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 Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Crystal, Ormolu
18th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Copper, Enamel
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
16th Century European Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Other
19th Century British Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Early 17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Gold Leaf
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Ceramic, Maiolica
Late 19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Gesso, Wood
16th Century European Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Fruitwood
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
18th Century Unknown Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Porcelain
15th Century and Earlier Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Terracotta
Late 20th Century Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble
18th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Terracotta
1990s American Renaissance Decorative Objects
Giltwood
21st Century and Contemporary Renaissance Decorative Objects
Coral, Bronze
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Gesso, Plaster, Wood
Late 20th Century English Renaissance Decorative Objects
Fruitwood
Mid-20th Century German Renaissance Decorative Objects
Porcelain
Early 19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Agate, Gold, Enamel, Silver
1970s Italian Vintage Renaissance Decorative Objects
Sterling Silver, Enamel, Gold Plate
20th Century Italian Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble, Sandstone
19th Century Portuguese Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
18th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood, Fruitwood
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
16th Century Spanish Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Metal, Other
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble
Late 19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble, Bronze
Early 17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
Mid-19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble, Statuary Marble
Late 19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Maiolica
Early 20th Century Italian Renaissance Decorative Objects
Beech
18th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Maiolica
Mid-17th Century English Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood, Boxwood
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Renaissance Decorative Objects
Coral, Bronze
1990s Italian Renaissance Decorative Objects
Ceramic, Majolica
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble
Early 17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Marble, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Renaissance Decorative Objects
Coral, Bronze
19th Century French Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
1970s Italian Vintage Renaissance Decorative Objects
Gold, Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
16th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
19th Century Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood, Oak, Walnut
21st Century and Contemporary Renaissance Decorative Objects
Coral, Bronze
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Maiolica
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Porcelain
20th Century French Renaissance Decorative Objects
Porcelain
17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Oak
1980s Italian Vintage Renaissance Decorative Objects
Gold Plate, Sterling Silver, Enamel
Late 17th Century Belgian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood, Chestnut
17th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Bronze
19th Century Italian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Enamel
17th Century Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Wood
Late 19th Century Austrian Antique Renaissance Decorative Objects
Metal, Silver Plate
Early 20th Century Unknown Renaissance Decorative Objects
Metal





