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.
Italian Bronze Sculpture Of Mercury/Hermes after Giambologna
By Giambologna
Located in Den Haag, NL
This statue/sculpture represents Mercury or Hermes, in relations to the Roman or Greek denomination of the gods. The original was sculpted by Giambologna in the 19th century. This br...
Bronze
Red Coral Sculpture~ Napoleon III Bronze Doré Fragment
Located in Houston, TX
Red coral branch mounted on a 19th-Century French bronze doré fragment. This is a lovely objet d'art to add to your collection or cabinet. During the Renaissance, Cabinets of Art an...
Coral, Bronze
Black Coral Sea Fan Sculpture
Located in Houston, TX
Black coral sea fan embellished with natural quartz mounted on a 19th-Century French Napoleon III bronze doré fragment. This is a lovely objet d'art to add to your collection or cabi...
Coral, Quartz, Bronze
Black Coral Sea Fan Sculpture~ Napoleon III Bronze Doré Fragment
Located in Houston, TX
Black coral sea fan embellished with green tourmaline and a showy quartz druzy shell specimen mounted on a 19th-Century French bronze doré fragment. This is a lovely objet d'art to a...
Coral, Rock Crystal, Bronze
Black Coral Sea Fan Sculpture
Located in Houston, TX
Black coral sea fan embellished with tourmaline and a showy quartz druzy shell specimen mounted on a 19th-Century French bronze doré fragment. This is a lovely objet d'art to add to ...
Coral, Quartz, Bronze
Red Coral Sculpture~ Napoleon III Bronze Fragment
Located in Houston, TX
Red coral branch mounted on a 19th-Century French bronze doré fragment. This is a lovely objet d'art to add to your collection or cabinet. During the Renaissance, Cabinets of Art an...
Coral, Bronze
Jewelled Red Coral Sculpture~ 19th Century White Bronze Fragment
Located in Houston, TX
Red coral branch embellished with natural emeralds mounted on a 19th-Century French white bronze fragment. This is a lovely objet d'art to add to your collection or cabinet. During ...
Coral, Bronze
Red Coral Sculpture~ 19th Century Bronze Fragment
Located in Houston, TX
Red coral branch and natural emeralds are mounted on a 19th-Century French bronze doré fragment. This is a lovely objet d'art to add to your collection or cabinet. During the Renais...
Coral, Bronze
Jeweled Red Coral Sculpture~ Napoleon III Bronze Doré Fragment
Located in Houston, TX
Red coral branch embellished with natural emeralds mounted on a 19th-Century French bronze doré fragment. This is a lovely objet d'art to add to your collection or cabinet. During t...
Coral, Bronze
Red Coral Sculpture~ Napoleon III Bronze Doré Fragment
Located in Houston, TX
Red coral branch mounted on a 19th-Century French bronze doré fragment. This is a lovely objet d'art to add to your collection or cabinet. During the Renaissance, Cabinets of Art an...
Coral, Bronze
Black Coral Sea Fan and Citrine Sculpture~ Napoleon III Bronze Doré Fragment
Located in Houston, TX
A lacey black coral sea fan embellished with natural citrine mounted on a 19th-Century French bronze doré fragment. This is a lovely objet d'art to add to your collection or cabinet....
Coral, Bronze
Black Coral Sea Fan Sculpture~ Napoleon III Bronze Doré Fragment
Located in Houston, TX
Black coral sea fan embellished with green tourmaline mounted on a 19th-Century French bronze doré fragment. This is a lovely objet d'art to add to your collection or cabinet. Durin...
Coral, Tourmaline, Bronze
Black Coral Sea Fan Sculpture~ Napoleon III Bronze Doré Fragment
Located in Houston, TX
Black coral sea fan mounted on a 19th-Century French bronze doré fragment. This is a lovely objet d'art to add to your collection or cabinet. During the Renaissance, Cabinets of A...
Coral, Bronze
Petite Black Coral Sea Fan Sculpture
Located in Houston, TX
Petite lacey black coral sea fan embellished with tourmaline mounted on a 19th-Century French bronze doré fragment sitting on an optical calcite base. This is a lovely objet d'art t...
Coral, Rock Crystal, Tourmaline, Bronze
Black Coral Sea Fan Sculpture~ Napoleon III Bronze Doré Fragment
Located in Houston, TX
A lacey black coral sea fan embellished mounted on a 19th-Century French Napoleon III bronze doré fragment. This is a lovely objet d'art to add to your collection or cabinet. Duri...
Coral, Bronze
Venice Rising Quartz Muscovite Ammonite Sculpture
Located in Houston, TX
One-of-a-kind natural mineral specimen sculpture, entitled "Venice Rising," created from an 18th-century Italian patinated parcel-giltwood candlestick and embellished with quartz, mu...
Quartz
Jeweled Red Coral Sculpture~ Napoleon III Bronze Doré Fragment
Located in Houston, TX
Red coral branch embellished with natural emeralds and quartz mounted on a 19th-Century French bronze doré fragment. This is a lovely objet d'art to add to your collection or cabinet...
Coral, Quartz, Bronze
Filippo Gherardi Fish Sculpture on Black Base
Located in Houston, TX
One-of-a-kind wood sculpture created from 18th-century gilt fragments. Filippo Gherardi (b.1983) was born in Livorno, Italy. Driven by his passion for antiques, he studied and pract...
Wood, Giltwood
Black Coral Sea Fan Sculpture~ Bronze Doré Fragment
Located in Houston, TX
Black coral sea fan embellished with natural emeralds mounted on a 19th-Century French bronze doré fragment. This is a lovely objet d'art to add to your collection or cabinet. Dur...
Coral, Bronze
Filippo Gherardi Fish Sculpture on 18th Century Fragment Base
Located in Houston, TX
One-of-a-kind fish sculpture created from 18th-century gilt fragments. Filippo Gherardi was born in Livorno, Italy. Driven by his passion for antiques, he studied and practiced the...
Wood, Giltwood
Natural Red Coral Mounted on 18th Century Giltwood Fragment
Located in Bradenton, FL
A hand-crafted sculpture specimen of natural red coral branches mounted on a 18th century giltwood urn fragment base with sea shell trim.
Coral
$2,789Sale Price|30% Off
H 13.1 in W 7.5 in D 7.75 in
EUTROPE BOURET 1870 Napoleon III French Sculpture of Cupid In Gilded Bronze
Located in Miami, FL
Sculpture of cupid by Eutrope Bouret (1833-1906). This is a fantastic sculpture created in Paris France during the Napoleon III period, by Eutrope Bouret, back in 1860-1870. The scu...
Gold, Bronze
$6,500
H 72 in W 24 in D 37 in
Monumental 19th Century Grand Tour Bronze Mercury Statue After Giambologna
By Giambologna
Located in New York, NY
Monumental 19th century Italian grand tour bronze sculpture of Mercury, finely cast after the original model by Jean d...
Bronze
$2,360Sale Price|20% Off
H 4 in Dm 11.75 in
Napoleon III Patinated Bronze & Ormolu Crown, France, Circa 1870
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Napoleon III Patinated Bronze & Ormolu Crown, France, Circa 1870 A rare and unusual Napoleon III patinated bronze and ormolu crown from France, circa 1870. This distinctive work fea...
Bronze, Ormolu
Benedetto Boschetti Bronze Mercury Statue After Giambologna 19th Century
Located in Toledo, OH
Nineteenth century bronze "Mercury" by the Benedetto Boschetti workshops. The model of Mercury is after the Italian Renaissance sculptor Giambologna. Mercury stands on one foot supported by a zephyr and holds a caduceus. Mounted on a circular marble base with a plaque "Mercury by Boschetti". Statue is marked B Boschetti Roma...
Bronze
Bronze sculpture of the god Mercury
Located in Buenos Aires, Argentina
Bronze sculpture of the god Mercury Representation of the god Mercury standing on Aeolus, the god of the wind (after Gianbologna) Origin France Circa 1900 Base of green Alpine marble...
Marble, Bronze
Andrianna Shamaris Coral Fan
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful coral fan set on a minimalist white stand. We have a collection. Great as a party gift or table setting. All one of a kind. Andrianna Shamaris....
Coral
Red Coral Sculpture
Located in Paris, FR
Sculpture red coral handcrafted sculpture with more than 800 red cabochons hand-placed. With structure and base in solid brass gold-plated 24-karat. Except...
Coral, Gold Plate, Brass
Napoleon Bronze Sculpture Desk Inkwell, Signed Emile Pinedo
By Émile Pinedo
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Napoleon Bonaparte bronze desk inkwell, signed Pinedo with foundry mark. Mounted over a Green Alps marble. Antique signed 19th large bronze ...
Bronze
$7,800
H 22 in W 15 in D 15 in
Antique Italian Grand Tour Bronze Sculpture of the Farnese Bull /Nelli foundry
By Giambologna
Located in New York, NY
Antique (late 19th century) Grand Tour bronze sculpture of the Farnese bull, after the classical period original, cast by the Nelli foundry in Rome, mounted on marble plinth with bla...
Marble, Bronze
Natural Red Coral Mounted on 18th Century Giltwood Fragment
Located in Bradenton, FL
A rather large hand-crafted sculpture specimen of natural red coral branches mounted on a 18th century giltwood urn fragment base.
Coral
Natures Wonder Sea Shell Red Coral Mediterranean Lace Coral Curio
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Natures beauty- Mediterranean red coral branch, lace corsl, urchins , sponges, on two antique brass stands. Natural specimen taxidermy curio. Great decorative and collectible.
Coral
Red Coral Sculpture~ Napoleon III Bronze Doré Fragment
Located in Houston, TX
Red coral mounted on a 19th-Century French bronze doré fragment. This is a lovely objet d'art to add to your collection or cabinet. During the Renaissance, Cabinets of Art and Curio...
Coral, Bronze
Pair of Seafans Mounted on a 19th Century Italian Gilt and Painted Bases
Located in New York, NY
This is a pair of striking red seafans, elegantly mounted on bases from 19th-century Italy. The bases are exquisitely crafted, featuring ornate gilt detailing and hand-painted finish...
Giltwood, Paint
Mounted Elkhart Coral on Antique Medici Syle Base
Located in New York, NY
Elkhorn Coral: Resting upon a meticulously crafted Antique Medici Style Base, measuring 14.5 inches, this captivating piece seamlessly blends the allure of the ocean with the sophist...
Coral
Pair of Preserved Ostrich Eggs Mounted on Ebonized Wood Candlesticks
Located in Leesburg, VA
A superb pair of mounted ostrich eggs. During the German Renaissance, Kunstkammer or Wonder Cabinet objects transformed ostrich eggs into ornate flasks, urns and decorative works....
Ostrich Eggshell, Wood, Ebony
Pair of Set English Trophy Hunt Horn Epergne Brass Renaissance Soldier
Located in Shreveport, LA
Direct from England, just arrived in our most recent container, we have several of these fabulous antique ‘hunt horns”, extremely sought after as unique acce...
Brass
Sold
H 16.75 in W 10.5 in D 4 in
19th Century Pair Set English Trophy Hunt Horn Epergne Brass Renaissance Cherub
Located in Shreveport, LA
Direct from England, just arrived in our most recent container, we have several of these fabulous antique ‘hunt horns”, extremely sought after as unique accessories for a library, den or office!.~ ~History – In 19th century Europe these antique trophies were made to be placed in the bookcase, or atop the mantel or on a desk, as a ‘trophy’ from hunting exploits, rather than the more common practice today of making wall mounts. ~This is a PAIR of horns, with grooved cup brass bases below the shaped flutes with reticulated edge top. FULL figure cherubs with one hand on hip and one outstretched arm that holds the round brass banding for the horn!~ ~Brass bands have crimped edges and BIRD FINIALS to tighten the bands~ ~Horn tops are rimmed with brass caps have lower draped scalloped edges and upper gothic trim~ ~Outstanding curve and colouring to each horn!!~ ~c1890~ Measurements: Approx. 16.75”height x 10.5” span x 4”. Horn is maybe 14”long; base footprint 4” diameter; mouth opening 2.5” x 2”. (THIS LISTING IS FOR THE TROPHY PAIR...
Brass
Italian 19th Century Sea Shell with Carved Relief of Mars
Located in London, GB
This charming carved seashell features a cameo relief of Mars, the god of War in the Roman pantheon. Standing on a chariot pulled by a pair of horses, Mars, who is nude but for his h...
Shell, Wood
Sold
H 16.93 in W 16.93 in D 7.09 in
Adolfo Cipriani Carved Marble Musical Sculpture of Three Children Singing
Located in Sofia, BG
A fine sculpture made in marble Signed by an Italian master Adolpho Cipriani (Italian, 1880-1930) The figure is a constellation of three young children with angelic faces staring...
Marble
Sold
H 6.5 in W 10.5 in D 3 in
Italian Gilded Wooden Hand Clutching a Red Mediterranean Coral Lightning Staff
Located in New York, NY
Italian gilded wooden hand clutching a red Mediterranean coral lightning staff, early to mid-20th century. Mediterranean red coral has fascinated civiliza...
Coral, Gold Leaf
English Carved Walnut Wall Plaque of Birds and Fruit, 19th Century
Located in London, GB
A Wall Plaque of Good Size By Thomas Kendall Of tondo form, constructed in hand carved walnut, the ogee swept frame enclosing a naturalistic carving of avian subjects in vine foli...
Walnut