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.
17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble
Early 1900s Spanish Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Onyx, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Renaissance Decorative Objects
Limestone, Carrara Marble
1970s Italian Vintage Renaissance Decorative Objects
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Pottery
17th Century Portuguese Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Fruitwood
Early 17th Century Dutch Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Ceramic, Majolica
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Alabaster
19th Century Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Paint
16th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Metal, Bronze
16th Century German Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Gesso, Wood
19th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Brass
19th Century Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Pewter
Early 20th Century Unknown Renaissance Decorative Objects
Plaster
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Gesso, Wood
17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Metal
Mid-20th Century Italian Renaissance Decorative Objects
Pottery
17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Ormolu
18th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Stone
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Majolica
15th Century and Earlier German Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
1980s Italian Vintage Renaissance Decorative Objects
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Early 20th Century French Renaissance Decorative Objects
Cast Stone
Late 20th Century Italian Renaissance Decorative Objects
Majolica
Late 19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
Early 20th Century Italian Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble, Bronze
1980s Italian Vintage Renaissance Decorative Objects
Sterling Silver, Enamel, Gold Plate
1970s American Vintage Renaissance Decorative Objects
Resin
18th Century Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood, Walnut
Early 19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Giltwood
Mid-20th Century European Renaissance Decorative Objects
Stone, Marble, Brass, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Renaissance Decorative Objects
Ceramic, Majolica
19th Century Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Brass
Late 19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble, Bronze
17th Century German Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Silver
20th Century British Renaissance Decorative Objects
Oak
18th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Maiolica
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
18th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Maiolica
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
Mid-19th Century European Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
1870s Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Majolica, Paint
Early 17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
17th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Stone
17th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Boxwood
16th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Other
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Renaissance Decorative Objects
Ceramic, Majolica
Early 20th Century Unknown Renaissance Decorative Objects
Silver Plate
18th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Pottery