Renaissance Decorative Objects
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.
16th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Oak
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Porcelain
1890s French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Brass, Bronze
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Terracotta
17th Century English Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Brass
Early 1900s French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Brass
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood, Giltwood
15th Century and Earlier French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble
20th Century Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble, Bronze
20th Century Italian Renaissance Decorative Objects
Carrara Marble, Bronze
Late 19th Century English Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Metal
16th Century German Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
Mid-20th Century Italian Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood, Giltwood, Paint
18th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble
1980s Italian Vintage Renaissance Decorative Objects
Silver
1960s French Vintage Renaissance Decorative Objects
Steel
16th Century Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
Mid-20th Century German Renaissance Decorative Objects
Porcelain
20th Century British Renaissance Decorative Objects
Oak
16th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Sandstone
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Faience
16th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Metal, Bronze
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Majolica
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Alabaster
20th Century Italian Renaissance Decorative Objects
Silver
17th Century Portuguese Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
Early 20th Century Unknown Renaissance Decorative Objects
Alabaster, Marble
Early 18th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Carrara Marble
19th Century Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Pewter
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble
1970s Vintage Renaissance Decorative Objects
Earthenware
1690s European Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Copper, Enamel
18th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood, Fruitwood
16th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Oak
18th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Maiolica
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
Early 20th Century Unknown Renaissance Decorative Objects
Silver Plate
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble
18th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Maiolica
16th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Oak
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Rock Crystal, Silver
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Pewter
1890s French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
16th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Walnut
18th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Maiolica, Ceramic
17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble
Early 20th Century Italian Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble, Bronze
19th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble, Statuary Marble
19th Century Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Brass
18th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze