronze Bust of Michelangelo's Dying Slave
Located in Stamford, CT
Grand Tour bronze bust of Michelangelo's 'Dying Slave'. The bronze showing just the face and shoulders of the full length marble sculpture in the Louvre. The wonderful sculpture of t...
Bronze
Massive Antique Carved Hardwood Bust Of Shakespeare
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A Rare European Hardwood (Believed to be Elm) wall-mount Bust of the justly famous Playwright, Writer and Actor William Shakespeare (April 1564-April 1616). Unmistakeable with his po...
Hardwood
Antique Bronzed Terracotta Bust of Dante on Italian Marquina Marble Column
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
An antique bronzed terracotta bust of Dante. In Renaissance style and a desirable scale, this bust would make a striking decorative piece for any period property, particularly for th...
Marble
Renaissance Style Marble Figure of Sleeping Child
By François Duquesnoy
Located in London, GB
This marble figure of a sleeping child was crafted around 1800 in the style of François Duquesnoy, a sculptor active in Italy in the early 17th Century....
Marble
Reclaimed Bronzed & Gilded Plaster Bust of Roman Emperor
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A large scale reclaimed bronzed and gilded plaster bust of Roman emperor Tiberius. In Grand Tour style and an impressive large scale, this bust would make a striking decorative piec...
Bronze
French Painted Bisque Porcelain Bust of a Woman
By Paul Duboy
Located in London, GB
French painted bisque porcelain bust of a woman French, 19th century Measures: Height 68cm, width 40cm, depth 30cm This fine bust is crafted from painted bisque porcelain. The bust depicts a young woman in a historicised Renaissance style: the sitter tilts her head to her left, her eyes glancing to something in the distance. She wears an ornate feathered head...
Porcelain
Italian Statuary Marble Bust of Dante
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A well-modelled, mid 19th century statuary white marble bust of Dante Alighieri, famed late 13th to early 14th century Italian philosopher, writer and poet. Originating from Italy, ...
Marble, Statuary Marble
Hand-molded light-colored ceramic Christopher Columbus bust, made in Italy
Located in Tarquinia, IT
Christopher Columbus bust, ceramic Columbus bust, Christopher Columbus sculpture, Hand-molded bust of Christopher Columbus on light-colored ceramic visible signature Stefano Todini. ...
Ceramic
Sculpture, Hellenistic Female Bust.
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Sculpture, Hellenistic female bust. A magnificent reproduction of a fragment of a female bust, delicately evoking the ideal of classical beauty. The unfi...
Resin
$11,755
H 27.56 in W 20.08 in D 4.34 in
Religious Sculpture Representing the Nativity, Carved Wood from the 16th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Religious sculpture representing the nativity, carved wood from the 16th century. Carved wood sculpture, walnut wood and oak wood base, sculpture representing the nativity, circa 16...
Oak, Walnut
$1,228Sale 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
“Embracing Couple” by Itzhak Ofer
By Itzhak Ofer
Located in Sheffield, MA
Itzhak Ofer (Polish, 1910-1988), sculpture, mahogany, “embracing couple”, signed on base, "OFER", 25" h. x 12 1/2" w. x 9 1/2" d. including base. Itzhak Ofer was a Sculptor. b. 1910, Poland. Immigrated 1935. Studies: 1941-45 American University, Cairo, plastic arts and drama. Prize: 1968 Public Council of Culture and Art for Best Play. 1981 Initiated and directed a competition of Environmental Sculpture, Ramat Gan...
Mahogany
$14,000
H 29.5 in W 24 in D 12 in
English Marble Bust of Parliament Gentleman on Plinth, John Graham Lough C. 1855
By John Graham Lough
Located in Charleston, SC
English Marble bust of Parliament gentleman displayed on a circular plinth. Signed by maker John Graham Lough, London Mid 19th Century. Lough sculp...
Statuary Marble
$8,063
H 18.12 in W 7.88 in D 5.52 in
'Bohemienne' Art Nouveau Bronze Sculpture by Emmanuel Villanis, circa 1890
Located in Forest Row, East Sussex
'Bohemienne' An Art Nouveau bronze sculpture by Emmanuel Villanis (1858-1914), depicting an elegant young woman holding a lyre with her other arm raised behind her head with robes fl...
Bronze
19th Century Classical Stone Bust
Located in NYC, NY
A good 19th century carved stone bust. The handsome figure in Greco-Roman attire with toga draped across the chest and a laurel wreath around his head. ...
Stone
$854Sale Price|33% Off
H 14.5 in W 9 in D 10 in
Cast Marble Roman Child Bust Sculpture, Antique, 1920, Decorative Art
Located in Douglas Manor, NY
Cast marble bust of a Roman child set on a base size: 3.50 H x 5.25 W x 6 D.base size
Cast Stone
Lion of Forge, Spain, 16th Century
Located in Madrid, ES
Lion of Forge, Spain, 16th century In forging, measurements: 10 x 17 x 5 cm Good condition Spanish private collection.
Iron
18th or 19th Century White Marble Bust of a Young Woman
Located in Berlin, DE
The marble bust facing frontal with her eyes looking to her right. The hair fastened in a skillfull knot behind, the drapery covers her shoulders and breasts, with another section un...
Carrara Marble
$5,466
H 11.82 in W 7.49 in D 4.73 in
Late 19th Century Art Nouveau Bust Entitled "Cendrillon" by Emmanuel Villanis
Located in London, GB
An attractive late 19th Century Art Nouveau French bronze bust exhibiting deep multi-hued patination and excellent detail. The beautiful character wearing a head dress and a loosely draped blouse representing ’Cinderella’ from the famous French opera. The bronze is signed E Villanis and titled to the fore on its integral bronze base. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Height: 30 cm Width: 19 cm Depth: 12 cm Condition: excellent original condition Circa: 1890 Materials: Bronze Book Ref: Emmanuel Villanis by Josje Hortulanus-de Mik Page No: 35 SKU: 8773 ABOUT Villanis Cendrillon Emmanuel Villanis was an industrious man. He is believed to have created some 200 to 250 pieces. His oeuvre pre-eminently consisted of busts and full body statues...
Bronze
Italian Glazed Ceramic Roman Bust/Sculpture, 1940's
Located in Douglas Manor, NY
3-649 ceramic Roman Bust market Italy.
Ceramic
Sold
H 8.67 in W 5.91 in D 3.94 in
Bronze Statue Hans Peisser and Pankraz Labenwolf, Attributed to, Warrior
Located in Milano, IT
The bronze statue depicts a Turkish warrior with shield and sword. the warrior is shown bare without veils, with a base also made of oval-shaped bronze, acting in a war scene. Detai...
Bronze
Sold
H 17.33 in Dm 17.72 in
A 20th Century Renaissance Style Patinated Bronze 'Lisa Bardivs 1477' Bust
Located in London, GB
A stunning and finely crafted bronze bust depicting a noblewoman in Renaissance-style attire. This captivating sculpture is a superb example of 19th-century neoclassical artistry, r...
Bronze
Sold
H 18.12 in W 16.54 in D 8.67 in
19th century terra cotta buste of Princess Ippolita Maria Sforza (Italy)
By Francesco Laurana
Located in Oostende, BE
Terra cotta buste of Princess Ippolita Maria Sforza (Italy) – mother of Isabella of Aragon, 19th century, based on the work of Francesco Laurana (15t...
Terracotta
Sold
H 29 in W 11 in D 17 in
Primitive Hand Carved Polychrome Female Bust Renaissance Sculpture Statue 29"
Located in Dayton, OH
Primitive hand carved polychrome shoulder length bust. Carve from wood with intricate detail and a rustic patina. Great for display on a pedestal or table. Dimensions: 17" x 11" x 2...
Hardwood, Paint
Sold
H 10.63 in W 7.09 in D 3.94 in
Male Profile Relief in Marble Italian Renaissance of the 17th Century with Video
Located in Madrid, ES
Male profile relief in Marble Italian Renaissance of the 17th century Measures: 18cm - Height 27 Cm Good condition for the time.
Marble
Belgian Female Stone Sculpture
Located in Nijlen, BE
Belgian sculpture, made by a Belgian artist, student in the studio of his teacher. Very beautiful proportions. Pure and elegant cut from stone, woman lying on stone. The position of ...
Stone
Sold
H 23 in W 14 in D 7 in
Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse, A Rare and Important Bronze Bust of Michelangelo
By Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse
Located in Long Island City, NY, NY
Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse, (1824 1887) A Rare and Important Patinated Bronze Bust of Michelangelo On A Rouge Marble Base. Presenting an extraordinary and highly collectible ma...
Marble, Bronze, Wrought Iron
Sold
H 16.93 in W 10.63 in D 10.24 in
Early 20th Century Plaster Sculpture of the Bust of David by Michelangelo
By Michelangelo Buonarroti
Located in Catania, Sicilia
A plaster sculpture hand-crafted in the Thirties in Sicily in original conditions, as you can see in the pictures it has consistent signs of age, it is commonly known as the "Bust of David" by Michelangelo. However Michelangelo did not create a bust of David specifically, the sculpture is part of the larger marble sculpture of David...
Plaster
Sculpture in Patinated Plaster in the Taste of the Renaissance
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
"Sculpture in Patinated Plaster in the taste of the Renaissance" Bust in patinated Plaster from the beginning of the 20th century, in the taste of the Renaissance.
Plaster
Early 20th Century Marble and Alabaster Bust of Beatrice
Located in Guaynabo, PR
This is a marble and alabaster bust of Beatrice. It depicts a small, but heavy bust of an Italian lady dressed with a Renaissance style cost...
Alabaster, Marble
Sold
H 21 in W 17 in D 5 in
Rare and Important Italian White Marble Bust Sculpture of Jesus Christ, C. 1850
Located in Long Island City, NY, NY
Rare and important Italian white marble bust sculpture of Jesus Christ, C. 1850. A truly exceptionally carved marble relief of Holy Jesus Christ. ...
Marble
Sold
H 17.5 in W 19.5 in D 9 in
Italian Painted Plaster Bust of a Renaissance Queen in Bejeweled Costume C. 1880
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
This polychrome paint and gilt plaster bust likely depicting Margherita de Valois is similar to works by Aristide Petrilli who was an Italian sculptor active from the late 1800s to e...
Plaster