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Medieval Decorative Objects

MEDIEVAL STYLE

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.

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Style: Medieval
Early 20th Century Decorative Box - Brass - Gothic Tristan and Isolde Theme
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A beautiful decorative box, made of brass. The box is richly decorated with elegant motifs and representations of the classic story Tristan and Isolde. The box was probably made in B...
Category

Early 1900s French Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Spanish Church Alms Box / Wall Decoration with Carved Nun Detail, 18th Century
Located in Barcelona, ES
Carved wood hand painted donation / offering ALM BOX, Spain, 18th century. Polychromed carved wood church collection offering donation money box as wall decoration. This alms box is made of pine wood painted in terracotta hues. A nun carved ornamentation decorates the top. Wall hanging collection / donation money box. Originally used to collect donations at Christian churches/chapels. Interesting to be used as key box or key cabinet or as wall decoration Rare find. Provenance: Private collection. No key avaliable. Overall Measures: 45 cm H x 26 cm W x 21 cm D Poor box...
Category

18th Century Spanish Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood, Pine

12th Century Rare Romanesque Wood Sculpture of the Virgin Mary
Located in Vero Beach, FL
12th century extremely rare romanesque wood sculpture of the Virgin Mary. Magnificent wood hand carved sculpture of the Virgin Mary holding a book to her chest. It is an extremely rare survivor of the 12th century. The style is European, possibly French or English. This statue is a testimony to beautiful religious art from about 1150. A truly rare Romanesque sculpture...
Category

15th Century and Earlier English Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Stone

Antique Lifesize Crowned Mother Mary and Child Jesus Gothic Revival Sculpture
Located in Lisse, NL
Hand carved wood antique statue of Mother Mary wearing a Gothic crown. This original and all hand carved sculpture of the mother of all mothers is anothe...
Category

Early 20th Century European Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

Polychrome carved wood Virgin and Child from the 15th Century
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
POLYCHROME CARVED WOOD VIRGIN AND CHILD FROM THE 15TH CENTURY   ORIGIN: SOUTH GERMANY, SWABIA, NUREMBERG REGION PERIOD: 15th CENTURY   Height: 94,6cm Width : 28 cm Depth : 18 cm   Lime wood Original Polychromy Good state of conservation     From 1430 onwards, sculpture underwent a profound stylistic renewal which continued until 1530, the so-called late Gothic period. In the Germanic countries, original sculptures flourished in an expressive and sensitive vein.
This renewal was inspired by the art of Nicholas of Leiden, who was active in Strasbourg in the 1460's. His style broke with the refined and delicate art of the international Gothic style in force throughout Europe around 1400. The figures became more authentic and realistic. The bodies became denser. Clothes are animated by deep, broken folds, the fabrics are heavy and have a great decorative value. In addition, the polychromy is intended to be illusionistic. The painting makes it possible to restore the texture of the materials, the richness of the textiles and the natural skin tone of the characters.   The dissemination of images through engraving and the great mobility of the artists led to the success of this style, which conquered the Upper Rhine, Swabian, Tyrolean and Franconian regions, contributing to the formation of a common stylistic identity in these regions. The economic boom in the flourishing German cities was conducive to the development of original production. Attracted by this prosperity, numerous workshops were set up in order to meet the orders of religious communities, the Church and the laity, including a clientele of middle-class rockers.      This precious Virgin and Child is depicted standing on a crescent moon, her head encircled by a crown of tall flowers. Her long wavy hair spreads over her shoulders, framing her beautiful oval face. Under fine eyebrows drawn with a brushstroke, her almond-shaped, slightly drooping eyes look at the Child with infinite softness. She is dressed in a long red dress with a rounded neckline, belted under the chest. The heavy fabric of her dress spreads out in broken folds at her feet. On her shoulders she wears a golden cloak. The drapery has deep folds. She holds out her right hand while she holds the Christ Child with her left.   Christ, with his well-defined hair, is naked. His cheeks are highlighted with red, he holds an apple in his left hand and with the other hand makes a sign of blessing towards the faithful.   Virgins with Child on a crescent moon were very popular in the second half of the 15th century, especially as the central subject of altarpieces in southern Germany and Austria. The crescent moon on which Mary is standing is reminiscent of the Woman of the Apocalypse. Often equated with the Virgin Mary.    This episode is taken from the Book of Revelation (12:1-6)   1 Then a great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. ; 2 She was pregnant, and she cried out because she was in labor, in pain from giving birth. ; 3 Then another sign appeared in heaven: it was a great fiery red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns, and seven royal crowns on his heads. ; 4 His tail swept down a third of heaven's stars and threw them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth so that when she gave birth, he might devour her child. ; 5 She gave birth to a son, a male child who is to rule all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was snatched up to God and his throne. ; 6 Then the woman fled into the desert, where God has prepared a place for her. There she will be taken care of for one thousand two hundred sixty days.   Some theologians see in this woman a reference to the Virgin Mary and in the child, Jesus.    
This remarkable work is a very fine example of sculpture from Swabian workshops in the last decades of the 15th century. It presents all the characteristic stylistic elements: a highly girdled silhouette, an abundant drapery with angular folds, but also a great physical presence accentuated by the polychromy that restores the anatomical details. This group is made of a wooden log. The deep folds of the drapery highlight the movement of the Virgin holding the child.       Bibliography :   Sophie Guillot de Suduiraut, Dévotion et Séduction, Sculptures souabes des musées de France, vers 1460-1530, Paris musée du Louvre-Éditions somogy, 2015   “Revelation 12 -   Common English Bible...
Category

15th Century and Earlier German Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

Important 14th Century Polychrome Limestone Virgin from Lorraine
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Provenance : - Kunsthaus Heinrich Hahn, Frankfurt am Main, sale 16, June 17, 1930, lot 16. - Sotheby's, Amsterdam, Feb. 26, 2006, lot 201. HISTORIC Located between Moselle valley and Meuse valley, framed by the Vosges Mountains on the south side and the duchy of Luxembourg on the north side, the duchy of Lorraine is the result of several partitions. It starts with the 9th century when the Carolingian empire is divided, with Lothar 1st inheriting Lotharingia. In 959 this territory was in turn divided in two; Lower and Upper Lotharingia, the latter being the forebear of the duchy of Lorraine. This duchy was under the rule of the Holy Roman Germanic Empire until 1736 when it was absorbed by the kingdom of France. All along its history the duchy of Lorraine has found itself in the midst of many conflicts. Alliances and feuds marking European history were always particularly sensible in Lorraine where instability was frequent. Because of its geographic position the duchy of Lorraine was also an artistic crossroad. Hence the duchy of Lorraine becomes from the 13th century onwards an important artistic centre where a particular type of Virgin and Child appears. According to professor J. A. Schmoll the characteristics of Lorraine sculpture burgeon around 1280-1300 in the Aube region. It presents “vigorous volumes, restrained movements, rare but solemn gestures and a strong interiorised and stern expression”. Those Virgins look similar with a wide forehead, a shield- or oval-shaped face, large neck, small lips and a cleft chin. This model is particularly in favour during the 13th century because of the revival for Marial worship and for the theme of the Virgin and Child. It bears witness to a new religious sensibility with a more intimate vision of religious practice. DESCRIPTION The important 14th century Virgin we present to you is one of the most beautiful examples of sculptural art from Eastern France, with her fascinating distant gaze. Her contrapposto posture is induced by the weight of the child she carries high on her left side. The child has a chubby face framed by blond hair with well defined curls and he wears a long red V-collared tunic from which emerge his feet. The fabric is animated by long folds. The position of the right foot turned to the back is a detail we can notice on several Virgins from Lorraine. He holds a bird that seems to be pecking his thumb. “The bird /held by the child in his hands/ has been read as a reference to an episode from Christ’s childhood when he has moulded sparrows with clay before giving them life. It appears in the apocryphal gospel of Pseudo-Matthew (ch. 27) and later in the Quran (III, 43, v. 110). However the iconography seems to be more influenced by the concept of Redemption or of Eucharist, the bird symbolising the soul of the Christian about to be redeemed or revitalised.” Mary wears a long dress with two rock crystal cabochons remaining from the original five. She is covered by a red cloak enriched with old-gold motifs draped as an apron falling in long pleats along her left hip. The relief treatment and the volume of the cloak developing a network of concentric pleats contrast with the the flat pleating of her dress. They nevertheless suggest the curve of her bent right leg. She wears a floret crown securing a short thin veil carved in very low relief. From it emerges her blond curled hair characteristic of the 13th century. The large face with almond-shaped eyes, straight nose, small lips and cleft chin casts its gaze afar in a fashion typical of 13th century Virgins. In her right hand she holds a lily flower. In a very refined manner the artist has carved a band on her right ring-finger. In the back, carefully sculpted, spreads the minutely detailed short veil. COMPARATIVE STUDIES This sculpture of great quality presents obvious similarities with Virgins from Lorraine, designated by William Forsythe...
Category

15th Century and Earlier French Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Limestone

16th Century Mary Magdalene in Polychromed Carved Walnut
Located in Meer, VAN
Mary Magdalene in Polychromed Carved Walnut 16th Century Devotional figure in carved wood, depicting Mary Magdalene. Walnut, most probably Flemish and from the 16th century. It de...
Category

16th Century European Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Walnut

Rare & Beautifully Hand-Carved Antique Dutch Arts & Crafts Beveled Wall Mirror
Located in Lisse, NL
Striking wall mirror with handcarved geometrical 'flowers' and trefoil symbols. Via one of our foreign contacts we recently purchased this perfectly fine and deeply handcarved, sc...
Category

Early 20th Century European Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Mirror, Wood

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...
Category

Early 20th Century Spanish Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Iron, Wrought Iron

Spanish Alms Box / Wall Decoration with Carved Saints Detail, 18th Century
Located in Barcelona, ES
Carved wood hand painted donation / offering ALM Box, Spain, 18th century. Polychromed carved wood church collection offering donation money box as wall decoration. This alms box is made of pine wood painted in shades of blue and gray with carved saint figures onamentations decorating the top. Wall hanging collection / donation money box. Originally used to collect donations at Christian churches/chapels. Interesting to be used as key box or key cabinet or as wall decoration Rare find. Provenance: Private collection. No key avaliable. Overall Measures: Saints Box: 33 cm H x 37 cm W x 14 cm D Poor...
Category

18th Century Spanish Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood, Pine

15th Century Burgundian Low-Relief Depicting Scenes of the Nativity
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Provenance : In the same private collection for several generations, Burgundy. The canonical Gospels describe briefly the episode of the Nativity. It comprises three parts : • The Preludes : the Journey to Bethlehem, the Census • The Nativity • The Announce to the Shepherds and the Adoration of the Magi Only the Gospel according to Matthew (2, 1-12) speaks about the Adoration of the Magi. Staying vague about their number it does say they brought the newborn gold, incense and myrrh. The apocryphals, the fathers of the Church and many other authors have filled in the gaps of the evangelic tale. The sobriety and symbolic of the story have been a huge inspiration to artists. Although one of the oldest depictions of the Adoration of the Magi dates from the 2nd century the theme became very popular in Christian art during the late 14th century. One of the reasons explaining this success is that it celebrates both the Virgin and Christ at the same time. This important walnut panel is carved in a strong relief and depicts the different steps of the story of Jesus’ birth. On the left, the donkey and ox that have accompanied Mary and Joseph from Bethlehem are depicted behind a trough. On the thatch roof appears the star that would guide the magi to the place of birth of Jesus. Mary is wearing a veil and is seating on a bed. She holds her baby at arm’s length to present him to the magi. Saint Joseph is by her side. The old man is holding a cane in his left hand while from the right hand he seems to uncover himself to greet the visitors. A woman assists to the scene. In front of the holy family the three magi stand behind one another to pay their homage to the newborn. The first magi has a pointed beard. He is already kneeling out of deference and has placed his crown to his feet. He gives the baby a hanap filled with gold coins. This is Melchior as the legend describes him with white hair and a long beard. Caspar, the second magi bears a cup of incense. He is looking at the third magi and with his right hand he points to the star that has guided them there. He has a short beard and wears crakow shoes, breeches and a wide sleeved doublet. Finally Balthazar, the elegant last magi proceeds proudly towards the holy family with his one hand on the saber’s hilt and the other holding a cup. He brings the divine child the myrrh. He probably just dismounted as the horse can be seen behind him. The scene is set in a very detailed and narrative decor. In the right part of the panel the shepherd receive the announce of Jesus’ birth. An angel comes down from heaven with a scroll bearing the good news in his hands. The herding dog sleeps peacefully while sheeps graze. At the top of the cliff we notice the gilded sheeps enclosure. The panel’s moulded frame is carved with a foliated decor. In it’s centre appears a coat-of-arms. It is the alliance of the three magi’s arms. Indeed as it was common for legendary figures the three of them received imaginaries coat-of-arms. Thus, on a field of azure stands a star for Melchior, a crescent for Caspar and a pennon for Balthazar. This high-relief panel is undeniably the work of a very skilled and imaginative artist. This key moment in the New Testament is transposed to a contemporary environment thanks to the figures’ clothing and the rural daily life scene. This way the universal dimension of the episode is highlighted allowing a better understanding for the contemporaries. The sculptor has represented the episodes of the Adoration of the Magi and the Announce to the Shepherd with great talent and numerous details giving life to a picturesque and narrative scene. The important traces of polychromy give those already very animated scenes a stronger pictorial power and a rich dynamism. Because of the picturesque and familiar realism so dear to the artists of the late Medieval era, of the didactic function of this type of panel as well as the quality of the sculpture this piece is an astounding example of Burgundian art of the 15th century. Literature Louis Réau, Iconographie de l’Art chrétien...
Category

15th Century and Earlier French Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Walnut

Pair, Antique Gothic Wrought Iron Adjustable Floor Standing Candelabra
Located in Atlanta, GA
Likely Spanish in origin, circa 1920. A pair of wrought iron floor standing candelabra. Each having 7 shaped candle holders that are adjustable in width from 14.5" to 39.75" extend...
Category

Early 20th Century Spanish Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Iron, Wrought Iron

19th Century French Polished Bauche Fireproof Strongbox with Royal Coat of Arms
Located in Dallas, TX
This French fireproof strongbox, crafted circa 1880 by Bauche in the Marne region, showcases the period’s finest industrial security design. Constructed in heavy cast iron and weighi...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Iron

A Pair 19th Century Candelabras - Bronze Patinated Spelter - Gothic Style
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A beautiful set of 2 antique candelabras in Gothic style. The candelabras each have room for three candles. Estimated origin and age: France, circa 1900. The candelabras are made of ...
Category

Early 1900s French Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Spelter

Great Quality Carved & Superb Condition Wooden Corpus Christi on Crucifix, 1800s
Located in Lisse, NL
Antique crucifix with stunning hand carved details and an amazing patina. This remarkable and good size crucifix with a sculpture of a suffering Christ on the cross is another one...
Category

Early 19th Century German Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Fruitwood, Oak

Antique Gothic Style Chip Carved Walnut Keepsake Box C1860
Located in Big Flats, NY
Antique Gothic Style Chip Carved Walnut Keepsake Box C1860 Measures - 9.5"H x 15.25"W x 9.5"D This keepsake box, dating to circa 1860, showcases the Gothic style chip carving typical...
Category

19th Century Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Walnut

Rare Antique Gothic Corpus Christi 1480 -1530
Located in Doha, QA
An extraordinary and museum-worthy 15th century Gothic Corpus Christi, masterfully hand-carved in wood with exceptional anatomical detail and partially polychromed in white and royal...
Category

15th Century and Earlier German Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

Stunning Handcrafted Late 1800s Gothic Casket with Peacock & Gargoyle Sculptures
Located in Lisse, NL
Beautiful and rare Gothic Revival treasure box with bronze handle. If you are a collector of antique boxes and/or if you are looking for an extraordinary jewelry box to grace your credenza or side table then this unique and top quality made specimen in the Gothic style could be perfect. Gothic Revival boxes are very hard to find and we have never seen one with such prodigious carvings on all sides. The unique and cat-like dragon gargoyles (with fangs) that look like they are carrying this casket, are just some of the stunningly carved and detailed sculptures that make this antique rarity even more artistic and impressive. Another great feature are the peacock sculptures. In Christianity the peacock is the symbol of purity. Christians believe that once someone has passed their soul rises and goes to heaven. This is why in earlier times Christians would spread the feathers of a peacock over the deceased since it symbolized a pure soul that was immune to corruption. The peacock also represents immortality, resurrection, and the spiritual teachings of Jesus Christ and the Christian church. Have you also noticed the top quality details on both ends of the bronze handle on top? The quality of that ornamental work is of the absolute highest standard also. There are many more incredibly beautiful, hand carved details and together they show that no expense was spared to create one of the most amazing Gothic caskets...
Category

Late 19th Century Italian Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze, Iron

Early 20th Century Italian Gothic style Decorative Boxe or Small Trunk
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
We present this beautiful and rare small trunk made in the early 20th century. Made entirely of iron with brass decorations, this trunk has a Gothic-inspired design. A unique decora...
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Iron

Model Of Nieuwerkerke, Battle Of The Duke Of Clarence, Bronze, Late 19th Century
By Count Alfred Émilien O'Hara van Nieuwerkerke
Located in MARSEILLE, FR
Large bronze representing the Death of the Duke of Clarence during a tournament: beautiful brown patina, the large quantity of details of precision and finesse make this sculpture li...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

19th Century French Polished Cast Iron Safe with Key and Two-Letter Combination
Located in Dallas, TX
Keep your jewelry and important documents locked up in this elegant, antique safe from the Champagne-Ardenne region of France. Crafted circa 1880, and built in cast iron, this heavy ...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass, Iron

French 19th Century Church Altar Candlesticks
Located in Baton Rouge, LA
A towering pair of 19th century French brass altar candlesticks from a cathedral or church. The center of each bobeche is fitted with a spike, surrounded by a pierced brass crown of ...
Category

19th Century French Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

19th C. French Painted Bauche Fireproof Strongbox with Two Letters Combination
Located in Dallas, TX
This antique French safe was crafted circa 1880 in the Champagne-Ardenne region by Bauche, renowned for their patented “Système Incombustible” fireproof designs. Weighing 78 pounds, ...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass, Iron

Very Rare Casket Minnekästchen or Box, Germany or Italy, 15th Century
Located in Beuzevillette, FR
Wooden coffret, call minnekästchen, engraved with a dog, a hare and foliage with polychromy remains. During the Middle Age, the hare is a symbol of fertility, joy and represents the Christ...
Category

15th Century and Earlier European Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Iron

Mid Century Modern Medieval Knight In Armor
Located in Bedford Hills, NY
Mid Century Modern Medieval Knight in armor.
Category

1950s Mexican Vintage Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Tin

Medieval Style Armor Gauntlet Articulated Steel
Located in Rochester, NY
Articulated medieval style steel gauntlet. Well made, mid-20th century.
Category

Mid-20th Century Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Metal, Steel

Small Bronze Casket, 19th Century, with the Twelve Apostles and Zodiac signs
Located in NICE, FR
Rare small nickel-plated bronze casket, dating from the 19th century, decorated with a fascinating iconographic program: the Twelve Apostles paired with the Zodiac signs. This association, recurrent in the Middle Ages, reflects a symbolic re-interpretation that bridges the human and the divine, time and eternity. It recalls medieval reliquaries, such as 9th-century ivory caskets...
Category

1880s French Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze, Nickel

Virgin and Child in Majesty, also known as "Sedes Sapientae"
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
VIRGIN AND CHILD IN MAJESTY, ALSO KNOWN AS "SEDES SAPIENTIAE"   ORIGIN : SPAIN, CATALOGNE PERIOD: EARLY 13th CENTURY   Height :  95 cm Width : 32 cm Depth : 28 cm   Softwood No polychromy     In the middle of the 12th century, the Virgin took her place in churches, seated in Majesty, serving as a throne for her son Jesus. She is then called Sedes Sapientiae, meaning the Throne of Wisdom. At that time, she is not represented for herself and only exists because she has been designated as Theotokos, the mother of God, at the Council of Ephesus in 431, where the divine nature of Christ was proclaimed from his birth.   The upright and perfectly hieratic bust of this Virgin and Child in Majesty is seated on a throne-bench. She is dressed in a tunic with a rounded neckline and covered with a fine mantle placed on her narrow shoulders. The supple and natural drapery follows the lines of the body.   Large curls frame her face with delicate and regular features, a long straight nose, almond-shaped eyes, and small lips.   She supports the Infant Jesus with her left hand. Like his mother, he is dressed in a long tunic, and his little feet are visible in the folds. He holds a small sphere in his left hand, while with his right hand, he gestures in blessing. The face of Christ bears a strong resemblance to his mother’s one, and he gives a slight smile.   The position of the Child is no longer as hieratic, nor frontal or central as in the early 12th century, but his face still turns towards the faithful.   The 13th century indeed emerges as a period of transition in the artistic domain. The statuary, while retaining certain characteristics still belonging to the habits of the previous century, also develops new formal solutions.   As a result, Mary maintains a hieratic and frontal position, while her son shifts to place himself well to the left on her knee. Similarly, while the Virgin seems perfectly still, Jesus, on the other hand, appears much more animated, especially in the positioning of his hands. His left hand holds the orb, and judging by the raised right arm directed towards the faithful, one can easily imagine that he was making a gesture of blessing.   The influence of the Sedes Sapientiae from previous centuries still seems particularly prevalent in this work.   These few characteristics allow dating this Spanish Virgin...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Spanish Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Softwood

Pair of 19th century French Gothic-style 5-light candelabra
Located in Cantù, IT
Pair of 19th-century French Gothic-style 5-light Candelabra - Private Collection Domenico Rugiano
Category

19th Century French Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

Cast Bronze Lidded Box with Medieval Scenes and hardwood liner, Late 19thC
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
This is a cast bronze metal box modelled as a casket with a wood liner and depicting medieval scenes. We date this box to the late 19th Century. The box is made of a cast metal (b...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

Early 17th Century Medieval Handcrafted Black Iron Coffer or Box
Located in Brescia, IT
The iron coffer, fully original in every part of it, was forged and handcrafted in German in the 1610. Complete with key. Full working iron mechanisms. It ...
Category

Early 17th Century German Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Iron

19th Century French Marble Base Bronze Sculpture "Escholier" Signed E. Picault
Located in Dallas, TX
This beautiful antique bronze figure, was created in France, circa 1880. The realistic sculpture, titled on the front: "Escholier, 14eme Siecle", (meaning middle French, 14th century...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

Saint Woman in polychrome carved wood
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
SAINT WOMAN IN POLYCHROME CARVED WOOD   ORIGIN : ITALY PERIOD : late 13th century   Height : 103 cm Length : 28  cm Width : 16 cm  Remains of polychromy   ...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Softwood

Byzantine Style Marble Baptismal Font on Later Stand
Located in Essex, MA
Byzantine style carved marble Baptismal font on later cast stone stand. Four lion leads Circumnavigate the font. Foliate and Byzantine Carving Th...
Category

19th Century Unknown Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Marble

Late 15th Century Polychrome Wood Carving Depicting the Nativity
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
While the birth of Christ is briefly told in the Gospel of Luke (2, 7) it is in the apocryphal texts that we find most of the elements and details that have then inspired artists. As of the 14th century and even more of the 15th century the subject of the Adoration of the Child replaces in Western art the scene of the Birth, much favoured in Byzantine art. Instead of being depicted lying with the new-born swathed in the manger, the Virgin is now kneeling, her hands joined in prayer in front of the naked child. This change was probably hastened by the popularity of the visions of Saint Bridget of Sweden to whom the Virgin allegedly appeared to show how she had given birth to Jesus (Visions, VII, chap. 21). Sheltered by a thatch-roofed structure the Virgin is kneeling in front of the Child Jesus. She wears a magnificent red dress under a large gold cloak. Her curled blond hair is partially veiled. The newborn is lying on a straw mat. Joseph is depicted with a parted beard and stands opposite from the Virgin. He wears a tunic and a coat with a purse hanging from the belt. His costume reminds us of the long journey him and Mary have accomplished to reach Bethlehem. Two other women are present. One is looking through the stable’s window to observe the Holy Family while another one kneels in prayer in front of the divine child. The rich costume of the lady might indicate she is a donator. However they could also both represent the women who took part in the birth of Christ, Zelemi and Salome. Salome, incredulous did not believe in the virginal conception of Mary and she is represented far from the scene. The artist has depicted her with an expression of doubt on her face. Zelemi, on the contrary, is a believer. She is rewarded by a place of honour at the heart of the scene, close to Mary. To the left the donkey and ox that have accompanied Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem observe quietly the scene. On the foreground two angels hold a scroll reading an excerpt from the Gloria : “/Gloria/ in excelsis /Deo/.” One of the angels wears a blue cape while the other’s is red Those two colours are very significant as during Middle-Ages blue symbolises hope and red charity. Together they express the hope in redemption thanks to the advent of Christ and his sacrifice to come. Above the main scene, up a cliff, a small shepherd lets his herd of sheep graze amidst the trees. He is framed by two walled cities. This wood carving is the work of a very skilled and inventive artist. The piece bears witness to his exceptional talent. The realism of the scene is emphasised by the amount of details depicted. The refinement of the carving itself is highlighted by the well preserved polychromy. This key moment of the New Testament is set in a contemporary context thanks to the clothes of the characters and the scenes of rural life. The universal dimension of the scene is intensified while allowing contemporary viewers to grasp its meaning more easily. This care for details, the picturesque realism as well as the extraordinary rendition of the cloths suggest it was made by a Flemish artist during the late 15th century. This relief can be compared with the panel of the Nativity from the Saint-Vaast altarpiece made by Jacques Daret between 1433 and 1435, today in Madrid’s Thyssen-Bronemisza Museum. Literature Louis Réau, Iconographie de l’Art chrétien...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Dutch Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

Gothic Revival Gilded Brass Wall Candle holders 1890s Holland
Located in Den Haag, NL
Very beathiful set of Gothic revival Wall candle sconces . Hand forced ,Gilded Brass .very nice ornate . super rare to find a set of 4 . Comes with the hand made brackets . All in...
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1890s Dutch Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

French Medieval Carved Stone Fragment Depicting A Dragon/ Mythical Figure
Located in Buisson, FR
Amazing period piece. Beautiful hand-carved fragment depicting a dragon / mythical creature. Once had its place in wall of a medieval church or chapel in the South of France. Weather...
Category

15th Century and Earlier French Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Stone

Georgian Architectural Model
Located in Greenwich, CT
Very fine English early 19th century mahogany architectural model of a church, the multiple steeples flanking a faux carved slate shingled room, wh...
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Early 19th Century English Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Mahogany

Vintage Gothic Black Wrought Iron Wall Hanging Candelabra Made in Mexico
Located in Topeka, KS
Awesome vintage Gothic or Spanish Revival handmade solid wrought iron black painted candelabra wall hanging made in Mexico. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that this is vintage ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Mexican Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Wrought Iron

Original Gothic Style 1860 Candlesticks 19th Century Emperor of House Habsburg
Located in Vienna, AT
Gothic style of Laxenburg so called after the "Laxenburg Castle", the favoured summer-residence of the Austrian Emperor of the house of Habsburg. Material used is carved wood, gilded.
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Mid-19th Century Austrian Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

Gothic Virgin and Child from Flanders
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Exhibition Museum Cantini, 1952, The art of the Middle Ages in the Marseille collections, n°101 Provenance Former collection Louis Bresset (before 1952) Former collection Profe...
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15th Century and Earlier Dutch Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Oak

Sterling Silver with Parcel Gilt Medieval Knights, Set of Three
Located in Bradenton, FL
Early 20th Century Sterling Silver with Gold Wash Historical Knight Figurines, likely German ,Set of Three. Each depicts an iconic medieval warrior . Modeled in full armor with parce...
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Early 20th Century German Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Sterling Silver

Krone Edgar Allan Poe Limited Edition Fountain Pen with Original Box
Located in Plainview, NY
This exquisite Krone fountain pen showcases a dark brown celluloid barrel intricately marbled with subtle violet veins. Its sterling silver cap and endpiece are adorned with beautif...
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21st Century and Contemporary Italian Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Sterling Silver

Danish Cast Iron and Bronze Jewelry Box or Dresser Box, Circa 1940s
Located in South Bend, IN
A beautiful casket form cast iron and bronze dresser box, jewelry box, cigar box, or decorative box with interior cedar lining. The front depicts a scene from the 1219 Battle of Lynd...
Category

1940s Danish Vintage Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze, Iron

Early 20th Century Gilt Spelter Small Bust Jesus Christ
Located in Casteren, Noord-Brabant
A small antique bust of Jesus Christ. Made of gilded spelter (zinc alloy). On a black marble plinth. No signature. Minor wear to the gilt patina. Dimensions: 14 (h) x 6 x 6 cm Free...
Category

1920s French Vintage Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Marble, Spelter

16th Century Late Medieval Heraldic Encaustic Tile
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
A 445-year-old late medieval 16th century heraldic encaustic tile of Flemish origin (unmarked). Made from terracotta and glazed, this 6-inch antique tile is an excellent collector’s ...
Category

16th Century Dutch Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Terracotta

Antique French Gilt Bronze Statue Medieval King Louis VII Knight Templar 1880
Located in Portland, OR
A fine Antique 19th century cast gilt bronze statue of the medieval French King Louis VII of France, circa 1880. King Louis VII (1120–1180) was the King of France from 1137 until his death and was famous for his role in the crusades. The statue is very finely cast and depicts Kind Louis VII wearing his crown and medieval armor decorated with Fleur de Lis and his coat of arms with a coronet, his swork hanging by his side. The figure is resting on a ruin of a gothic arch niche with a Knight templar standing with his sword, to the right on the ground is the kings shield featuring a cross and resting on his battleaxe. The statue is raised on a black marble plinth, condition is excellent, the quality of the casting & gilding is of the finest quality and done by the lost wax method (or Cire Perdue in French) This very fine antique gilt bronze is ready to grace your space. Louis VII is best known for his involvement in the Second Crusade (1147–1149), an ill-fated military campaign to the Holy Land aimed at recapturing territory from Muslim forces. Louis VII was also married to Eleanor of Aquitaine...
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1880s French Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Marble, Bronze

17th Century German Carved Oak Religious Sculpture
Located in Bradenton, FL
17th Century German hand-carved oak religious sculpture. Possibly a saint or a bishop. The bearded man is cloaked in draped fabric with only left ...
Category

17th Century German Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Oak

Late Regency Pair Gothic Openwork Bronze Spill Vases, circa 1820
By Pugin
Located in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire
A rare and unusual pair quality late Regency period open work spill vases of Gothic style cast in bronze dating from circa 1820. The spill vases are supported on a weighted quatrefoil base with open trellis work spill holders...
Category

Early 19th Century British Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

Spanish Medieval Iron Candle Holder in Hand Forged Gilt Iron
Located in Barcelona, ES
Terrific hand forged iron primitive three-light candelabras in Medieval style with parcel-gilt accents. Spain, 18th-19th century It is supported by four legs with claw ending feet. I...
Category

19th Century European Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Wrought Iron, Gold Leaf, Iron

Antique French Romanesque 12th century Enthroned Madonna and Child
Located in Doha, QA
This extraordinary museum piece Enthroned Virgin Mary/Madonna with child on her lap comes from the Rhone region in France. The saint symbol and protec...
Category

15th Century and Earlier French Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood, Walnut

Medieval Knopped Bronze Candlestick Bell Base, Netherlands, 15th Century
Located in Boven Leeuwen, NL
An 15th Century Gothic socket candlestick in in bronze with a pronounced bell foot, integral drip tray, and a slender, knopped stem rising to a tall socket with an early clean-out ap...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Dutch Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

Antique Pair Gothic Revival of Handcrafted Gilt Bronze Candlesticks Holders
Located in Lisse, NL
Great pair of 19th century candleholders. If you are looking for a stylish and small pair of church candle holders to create a special atmospher...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass, Bronze

Rare English Romanesque Limestone Capital on Stand
Located in Wormelow, Herefordshire
This weathered English Romanesque limestone capital is centuries old, dating from the Norman era of the 11th and 12th centuries. Originating from Oxf...
Category

15th Century and Earlier English Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Stone, Limestone

Wood Sculpture Depicting John the Baptist
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
This wood scultpure showing fine traces of polychromy depicts John the Baptist, one the Old Testament’s last prophets and the first martyr of the New Testament. He is easily recognizable with the lamb he is carrying in his left hand. The way the artist has carved the face exudes a spiritual strenght inherited from previous centuries. Description Saint John the Baptist is depicted bare feet, seated in a hieratic manner. His elongated face is marked by a beard and a moustache. The straight nose and wide eyes indicate a Spanish origin. This asumption is reaffirmed by the Saint’s resigned expression. His parted hair frames his face while uncovering his ears. He wears a round collar red-orange tunic, draped onto the body and belted at the waist. A flap of his green coat covers his knees and falls down in stylized pleats. Following iconographic rules Saint John the Baptist is pointing with his right hand the lamb seated...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Spanish Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Wood

Antique Bronze Box from Belgium Gothic Style
Located in Miami, FL
Gothic Style, very detailed crafted antique bronze box. Marked underneath, made in Belgium. In original good condition. A-444-335
Category

20th Century Belgian Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Bronze

Gothic Ceramic Bowl or Jardiniere by Michael Andersen & Son, 1960s
Located in Grythyttan, SE
This bowl or jardiniere, crafted by Michael Andersen & Son, is a remarkable reproduction of a baptismal font discovered in a church in Åkirkeby on Bornholm. The original font, adorne...
Category

1960s Vintage Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Stoneware

Indian Carved Sandstone Frieze of Lakshmi, Central India, 10th-11th Century
Located in Austin, TX
A large and impressive Indian carved sandstone architectural frieze featuring a central image of the Hindu goddess Lakshmi flanked by two atten...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Indian Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Sandstone

Beautiful Gothic Brass Candelabra/Candlestick, circa 1500
Located in Vienna, AT
The item on sale is an original Gothic candelabra that dates back to the 1500s. It was expertly handcrafted from brass and consists of two parts that...
Category

15th Century and Earlier Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Brass

19th Century French Pair of Antique Large Wrought Iron Wall Sconces
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A pair of large antique French wall sconces, hand-forged in wrought iron and dating to the late 19th Century, in good condition. Crafted in the Medieval style, each sconce features b...
Category

Late 19th Century French Antique Medieval Decorative Objects

Materials

Metal, Iron, Wrought Iron

Medieval decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique Medieval decorative objects for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage decorative objects created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include decorative objects, more furniture and collectibles, building and garden elements and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with metal, wood and other materials. If you’re shopping for used Medieval decorative objects made in a specific country, there are Europe, France, and Italy pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original decorative objects, popular names associated with this style include Europa Antiques, Argenteria Etruria, AUGUST MAXIMILIEN DELAFONTAINE, and Bauche. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for decorative objects differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $95 and tops out at $134,141 while the average work can sell for $2,712.

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