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.
$679Sale Price|45% Off
Antique Spanish Carved Wooden Panel with Angel Figure, Circa 1550-1650
Located in Buisson, FR
Beautiful weathered wooden panel with an wonderful primitive angel figure and garlands. Original paint and gilding. Spain, circa 1550-1650, weathered, small losses and old repairs M...
Wood
15th Century Italian Renaissance Bronze Medallion
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Renaissance bronze medallion made by Master IOFF in the mid 15th century, showing the mythological scene of Ariadne on Naxos. Made in the mid-15th ...
Bronze
$3,200 / set
Italian Renaissance Style Soapstone Carvings
Located in Queens, NY
4 Italian Renaissance style (19th Century) carved soapstone wall plaques of Medieval scenes under glass in black frames.
Soapstone
$10,000Sale Price|20% Off
Sculpture of John The Baptist, 16th Century
Located in North Miami, FL
Early 16th Century Spanish gold gilded and polychromed carved wood sculpture of John The Baptist.
Gold Leaf
19th Century Italian Statuary Marble Plaque After Duquesnoy
By François Duquesnoy
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A large early 19th century Italian statuary marble plaque depicting a reclining cherub or putto, formerly owned by the 1st Earl of Mountbatten. Expertly carved in deep relief, this p...
Marble, Statuary Marble
$14,800Sale Price|20% Off
Jesus Christ the Conqueror Raising the Flag After his Resurrection, 16th Century
Located in North Miami, FL
16th Century Italian carved-wood and polychromed sculpture of Jesus Christ the conqueror raising the flag after his resurrection.
Gold Leaf
15th Cen Four Pillars of the Christian Faith Saint Peter, Saint Paul, Saint Luke
Located in North Miami, FL
15th century Italian carved wood, polychromed and gold gilded sculptures of four Pillars of the Christian Faith (Saint Peter, Saint Paul, Saint Luke, Saint Matthew).
Gold Leaf
$9,375Sale Price / set|25% Off
Angelic Carved Wood Sculptures, 16th Century
Located in North Miami, FL
Pair of 16th Century Italian carved polychromed angelic sculptures.
Gold Leaf
$11,600Sale Price / set|20% Off
Saint Ambrose Archbishop of Milan and Saint Augustine Bishop of Hippo, 16th Cent
Located in North Miami, FL
A pair of 16th Century Italian wood carved figures of Saint Ambrose Archbishop of Milan and Saint Augustine Bishop of Hippo, two of the four original Doc...
Wood
15th Century French Carved Limestone Head Fragment
Located in Chicago, IL
An incredible and rare 15th century French carved limestone fragment depicting the back of a man's head with a wavy hair texture, and mounted on a c...
Marble
15th Century Italian Renaissance Giltwood Carving
Located in Houston, TX
15th Century Italian Renaissance Giltwood Carving . This magnificent 15th century Italian Renaissance gilt wood carving with a serpent is displayed ...
Iron
$7,300Sale Price|25% Off
16th C. Hand Carved Capital Stone Base Architectural Element Sculpture Pedestal
Located in West Hollywood, CA
16th C. Hand Carved Capital Stone Base Architectural Element Sculpture Pedestal. Very rare 16th Century Renaissance corner Capital . Hand carved limestone Chapiteau Capital from a Cloister in France . From an ornamental point of view , it is the coronation , the upper part of a post or a column or pilaster pillar . A beautiful Architectural element garden ornament . It can used as a Base for a coffee glass table , or as a side table for drinks or to mount books. A stunning Fragments to be used as stand for a sculpture . Use it as a pedestal or as a mounted decorative object. In an entryway a bathroom a living room , in an office , it will create an incredible focal point . It can make a beautiful base for a floor lamp by a leather reading chair...
Stone, Limestone
Antique Renaissance Style Tiled Frieze Panel by Minton Hollins
By Minton
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A set of 4 antique dust-pressed ceramic tiles by Minton Hollins (stamped) creating a decorative blue and white glazed frieze panel depicting a renaissance style winged cherub playing...
Ceramic
Minton Hollins Antique Tiled Frieze Panel with Cherubs
By Minton
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A set of 4 antique dust-pressed ceramic tiles by Minton Hollins (stamped) creating a decorative blue and white glazed frieze panel depicting three renaissance style winged cherubs pl...
Ceramic
$11,760
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
$1,229Sale 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
19th Century Italian Marble Bust of Aphrodite
Located in Houston, TX
19th century Italian marble bust of Aphrodite. Our antique Italian Carrara marble bust of Aphrodite is expertly carved and rests on a...
Marble
Angel Botello Sculpture "Denise", circa 1981, Spain
Located in Girona, Spain
Angel Botello sculpture "Denise". Made with bronze. Very decorative. Signed and numbered 6/6. Certificate. Circa 1970, Spain Angle Botello was born in 1913 in the small town of...
Bronze
$2,470
H 2 in Dm 16 in
Italian Grand Tour Specimen Marble Circular Chessboard Plaque Pietra Dura 19th C
Located in Atlanta, GA
A finely crafted circular pietra dura plaque, likely originating from Italy during the mid-to-late 19th century, this specimen marble and hardstone inlaid chessboard combines decorat...
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
A Thai Bronze, Buddha Fragment, 15th Century
Located in PARIS, FR
A Thai bronze, Buddha fragment, 15th century. Arm, hand and leg fragment, mounted on a plexiglas stand from 70s. Overall: 17,2 cm.
Bronze
19th Century Renaissance Marble Relief
Located in Madrid, ES
19th century Renaissance marble relief. The relief is carved to the Renaissance taste and is in very good condition. It is framed in a later frame ...
Marble
Carved Soapstone Sculpture
Located in Montreal, QC
Interesting carved soapstone Modernist sculpture.
19th Century Marble Statue of Livia After the Antique
Located in Essex, MA
Grand Tour Carved Marble Statue of the Empress Livia Drusilla After the Antique. A true depiction of the Classical Statue of Rome's First Empress. Livia Drusilla (30 January 59 BC – 28 September AD 29) was Roman empress...
Statuary Marble
Grand Tour Ancient Egyptian Style Carved Soapstone Figure of Horus
Located in Stamford, CT
19th century Egyptian stone carving of Horus in the ancient style, the god in the form of a falcon. Quite possibly much earlier in date, it came from a collection that did have ancie...
Soapstone
Spanish Colonial Antique Santo Figure
Located in Atlanta, GA
A stunning antique parcel-giltwood statue of St. John, 19th century, possibly earlier, from Mexico, Spanish Colonial with polychrome paint decoration. St John was depicted as a regal...
Gold Leaf
16th-17th Century French Carved Oak Panel with an Angel Figure
Located in Buisson, FR
Beautiful weathered oak panel with an wonderful primitive angel figure. On the bottom of this angel you can also see two small eagle heads. France, circa 1550-1650, weathered, small...
Oak
Baroque Meets the Sea: Mounted Red Coral Fans on Antique Gilt Bases 28"H
Located in New York, NY
A stunning pair of natural red sea fans, artistically mounted on exquisite 18th-century sculpted and gilt wooden bases. The delicate, lace-like coral fans showcase intricate organic ...
Coral
Ocean Elegance: Sea Fans on Antique Italian Bases
Located in New York, NY
This striking pair of large sea fans is elegantly mounted on 19th-century Italian bases, adorned with turquoise paint and gilded details that exude class...
Coral
Sold
H 6 in W 4 in D 2.75 in
Renaissance bronze plaquette of the Lamentation from the school of Raphael
By (after) Raphael (Raffaello Sanzio da Urbino)
Located in Leesburg, VA
Renaissance bronze plaquette of the Lamentation from the school of Raphael Attributed to Cesarino da Perugia Rome, Italy; ca. 1522-24 Bronze (plaquette); black marble (mount) Approximate size: 10.5 x 7.3 cm (plaquette) The present plaquette, depicting a scene of the Lamentation, has long been associated with a Tuscan-Roman origin and more recently has been identified as the work of Cesarino da Perugia, a goldsmith active in Rome and friend of Raphael. The scene’s composition, in fact, derives from Raphael’s sketches...
Belgian Black Marble, Bronze
Red Ceramic and Gilt Bronze Antique Ewer Urn
Located in LA CIOTAT, FR
A very ornate French antique ewer urn with a gleaming, red ceramic jug body and gilt bronze foot and trimmings, dating from the beginning of the 20th century ...
Bronze
Sold
H 9.85 in W 2.56 in D 2.56 in
Pair of 19th Century Renaissance Style Bronzes by Jean Baptiste Germain, C1880
Located in Central England, GB
This very fine pair of French bronze figures are by the highly acclaimed French sculptor Jean Baptiste Germain (1841 0 1910). They depict...
Bronze
Sold
H 32 in W 71.5 in D 11.5 in
Rare 16th Century Carved and Pierced Oak Renaissance Panel with Acrylic Mount
Located in Dallas, TX
This rare carved and pierced oak Renaissance panel was likely hand carved in the mid to late 1500’s in central Europe (most likely Germany or Norther...
Acrylic, Oak
16th-17th Century French Carved Oak Panel with a Nobleman
Located in Buisson, FR
Beautiful weathered and unique oak panel with a nobleman. France, circa 1550-1650, weathered, small losses. Measurements include the wooden base.
Oak
French, 17th Century Carved Wooden Renaissance Fragment
Located in Buisson, FR
Beautiful fragment with traces of its original color France, circa 1600-1650. Weathered. Measurement is inclusive the wooden base.
Wood
Large French Female Renaissance Bust, Austin, 1970
Located in Vero Beach, FL
Large French female Renaissance bust, Austin, 1970 This large female Renaissance 1970’s Austin Production bust is in very good vintage condition. This...
Composition
Terracotta Santos Fragment
Located in London, GB
A rare 19th century terracotta Santos mask/fragment on a bespoke display stand. This religious, macabre artefact would likely have been a part of a full Santos statue which would ...
Terracotta
Pair of French 17th Century Weathered Oak Renaissance Ornaments
Located in Buisson, FR
Beautiful weathered oak Renaissance ornaments. Two female figures, one with a dog at her feet and the other with a small dragon. France, 17th century. Weathered, small losses and o...
Oak